*** AUSTRALIA’S TOP TEN FAVOURITE EVENTS ANNOUNCED ***

Australia’s Favourite Event for 2010 is Jessica Watson’s Homecoming staged on Sydney Harbour on 15 May 2010.

Coming in a fantastic 4th place, was the 2010 Club Marine Southern 80 !

This shows the huge following behind the World’s biggest water ski race from people Australia wide and cements it’s place as one of the premier extreme sporting events in the country.
It beat some really major events in Australia in the last year. Hopefully that can be transferred to even more support & sponsorship for the sport in Australia.

The Moama Water Sports Club and it’s hard working members should be congratulated on running and successfully evolving an event of it’s size over the years, and major sponsors like Club Marine and Tip Top Bakeries thanked and supported for their involvement by the ski racing community.

Over 60,000 votes were recorded in the first search for Australia’s Favourite Event, which closed at 9pm Thursday night just minutes before the winner was announced at The Australian Event Awards in Sydney.

Final Results

From the hundreds of events that were nominated, here is how the public of Australia voted for their Top Ten Favourite Events:

1 Jessica Watson Homecoming

2 Mother’s Day Classic

3 Sydney Royal Easter Show

4 2010 Club Marine Southern 80 Ski Race

5 2010 Clipsal 500 Adelaide

6 Gold Coast Airport Marathon

7 2009 Sydney New Year’s Eve

8 Million Paws Walk

9 The Sun-Herald City2Surf

10 2010 Santos Tour Down Under

Australia’s Favourite Event Website: www.australiasfavouriteevent.com.au

Schedule of Events for the 2010 Grafton Bridge to Bridge.

Full details at www.graftonb2b.org.au

Wade Bennett- Walking on water and other miracles ‘ from the  2010 Southern 80 Program

Wade Bennett and his family have been involved with the Southern 80 since 1981, when Wade (9), having skied since the age of 4, skied with his sister Nicole (11) in their first ever ski race, in Social Sub Juniors. They placed 3rd after their Dad Terry’s boat ‘Fleetwood’ ran out of fuel on the last corner. Luckily a kind soul on the river bank had a jerry can of fuel and they got Fleetwood fired up again to record a finish, much to the delight of spectators at the finish line.

In the years following, both Wade and Nicole skied in river races in various age and motor divisions, whilst their Dad took on the job of the Chief starter of the great race.

A little taste of one of the 2011 World Titles courses, during the Open Mens & F2 Mens, at the September course trial day, Moreton Bay Queensland.

Wade Bennett reports on yesterday’s race at the 2011 Worlds trial course in QLD, Australia: Big crowds witnessed some great Racing on Moreton Bay for the World Titles Course trial day yesterday. Well done to Chris Stout WC’03’07 and the Burnin’ crew for taking out Open Mens in the race of the day.