Adam Alive In Search For Team Crown

Newcastle Herald

Thursday November 30, 2006

Renee Valentine - Breaking news

JESSE Adam has experienced mixed fortunes at the Australian Grommet Titles at Ballina this week.

The Merewether grommet's campaign for victory in the under-18 men's division has ended, but he still carries title hopes in the under-19 men's All-Stars school division with NSW.

Adam placed third in his opening-round heat of the under-18 men's competition then bowed out of title contention when third again in the requalification round.

But he combined with Stuart Kennedy (Lennox Head) to beat Tasmania and Victoria and ensure NSW passage to the semi-finals in the school teams division and Adam should continue his quest for national glory today.

The titles started on Monday, but there was no competition yesterday as organisers decided to hold off for the better conditions expected for the rest of the week.

Sam Lendrum (Nords Wharf) is through to the under-18 men's quarter-finals.

Lendrum sealed his quarter-finals appearance with second place in his opening-round heat.

On offer for the winner is automatic selection in the Australian team for the 2007 International Surfing Association World Junior Championships in Portugal in May.

Brodie Bannerman is through to the under-16 men's quarter-finals, and fellow Merewether surfer Philippa Anderson is into the under-16 women's semi-finals.

The list of past Australian grommet champions includes Newcastle's Nicky Wood plus former world titleholders Tom Carroll and Damien Hardman and current top-rated surfers Joel Parkinson and Taj Burrow.

? Nick Coghlan is through to the third round of the final contest of the 2006 World Qualifying Series.

Coghlan, from Boat Harbour, and Lake Munmorah's Michael Spencer were first and second respectively in the same opening-round heat. Spencer failed to get through the next round, but Coghlan continued his winning form to set up a third-round showdown with Americans Alex Gray, Nathaniel Curran and Darren O'Rafferty.

© 2006 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home