Life Member and Champs Honoured

Hollywood would be jealous with the red carpet rolled out for the Sandshoes 2012 Presentation Night that saw the crowning of Champions in four divisions – and the bestowal of Life Membership on Greg Horner.

The food and drink was lavish, as only South Cronulla Bowling Club can serve up; all guests were dressed in their best suits and gowns; the speeches were worthy of a place in the Best Ever category; the jokes up there with the Comedy Club.

It was surfing’s Night of Nights, and all the stars came out to rub shoulders with the Shoes’ royalty.

• Jesse Horner claimed the Open Title; Nathan Hatheier the Junior Crown; Travis Heaps the Supergroms No 1; and Greg Ferrow ( a plumber not an electrician) the inaugural Masters Trophy.

All the Champs were recipients of vouchers, wax and posters from Richard O’Sullivan’s Puresea Surf Shop. Travis Heaps also won a Master Class surfing lesson with Blake Johnson.

Top Six placegetters got their choice of surf gear donated by Cronulla Surf Design and STC, and vouchers for yoga classes from Hot Yogi Australia.

• Shannon Hatheier was awarded the Ron Inman Memorial Encouragement Award – a new custom board from PCC.
• Shannon’s mum Mel was voted Beyond the Call of Duty champ for the year – for judging, making scones; developing sponsorship opportunities and adding to the great spirit of adventure that is the Shoes family.

The family connections that are a vital part of the Shoes heritage were to the fore with the announcement of Life Membership to Greg “Jack” Horner for his decades-long support of and affiliation with Shoes and the Club.

Like many parents associated with the Reef that Rocks, the Horners – Greg and wife Vicci – started out surfing at Shoes; then over time introduced their kids – Jarrod, Jesse and Josh – to the world’s best and evocative wave location.

The same can be said about the Gillespies, Durantes, Moffats, Mulders, McGees, Withers, Hatheiers, Hvasses, Cassidys, Timewalls…and many, many other family connections.

Fact is, over the 40 year life of the Shoes Club, Life Members have been few and far between – only Frank Latta, Brian Jackson, Steve Griffith, Peter Townend, Ross Longbottom, Michael Durante, Graham Gillespie, Sid Cassidy and John Hvass to this point.

The Championship Presentation was also an opportunity to say a big thank you to our marvellous sponsors in 2012, including our Patron John Murray.

Best dental care (Dr John Murray)
Gorgeous organic foods(Only Organic)
Super financial support and tax return advice (WJ Partners)
Delicious food and drinking (Northies)
Unreal surf tours(Tengirri Surf Charters)
Top notch Construction work (Lipman Construction)
Ace surfboards (PCC Surfboards)
Awesome surfgear (Puresea Surf Shop)
Switched on property sales (Belle Property)
Terrific board shorts, legropes (STC)
Great signage (Gando Signs)
Excellent surfwear and boards (Cronulla Surf Design)
Dreamy yoga classes (Hot Yogi Australia)
Best snags in the world (Leo Payne the Sausage King)

AND DON’T FORGET THE BIG SEND-OFF TO THE SEASON – THE RON INMAN MEMORIALSHOWDOWN ON 15-16 DECEMBER. ALL FUNDS RAISED GOING TO THE NSW CANCER COUNCIL. ALL SURFERS CAN ENTER.