SAM LENDRUM MASTERS LOCAL SURF

Three Hunter surfers have qualified for the Red Bull Junior Surf Masters in August after the qualifier at Newcastle’s Bar Beach.

All four finalists earned a place just by reaching the deciding heat, but once there, the competition remained fierce.

Sam Lendrum (BLACK) was one of two Nords Wharf board riders who made it to the final four, but thanks to him, it was a one horse race after he made a blistering start.

Although the now now Merewether based Duncan McNichol (YELLOW) had his chances, Jake Sylvester (WHITE) just couldn’t get it going on his home break while Copacabana’s Dane Atcheson (BLUE) also made up the numbers in a heat dominated by Lendrum.

All have progressed to the Junior Surf Masters final to be held at Cronulla in August which will be presided over by World Champion Mick Fanning.

Click on to view the final heat at the Bar Beach event.

BODYBUILDER MUSCLES IN ON NATIONAL TITLES, NATURALLY

When Luke Belcher first walked into a gym, he was a skinny teenager from East Maitland, who wanted to bulk up.

And as you’re about to see, didn’t he what.

Six years on, he’s now a national bodybuilding champion, and insists everything, besides the fake tan, is real.

LONGBOARDS SEMI FINAL COFFS HARBOUR

Coffs Harbour’s Paul Scholten (red) and the Tweed’s Dane Pioli (white) are through to Saturday’s open men’s final of the state titles being surfed at Park Beach.

Urunga’s Brett Caller (blue) and Ray Lawrence (yellow) from Narooma get another chance tomorrow in the repercharge semi.

KNIGHTS DUO EAGER FOR THEIR CHANCE

The Newcastle Knights face a tough task if they’re too equal a club record of nine straight home wins this weekend.

Hosting competition leaders, The Bulldogs, Newcastle will be without two of its Origin stars and possibly former state star Steve Simpson.

Two players who can’t wait however are Scott Dureau and Shannon McDonnell.

The latter only joined the Knights a few weeks ago as he searched for a go after getting limited opportunity at West Tigers.

For Dureau, Sunday is another chance for him to impress after missing the team’s last two games.

HUNTER CYCLE CLASSIC HAS GREAT START

Sydney cyclist Richard Lang is no stranger to the winner’s podium but he claimed a rare prize at the Great Hunter Cycle Classic by winning the first ever race.

It could soon be a treasured feat given Cycling NSW predicts big thing for the Classic, tipping the event will draw upwards of 2000 riders in coming years.

Given the location, they could well be right with the circuit around central Pokolbin offering cyclists and spectators the chance to enjoy a competitive ride in the wonderful surrounds of premier wine country.

NSW CLUB TRIATHLON

Warringah Triathlon club took the Metro title, Mingara on the Central Coast won the provincial crown and Mudgee claimed the regional award at the New South Wales Club titles near Anna Bay.

Redhead’s Boyd Conrick showed up many of the younger competitors to be the quickest on the day.

See if you made our highlights.

SCOTT WESTCOTT’S DOUBLE ACT

Commonwealth Games Marathon runner Scott Westcott has completed an amazing double, winning two races on the same day in Newcastle.

He started off racing - and winning - the half marathon (21.1km) before running back to join starters in the 10k race. He promptly won that as well in a tick over 32 minutes, two and a-half minutes ahead of the next best. Westcott was actually beating runners still completing the half marathon, an amazing effort in anyone’s books.

Take a look at extended highlights of the Hill to Harbour.

SURFEST FINALS 2009

It took 24 years but finally a local has claimed a main event win at Newcastle Surfest.

17 year-olf Philippa Anderson has been a Merewether girl since arriving from South Africa with her family five years ago and she’ll be forever remembered as the first home grown winner of her adopted city’s premier event.

She beat Dimity Stoyle in a thrilling finish. After racking up some solid rides, Anderson watched as the Sunshine Coast surfer caught the last wave of the heat and almost stole the win. After waiting what seemed an eternity for the scores to come in, Anderson was finally crowned the winner by just 1.25.

In the mens, Central Coaster Drew Courtney endured some rotten luck in the MR Pro final but little could have stopped the efforts of Travis Logie. The South African revelled in the small Merewether surf as he went on to post one of the highest heat scores of the event to win and get his pro career headed back the right way after a serious knee injury.

TOUGH TRIATHLON WIN

Having raced with a heavy heart, Redhead’s Nathan Stewart dedicated his main event win at the Newcastle Triathlon festival to John Clifford.

A Hunter stalwart of the sport, Clifford was tragically killed on a training ride yesterday, and Stewart carried thoughts of that over the line.

SPARKE HELMORE NBN TRIATHLON

The Newcastle and Hunter’s premier triathlon event is now so big, it’s a festival held over two days.

Numbers in the juniors and the popular teams events are growing each year while the fields for the feature open events were as strong as ever.

Hunter competitors dominated with Nathan Stewart taking out the mens and Regina Wright overcoming a tough start to win the female race.

Click on for highlights.

Next Page »