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 The
28th Catho Classic was held over January 12, 13 & 14 at the north end of Catherine
Hill Bay, with sunny, steamy, humid and windy conditions all making an appearance
over the 3 days. The waves were 1 to 1.5m for the entire weekend. The
Sunday afternoon saw the 'cream of the crop' out there for the Finals, as they
carved it up in front of an appreciative crowd who had braved the drizzly weather
and hooted and yelled at the big manoeuvres being pulled off.
Again over 140 competitors took part in 7 divisions
which included the 'Blue Ribbon' Open Division with $1000 for 1st prize. The other
divisions contested were Women, Boys Under 13, Boys Under 18, which included Highest
Place Cadets (Under 15s). They all started on the Friday, whilst Saturday saw
the Mens Open, Over 30s, Over 40s and Over 50s take on the tricky conditions.
Once again the event was a huge success with organizers already looking forward
to the 29th annual in 2008. OPEN
DIVISION 1st Paul Parkes - Title No.6, equalling
Justin Lee's  record
of 6 Catho Classic Open wins. Parkes came on strong in the Final right
from the outset with an 8 straight up. 'Catch me if you can!' But nobody could
as he nailed another really good wave a minute from the end of the 30 minute decider.
Paul will be No.1 seed and Round 2 Invitee for the 2008 event. 2nd
Dan Frodsham - the defending and 4 time champion from 2006 picked up $500
for his efforts. Will be No.2 seed and Round 2 Invitee for 2008. 3rd
Tyler Williams - 17 year old Catho Boardriders Club Junior  Champion
really let the older blokes know what direction he's heading in. Lots of strong
waves with plenty of spray throwing powerful manoeuvres. Only just missed getting
2nd. Will be No.3 seed and Round 2 Invitee for the 2008 event. 4th
Justin Lee - Appeared in 18 of the last 20 Open Finals, won 6 of 'em and here
he is again at 37 still mixing it with the boys! Round 1 Invitee & No.4 seed
for the 2008 event. 5th Drew McPherson - Catho's 2005
Club Open Champion
got knocked in his heat in a Pro Junior at Bells (Victoria) on Friday, flew back
to make an Open heat of the Classic on Saturday. 5 Rounds later, the rest is history.
Will be No.5 seed and Round 1 Invitee for the 2008 event.
6th Michael
Body - Like Williams and McPherson above, another debutante finalist. Surfed
solidly all weekend but couldn't find the waves he needed in the Final. Round
1 Invitee & No. 6 seed for the 2008 event. BEST OVERALL
MANOEUVRE Phil Rees for successfully  pulling
off a super radical cut-back after emerging from a nice tube in one of Sunday
mornings' Open Heat. John Stewart Memorial HIGHEST SCORING
WAVE Luke Mullins for a 27.5/30 wave
(max = 10 each off 3 judges) in his
O/40 heat on Saturday BEST TUBE Steve Chapman on Saturday
morning in Over 40 Heat 6. BEST RE-ENTRY Christian
McCall on Saturday morning in Open Heat 2.  BEST
CUT-BACK Kev Slattery on Sunday morning in Over 40 Semi 2.
WORST
WIPE-OUT Over 40 competitor Risto Milosevic on Saturday in his Over 40 Quarter-Final.
He 'ate it' big time on a very late take-off he never should have tried. 
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