WED 12 feb 2014
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Kitty Flanagan
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Trades & Services Need help at your place this weekend? p.32-37
Pro skaters rip it up
Internationals take top honours in Australian Bowl-riding Championships Amelia Parrott
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Comedy purr-fection p.19
Garbos pledge support for Diggers p.5
Riches on offer Knights prepare for Nines p.39
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he world’s top skaters have been shredding the bowl at Bar Beach, with the Australian Bowl-riding Championships rolling into Empire Park last week. The event, now in its third year, is Australia’s first true national skateboard competition and attracts riders of all ages from across the globe. While the event featured some local talent, it was the international competitors who dominated the top end of the results table, with Americans Alex Sorgente and Brian Patch taking out first place in the Pro and Masters divisions respectively. Event organiser Chad Ford said the skating action and fine weather were major pluses but the level of community support was the real highlight of the three-day event. “We couldn’t be more stoked with how the event was received by the riders, fans, local community, local government, everybody,” he said. “It’s great to know we’re putting on an event that the community is engaged with.” Mr Ford expected the event would continue to grow in the coming years. “We had 63 competitors the first year we came to Newcastle and this year we had 88 riders plus 5000 spectators,” he said. “If we keep growing at the rate we are I’m not sure where we’ll put everyone!” The event was one of more than a dozen major events being promoted as part of Destination NSW’s new It’s On in Newcastle and the Hunter tourism campaign. Read more about It’s on in Newcastle and the Hunter on page 3.
Competition heats up at the Australian Bowl-riding Championships at Bar Beach Photo: Dean Tirkot
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