In May 1969 the Nation’s best surfers competed in the first Australian Surfing Championships held in WA. Contest rounds were held in fine autumn conditions with offshore winds at Scarborough (small), Margaret River (large) and Yallingup (windy). Interstate surfers were billeted with members of WA Surfboard Clubs for the first round at Scarborough. The contest then headed down south for the remaining rounds.
This was the first opportunity for WA surfers to see World Surfing Champion Nat Young and the cream of OZ surfers competing in WA Metro and SW waves. Surfers included State Champions (Mens) Ted Spencer NSW, Peter Drouyn QLD & Peter Bothwell WA and (Juniors) Wayne Lynch Vic & Ian Cairns WA.
The strong WA team featured Peter Bothwell, Robin ‘Skullcap’ Sutherland, John Balgarnie & Kevin Ager (Mens), Ian Cairns, Stephen Gath, Peter Holzman (Juniors), Dave Williams, Alan Robbins, Ron Leslie (Senior Mens), Maureen Farrell (Womens). Contest officials Doc Naylor, Trevor Burslem, Jim King & others. Contest judge ????.
Surf media by film maker Paul Witzig (NSW), journalist John Witzig (NSW) for Surf International magazine and photographer Ric Chan (NZ) for John Arnold Surfboards in South Aust.
Image: 1969 Aust Titles WA media coverage by Independent Newspapers.
1969 Australian Titles results: –
Mens: 1. Nat Young NSW 2. Peter Drouyn QLD 3. Richard Harvey NSW.
Junior Mens: 1. Wayne Lynch VIC 2. David ‘Baddy’ Treloar NSW 3. Butch Cooney NSW.
Womens: 1. Josette Largardene QLD 2. Nola Shepherd SA 3. Judy Trim NSW.
Senior Mens: 1. Ted Harvey NSW 2. Alan Robins WA 3. Dave Williams WA.
WA surfers Peter ‘Spook’ Bothwell & Ian ‘Kanga’ Cairns were finalists in the Open & Juniors respectively. The first WA surfers to make National finals. (Peter Bothwell came 8th in the ’68 Nationals at Warriewood NSW)
Duke Kahanamoku trophy winner: ????
On completion of the event, fun presentations were held at Caves House Yallingup. Peter Drouyn was entertaining!
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Scarborough. East coast contestants David ‘Baddy’ Treloar NSW and Wayne Lynch Vic entering the surf at Scarborough.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Margaret River. World Champion Nat Young NSW exiting Margs Main Break with snapped board.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Margaret River. Surf film maker Paul Witzig NSW at Surfers Point.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Yallingup. WA Junior champ Ian Cairns at Yalls.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Yallingup. WA Mens champ Peter Bothwell rugged up at Yalls.
Surfing Down South has video coverage of the event. It features contest surfing at Scarborough, Margaret River and Yallingup and includes footage of Nat Young, Wayne Lynch, Ian Cairns etc. The footage was captured on a Super 8 camera by members of the City Beach Surf Riders club in WA. Video music courtesy of Vance Burrow Yallingup. (No narration).
In May 1969 the Nation’s best surfers competed in the first Australian Surfing Championships held in WA. Contest rounds were held in fine autumn conditions with offshore winds at Scarborough (small), Margaret River (large) and Yallingup (windy). Interstate surfers were billeted with members of WA Surfboard Clubs for the first round at Scarborough. The contest then headed down south for the remaining rounds.
This was the first opportunity for WA surfers to see World Surfing Champion Nat Young and the cream of OZ surfers competing in WA Metro and SW waves. Surfers included State Champions (Mens) Ted Spencer NSW, Peter Drouyn QLD & Peter Bothwell WA and (Juniors) Wayne Lynch Vic & Ian Cairns WA.
The strong WA team featured Peter Bothwell, Robin ‘Skullcap’ Sutherland, John Balgarnie & Kevin Ager (Mens), Ian Cairns, Stephen Gath, Peter Holzman (Juniors), Dave Williams, Alan Robbins, Ron Leslie (Senior Mens), Maureen Farrell (Womens). Contest officials Doc Naylor, Trevor Burslem, Jim King & others. Contest judge ????.
Surf media by film maker Paul Witzig (NSW), journalist John Witzig (NSW) for Surf International magazine and photographer Ric Chan (NZ) for John Arnold Surfboards in South Aust.
Image: 1969 Aust Titles WA media coverage by Independent Newspapers.
1969 Australian Titles results: –
Mens: 1. Nat Young NSW 2. Peter Drouyn QLD 3. Richard Harvey NSW.
Junior Mens: 1. Wayne Lynch VIC 2. David ‘Baddy’ Treloar NSW 3. Butch Cooney NSW.
Womens: 1. Josette Largardene QLD 2. Nola Shepherd SA 3. Judy Trim NSW.
Senior Mens: 1. Ted Harvey NSW 2. Alan Robins WA 3. Dave Williams WA.
WA surfers Peter ‘Spook’ Bothwell & Ian ‘Kanga’ Cairns were finalists in the Open & Juniors respectively. The first WA surfers to make National finals. (Peter Bothwell came 8th in the ’68 Nationals at Warriewood NSW)
Duke Kahanamoku trophy winner: ????
On completion of the event, fun presentations were held at Caves House Yallingup. Peter Drouyn was entertaining!
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Scarborough. East coast contestants David ‘Baddy’ Treloar NSW and Wayne Lynch Vic entering the surf at Scarborough.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Scarborough. Vic Junior champ Wayne Lynch surfing Scarborough.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Margaret River. World Champion Nat Young NSW exiting Margs Main Break with snapped board.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Margaret River. Surf film maker Paul Witzig NSW at Surfers Point.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Yallingup. WA Junior champ Ian Cairns at Yalls.
Snapshot: 1969 Nationals Yallingup. WA Mens champ Peter Bothwell rugged up at Yalls.
Surfing Down South has video coverage of the event. It features contest surfing at Scarborough, Margaret River and Yallingup and includes footage of Nat Young, Wayne Lynch, Ian Cairns etc. The footage was captured on a Super 8 camera by members of the City Beach Surf Riders club in WA. Video music courtesy of Vance Burrow Yallingup. (No narration).
Click on this link to view the video 1969 Australian Surfing Titles WA (Run time 24m:46s).
The video footage is now 50 years old and there has been some deterioration in image quality, but the people and places are still recognisable.
Click on these links to view related Surfing Down South posts: –
Ric Chan’s coverage of 1969 Australian Surf Titles in WA.
1969 Australian Surf Titles in WA – Marg’s images by Gavin McCaughey
Coming soon video coverage of the 1970 World Surfing Titles Vic. (held Bells & Johanna).
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