Below is a scrapbook of history of the Pa Bendall Competitions over the years. If you have anything to contribute or can add some interesting editorial we would love to hear from you. Please email the club at info@windanseaboardriders.com.au
1974 Pa Bendall
Winner – Richard Harvey
Up against Guy Ormerod (Qld), Colin Smith (NSW), Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew (Qld), Rick Tracey (Qld), Len Howarth (Qld)
The final was conducted in a moderate choppy swell and finished about 7:30pm Sunday evening in near total darkness. Nobody knew for sure who had won – not even the judges. At the Perle Hotel that evening the results were being announced.
The first two placings were all that had to be told to end an exciting unpredictable contest. Then it was over – Guy Ormerod second, Richard Harvey first – Richard (then the current Australian Champion) got the money. Guy got the applause – a job well done for a junior just fourteen years of age. (Sourced from the 1975 Program Booklet)
$1500 in prize money for winning the Pa Bendall in 1974 was the biggest Purse for a Surfing comp in Australia
Gary O’Donnell
I Remember going to the strand theatre to watch all the stars in movies like Morning of the Earth, Crystal Cylinders, 5 Summer Stories, etc. etc. Then the first Pa Bendall comes along and a lot of those guys are surfing at our beach. It was amazing. That’s something that would never have happened if it wasn’t for that contest.
Bob Riley
1975 Pa Bendall
At the presentation dinner Gerry Lopez and Geoff Nunquam were doing shotguns with cans of beer.
Gary Tronc
I remember Surfing Shark rock at Kings with Gerry in cyclone swells while he was here
Gary O’Donnell
1975 Programme Featuring Simon Anderson on the cover with a snap that was at the forefront of progression for the time. Ironically it is labelled at last years contest but it was actually at Tea Tree Bay Noosa. Also the original Woodblock used to produce the 1975 T-Shirts
Prize Money 1st $2000 2nd $1000 3rd $500
Competitors
| Name | State | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Peterson | Qld | Current Aust Champion Bells Winner Coca Cola Winner |
| Nat Young | NSW | Former World & Aus Champion |
| Ian Cairns | WA | WA Champion Smirnoff 1973 Winner |
| Mark Richards | NSW | Newcastle 1974 Winner |
| Mark Warren | NSW | Newcastle 1974 Second |
| Wayne Bartholemew | Qld | Current Qld Champion Pa Bendall 1974 4th |
| Peter Townend | Qld | Duke Contest Hawaii 4th |
| Paul Nielson | Qld | Former Smirnoff Winner |
| Darryl Parkinson | Qld | 1975 National Schoolboys Under 14 Champion |
| Ian Portingale | Vic | Current Victorian Champion |
| Mick Pierce | Vic | Leading 1975 Victorian Championship |
| Colin Smith | NSW | 3rd Pa Bendall 1974 3rd Newcastle 1974 |
| Keith Paul | Qld | Top Qld Surfer |
| Brian Parkinson | Qld | Sunshine Coast Champion 1974 |
| Len Howarth | Qld | Sunshine Coast Championship 1974 2nd |
| Bruce Raymond | NSW | Very Impressive in Hawaii |
| Steve Jones | NSW | National Junior Champion NSW Junior Champion |
| Ron Ford | NSW | Current NSW Champion |
| Guy Omerod | Qld | Qld Cadet Champion 1974 Pa Bendall 1974 Second |
1977 Pa Bendall
Winner – Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew
