Adam Melling wins O’Neill Cold Water Classic Scotland

The Australian-strong crowd of surfers supporting their friends from the reef were having trouble containing their excitement not only at the surfing on display but also at the quality of the sets coming in to this world-class left hand reef break. “It’s been great to have the finals day in the best waves of the event,” said contest director Matt Wilson “We have achieved the grand final at Thurso East which is exactly what we wanted.”

The O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series Scotland by Swatch lived up to its reputation here in Thurso for 2009. It was definitely wild – with howling winds and hailstones integrated into the competition. There was no doubt that it was cold as the surfers covered themselves head to toe in the latest wetsuit gear and the spectators braved the winds in ugg boots, and outfits more often seen in the mountains than the sea, to watch all the action.

And of course it was the most Northern surf contest on the planet.  As one of five competitions in the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series, Adam’s win puts him at the top of the O’Neill Cold Water Classic Series ranking – the winner walking away with a prize of $50,000. 

With two events now completed in the Series – Tasmania and Scotland – it’s now on to Cape Town from June 20 – 24 before heading to Vancouver Island in Canada and Santa Cruz, California.

Leonard shaken after the crash, but happiness of teenagers cheers

Smitten

And it wasn’t just a night on the town that smitten Mark had planned for his model girlfriend to mark her leaving her teenage years behind.

He also showered her with gifts, including jewellery from Tiffany and a pair of the Australian-made Ugg boots.

Columbia Sportswear , Deckers Drop; Sector Gains

NEW YORK - Retail shares opened higher Friday while Columbia Sportswear Co. and Deckers Outdoor Corp. both declined after their outlooks fell short of Wall Street expectations. The S&P Retail Index rose 0.6% to 331.17. Columbia Sportswear shares declined 9.2%. Deckers, which sells Ugg boots, fell 3.8%.

Mary O’Rourke rode to the defence of her Fianna Fáil sister

Mary O’Rourke rode to the defence of her Fianna Fáil sister. “To taunt and say silly things across the chamber – calling people Marie Antoinette, for example – is puerile and infantile . . . To think anybody would approach with delight saying to people that a Christmas bonus will not be paid would mean that person is very sadistic.”

Mary Hantoinette nodded in agreement from her ministerial chair.

Then Mammy O’Rourke made an interesting observation, which suggests that the Government may yet be contemplating pulling a nice little stroke for Christmas by restoring the Santy bonus in the nick of time.

“The Minister opened a chink in the argument last night . . . and indicated that if there was a chance of giving this Christmas bonus, she would grasp the opportunity and encourage the Minister for Finance to do so as well . . . I add my voice to this and will continue to do so.

“As the months go by and Christmas approaches, we hope there will be some avenue which could be further explored for the partial or whole payment of this Christmas bonus.”

Again, Mary Hantoinette nodded her agreement.

Let us hope this is the case, if only to cheer up Labour’s Ciarán Lynch, who waxed Dickensian during his contribution, which he began by quoting the opening line of A Christmas Carol.

He painted a heart-rending picture of aged grannies without as much as a turkey leg to chew on over the festive season, unable to buy Ugg boots for their ragged grandchildren and bottles of whiskey for their rat-arsed neighbours.

But, like Scrooge, Mary Hantoinette might still see the light. A Christmas Carol is a story of redemption, sniffed Ciarán, moist of eye.

There wasn’t dry seat in the House by the time he finished.