"Local on Top in International Board Contest," Midget Farrelly, Sydney Morning Herald, Nov 26, 1967

Stylish Australian surfing ousted all but two of the 10 American competitors in the quarterfinals of the Windansea invitation surfing contest at Long Reef yesterday. Only Steve Bigler and Mike Purpus will compete in the finals today against 10 of Australia’s top surfriders. 

The contest, between members of the Windansea surf club of America and local surfriders, has a trip to Hawaii as the prize for the Australian who gains the highest point score over other Australians.

The surf at both Avalon and Palm Beach yesterday was unsuitable for the contest and it was moved to Long Reef, where the first heat began at 8.30 AM in drizzling rain. Keith Paull surfed well in the somewhat sloppy conditions to take first place from John Otton.

But the most outstanding surfers in the heats were Kevin Brennan and Russell Hughes. Kevin Parkinson and Robert Conneeley also surfed well, and Conneeley impressed the crowd of about 200 with sharp bottom turns and well-controlled movements as he powered across the face of the waves.

Bruce Channon and Wayne Lynch succeeded in their heats with some smooth, radical surfing.

As the day progressed, the strong wind which affected the surf in the early morning dropped to a mere whisper and conditions became glassy and wave shape also improved.

A greatly improved surf which ranged from five to eight feet provided conditions for some fine surfing by the competitors in the quarterfinals yesterday afternoon.

HEAT 2: Wayne Lynch def. Robert Conneeley

HEAT 3: Russell Hughes def. Richard Harvey

HEAT 4: Frank Latta def Steve Bigler and Glenn Ritchie

HEAT 1: Peter Drouyn (1), Midget Farrelly (2), Keith Paull (3)

HEAT 2: Russell Hughes (1), John Monie and Steve Bigler (tie for 2)

HEAT 3: Ted Spencer (1), Mike Purpus (2), Wayne Lynch (3)

HEAT 4: K Middleton (1) Chris Brock (2), B Monie (3)

[NOTE: contest finals took place a week later; 

Farrelly mentioned the results in a later newspaper column

 but there is no coverage of the day itself]

1967 Windansea Invitational

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