2010 Burton Toyota Surfest 

Westfield Kotara Triple O Challenge

ASP 4 Star WQS Mens event
ASP 1 Star WQS Womens event
Newcastle, New South Wales
9 - 14 March 2010

NSW Fire Brigade burns opposition in Westfield Kotara Triple O Challenge

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 3 March, 2010 : - - Merewether, Newcastle New South Wales -- Members of the NSW Fire Brigade have claimed four of the five events contested in the Westfield Kotara Triple O Challenge held at Merewether beach on day two of the 2010 Burton Toyota Surfest.

Brigade members secured victory over the Ambulance Service of NSW, the NSW Police Force and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service in both the under and over-40 shortboard divisions, the under-40 longboard contest and the teams challenge.

The only contest where the NSWFB's hopes of a clean sweep were extinguished was the over-40 longboard division, where ambulance officer Steve Brinkley from the Maitland Ambulance Service stole the show.

With onshore winds blowing out the 1-1.5 metre waves and blowing in some savage stinging bluebottles, surfing conditions were less than ideal. But the immense camaraderie around this event ensured there was as much fun out of the water as there could possibly be on the waves. Stand-out surfer this year was NSWFB member Justen Allport . He took out both the under-40 longboard and the under-40 shortboard titles.

The 36-year-old, who is stationed at Gordon in Sydney and is a 20-year member of the North Shelley boardriders club, says the day is all about getting together with other members of emergency services in a social atmosphere.  “You catch up with all the crews and make friends and it’s just a real good vibe,” Mr Allport said.

But his sporting of a bruised buttock from a low tide rock bounce and a rather large bluebottle welt suggested he was prepared to take a bit of pain to secure the trophy.

"We are all pretty competitive. Don't let the casual atmosphere fool you, we want to win," he said. Another surfer who found the bluebottles at Merewether aren’t as friendly as the land-based locals was the event’s only female competitor, NSWFB member Michelle Kent.

Based at Rydalmere, the founder of the Trimmin Women boardriders club copped a savage blue bottle sting behind her knee. “It’s the first time I have felt the pain from a bluey sting go straight to the groin and it was pretty uncomfortable,” Ms Kent said. “A guy from the Westpac Helicopter service asked if I needed a hand but when he saw I had another bluey wrapped around my arm he told me I’d be alright,” the former Belmont resident laughed.

The 34-year-old member of Redhead Surf Lifesaving Club said the day was a great opportunity to build on camaraderie between the services. “It’s just a friendly and relaxed day,” she said.

‘It’s okay to rub it in a bit when you knock over the opposition too - especially when they are one of your own,” Ms Kent added. Ms Kent was referring to Cardiff NSFB member Chris Jones, who she edged out of third position in the final of the under-40 longboard final.

Around 50 competitors from the various emergency services participated in the day's competition. Day three action at the Burton Toyota Surfest will see the first round of the Chiko Pro Junior get underway at Merewether beach at 7.30am.

Results of the 2010 Westfield Kotara Triple 0 Challenge

Westfield Kotara Triple 0 Teams Event
First place:NSWFB
Justen Allport, Gordon
Todd Archer, Ryde
Peter Bradbury, Cooks Hill
Matt Jackson,Cooks Hill

Second place: NSW Police Force
Mark Buchanan, Dee Why
Terry Burns, Sydney
Craig Cummings, Waratah
Jacob Gow, Dee Why

Third place: Ambulance Service of NSW
Steve Brinkley, Maitland
Mick Grey, Hamilton
Byron Wall, Hamilton
Garrin Wilson, Toronto

Fourth place: Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service
Graham Anderson
Danny Morris
Grahm Nickinson
Glen Ramplin

Over-40 longboard final
1. Steve Brinkley, Ambulance Service of NSW, Maitland
2. Terry Burns, NSW Police Force, Sydney
3. Todd Archer, NSWFB, Ryde
4. Dave Edwards, NSW Police Force (Ret)
Under-40 longboard final
1. Justen Allport, NSWFB, Gordon
2. Craig Cummings, NSW Police Service, Waratah
3. Michelle Kent, NSWFB, Rydalmere
4. Chris Jones, NSWFB, Cardiff
Over-40 shortboard final
1. Todd Archer, NSWFB, Ryde
2. Rob Lynch, NSWFB, Cooks Hill
3. Terry Caban, NSWFB, Cooks Hill
4. Steve Brinkley, Ambulance Service of NSW, Maitland
Under-40 shortboard final
1. Justen Allport, NSWFB, Gordon
2. Mark Buchanan, NSW Police Service, Dee Why
3. Jacob Gow, NSW Police Service, Dee Why
4. Rob Murray, NSWFB, Toronto

The 2010 Burton Toyota Surfest  (March 2-14) is based at Merewether beach in Newcastle, New South Wales. It has attracted more than 650 competitors from 12 different countries. The main event is the WQS 4-star $US85,000 Burton Toyota Pro (March 10-14).

Previous reports:
# 1 : Burton Family Toyota signs on with Newcastle’s Surfest
# 2 : Occy gets arty, celebrates Oz artist John Earle at Surfest
# 3 : Russell Maloney wins Employment Plus Indigenous Classic
# 4 : Coming soon  

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