Plenty of entertainment, familiar characters and free flowing alcohol ensured the night was a huge success and one of the more memorable nights in board riding club history. The movie ‘25 Year’s in 25 Minutes’ was definitely the standout, and one of the major highlights of the night. I’m sure it will be a much sort after item for anyone that has ever had anything to do with the club over the last 25 years.
There were some awesome major prizes given away on the night including the three (3) brand new Custom made surfboards, $1500 in S.D.S vouchers, a $500 cash cheque courtesy of Jim Beam and clothing and wetsuits from Triple X. Everyone was well behaved and in great festive spirit, looking extremely dapper in their best ‘get up’.
Along with the 8 (of the 10) life members and all four (4) Club Presidents, it was awesome to see so many of the original and ex-members turn up from all around the country making a huge effort to attend the celebrations. The current committee would to thank everyone who did make it to the event and especially all those that had to travel from out of town.
Although Mr. Peter Garrett didn’t end up getting on stage and singing U.S Forces with Mike Whitney and the band, I personally think just having the Environmental Minister spending his Saturday night and joining us for our special occasion shows how far we have actually come along as a local community based club. Mike Whitney and the MWB band were awesome on the night too, rocking out with some great tunes that had everyone up on the dance floor (especially the all the girls).
In a welcomed blast from the past, it was Shane Booth who took out the ‘2009 Open men’s’ division by winning the Jim Beam Open Championship. For his efforts throughout the year he took home the $500 giant oversized Jim Beam cheque and will now get to represent our club at the Jim Beam Boardriders Cup. This event is held at the Jim Beam Surf-tag Australian Final - all 65 club champions go against each other to see who is Australia’s best club surfer, with the winner receiving $2000 plus prizes. Umina's Glen Hall beat Margaret Rivers Dave McCauley in the 2009 Final.
Congratulations also go to a grommet-like Brad koolis who took home the title in the ‘Grandmasters’ division and also won the Club Championship trophy. He managed to score a free surfboard from Dripping Wet! Phoebe Miley-Dyer won the ‘Women’s’ division and Con Paris took out the ‘Senior Men’s’ division with both of them winning custom made surfboards form M.G...Not bad!
In the ‘Progaurd Pest management Solutions’ sponsored ‘Booby Awards’ that was presented by Brad Sly; Anthony ‘Jay’ Brown deservedly won the ‘Silver Spider’ for being the clubs biggest pest even though he is not officially in the club. Grant Richards won the Clubs biggest tightarse award (over the 25 years), Adzie won the ‘Silver Kleenex’ award, Mills won the ‘Silver Pillow’ or club derelict award and Matt Gleekis took home the ‘Silver Poo’ award for constantly talking the most amount of ‘Sh*t’ over the last 25 years.
Hopefully you all had a fantastic night 2009 and we can go on to bigger and better thing over the next 25 years. Once again the committee would like to thank every single person that made the effort to come along and celebrate this event with us and we would like to give special mention to Mr. Peter Garrett and Mike Whitney for graciously donating their time. We would also like to all sponsors that provided awards on the night and all those that had to travel from right around Australia to attend.
Cheers
2009 Southend Boardriders Committee
P.S Additionally we will soon have information up on the site of how you can purchase a copy of 25 years in 25 minutes and how you can get a copy of the photos that were snapped on the night.