Southern Ocean Union of Longboarders(SOUL) ran the first round of its club championship for its June comp. The club used the example set down by the ‘Ripcurl Pro’ and made it a mobile event. The heats and semi finals of all divisions were surfed at the Ocean Grove Reef (Smiths), and the finals were surfed at RAAFS.  The weather and tide conditions saw contestable 1 meter waves off the reef with the left hander being the best scoring option t o the delight of the goofy footers. With a great turn out of over 40 surfers a long day of surfing was ahead for the club. Heats were in the water by 8 am and the last final was surfed at about 4.30. There were no delays in between the heats with all members getting stuck into the judging and making sure no time was wasted between heats.

With the wind shifting more westerly and the tide rapidly filling in a quick recky of RAAFS confirmed it the place to be for the finals. Once again the goofy footer’s were kept happy with quick running left handers hitting the sand bar.

The over 40’s were pretty tired by the time their final was in the water after having surfed their heat and a semi before the final. Fletch, Larry Hayes, Dave Arter and Steve Messina were all in good form on the day with Fletch coming out the winner from Steve Messina.

The over 50’s were either wave starved or not in the right spot during there heat as scoring wave seemed to be hard to come by. Brian Thompson showed how it was to be done with a couple of good high scoring waves over Andy Brown.

Trad boys showed great style as always and a bit of an upset with the in form Ben Cosidine finishing second to the ever stylish Murf.

Jnr Boys was hotly contested with some of the young up and comers wanting to strut their stuff. Myles Fletcher was able to take it out from Ben Considine. Jack Malone made the final but due to work commitments couldn’t surf the final. Dame that work!

The premier division, the Open Final, saw three seasoned campaigners and a grommet fighting it out. In the end the ever youthful Chris Meier grabbed it from Trent Myers, Ant Brown and Myles Fletcher.

The club now looks forward to its July comp on the 17^th and once again if the conditions are right the second and final round of the club championships will be surfed. This will also be the clubs annual mid year function night and start of the major raffle.