Despite ‘the Seaweed’ giving us a grim forecast, this delighful little contest again continued its tradition of getting lucky. And so, as an icy blast of poo-flavoured winds poured over from the continent, an increasingly keen crew of junior surfers descended on Rest Bay, Porthcawl, to wait for the massive tide to provide enough waves on which to wiggle their way into the judges’ favour.

Saturday was a day of waiting, with comp director Stu Bentley opting to gamble on running the entire event on Sunday. It was a decision that worked out with literally five minutes of tide to spare the following day.

With most of the competitors weighing less than their surfboards, the Under 12s took to the water first thing Sunday morning, with a surprisingly high standard. Young Billy Sharp from the Gower was ripping it up on his mini-board, making Jack Davies really work for the eventual win. Tasman Knight and Ed Bresnan also impressed.

Millie Little put together a near-flawless heat to take down the Under 12 Girls, leaving Peony Knight and the Poutney sisters, Patsy and Connie, scrapping around for the remains.

Both Under 14 categories were also excitingly competitive, with all spectators leaving the beach confident that there is indeed a bright future for Welsh surfing. Sam Harwood caned it in the Boys division, while Harriet Knight saw off Ainsley Richards in the Girls. Considering Ainsley only competed for the first time a week previously (when she lined up for Welsh Coast Bs in the Inter Clubs), this was a real feat, and she’s sure to go one better in the near future.

The Under 16s was the showpiece of the day though – with the highest Welsh boy and girl winning a trip to the Grom Search European Final, during this summer’s Rip Curl Boardmasters in that Cornish place (the name of which no self-respecting Welshman can ever say or write in public).

In the Girls event Swansea’s Hannah Griffiths was the cat that got the cream. By finishing runner-up to the stylish Megan Burns, she earned her ticket to the Grand Final. Again, the standard in difficult high-tide conditions was through the roof – with all competitors linking smooth, on-rail surfing throughout.

The Boys event saw an upset in the semis, as Tom Good failed to find a back-up wave in a stacked heat. This left the door open for a two-horse race between Porthcawl’s Max Tucker and Gower lad Josh Hammett. The tide filling in fast meant that strategy became paramount, and Josh kept a cool head, weaving great turns in to the waves that came his way for a deserving win, and the title of 2008 Welsh Grom Search Champion.

Thanks to Richard Hutchinson at Rip Curl for backing us, and Stu Bentley of Welsh Coast and the WSF for managing the event. It’s because of these guys that Grom Search has become a great fixture on the Welsh surf calendar. Rest Bay also did its bit, by yet again giving us swell, and while we should keep this amongst ourselves, you should know that some of the biggest of Rip Curl’s big-wigs were seen later that night, at an undisclosed location, discussing the viability of Porthcawl as the venue for this year’s Search WCT – after it failed to take place in West Oz. Mick Fanning making his way down the slip at Rest in a contest jersey? Let’s dare to dream!
- Tom Anderson

BOYS U12 GIRLS U12

1ST Jack Davies Millie Little
2nd William Sharp Patsy Pountney
3rd Tasman Knight Peony Knight
4th Edward Bresnan Connie Pountney

BOYS U14 GIRLS U14

1ST Sam Harwood Harriet Knight
2nd Daniel Bresnan Ainsley Richards
3rd William Pountney Hannah Griffiths
4th David Williams Lucy Campbell

BOYS U16 GIRLS U16

1ST Josh Hammett Megan Burns
2nd Max Tucker Hannah Griffiths
3rd Dan Rogers Lucy Campbell
4th William Pountney Sophie Sainsbury

NEWQUAY SURFERS CLEAN UP AT THE HUNTER/ BILLABONG BRITISH SCHOOLS SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Over 200 young surfers battled it out in Woolacombe this weekend for the 2008 Hunter/ Billabong British Schools Surfing Championships in association with Calypso and Kustom. Consistent 4ft clean surf and sunshine meant superb conditions for everyone involved and encouraged a very high standard of surfing. Over 200 young surfers aged 12 to 18 from schools across the South West, England, Wales and the Channel Islands entered but it was Newquay that shone through with Holly Donnelly winning the girls, George Picking winning U16s and Tretherras School taking the team cup.
Cornwall led the way right from the beginning as the Tretherras A team scored a massive 61 points knocking last years winner Braunton with 36 points from their top spot. Stand out individual performances were from Matt Burner from Kingsbridge pulling off some impressive maneuvers in the glorious conditions to claim the Under 18s title. George Picking surfed with consistency and maturity posting high scores with his flowing attacking style and duly claimed first place in the Under 16s. In the Under 14s it was Miles Lee Hargreaves from Bournemouth that took the top spot.
North Devon’s Karma Worthington won first place in the longboard category but in the girls category Karma was pipped to the post by Newquay’s Holly Donelly who has gone from strength to strength this year.
The bodyboard categories also saw some highly competitive surfing with some of the best bodyboarding heats ever judged in the British Schools, standouts Bertie Thompson and Nat McCabe who exchanged a number of high scoring rides in both U16 and U18 finals. Bertie Thompson wowed judges and took both the Under 18s and Under 16s titles. In the girls bodyboard Tamsin Dillon accumulated enough points in the final and took the title.
Karen Walton, National Director of the BSA said, “We’ve seen some awesome talent at Woolacombe this weekend and have been blessed with some ideal conditions. We’ve had an impressive entry from schools across the country, and we are incredibly grateful to the sponsors, teachers and parents who support the youngsters in making this happen. I’m very excited about the summer season of contests that is now on its way and I hope to see a lot of these youngsters competing and giving it as much effort as they did this weekend, well done to everyone who took part!”
Ends

Issued on behalf of the British Surfing Association by Excess EneRGy Communications. For further information or interviews please contact Kirsty Spencer on Kirsty@excessenergycomms.com or 07816 366859 or Rhona Gardiner on Rhona@excessenergycomms.com on 07740 410052.
Results

Under 16 bodyboard
1. Bertie Thompson
2. Jacob Sharp
3. Ollie Arden
4. Liam Bentley

Under 18 bodyboard
1. Bertie Thompson
2. Nat McAbe
3. Liam Bentley
4. Ollie Arden

Girls Bodyboard
1. Tamsin Dillon
2. Sophie Good
Longboard
1. Karma Worthington
2. Zack Lawton
3. Harry Bennett
4. Zack Broad

Girls
1. Holly Donnelly
2. Karma Worthington
3. Kathleen Spears
4. Tassy Swallow
Under 14
1. Miles Lee Hargreaves
2. Ryan Roberts
3. Paddy Daniel
4. Tassy Swallow

Under 16
1. George Picking
2. Max Tucker
3. Robert Merchant Greenslade
4. Jack Ellis

Under 18
1. Matt Burner
2. Jack Whitefield
3. Tom Bentley
4. Haydn Duck

Overall Schools Winner 2008

1. Tretherras A team 61 points
2. Braunton 36 points
3. Bournemouth 33 points
4. Kingsbridge and Ivybridge 32 points

Here’s a picture of Fistral this morning.
Severe storm surf, 8ft + and very strong onshore winds.

Notes from the Minutes of a Meeting of the BSA Interim Committee held on Saturday 1st December at 10.30am, BSA HQ, Newquay more

Minutes of the BSA EGM/AGM held on Saturday 3rd November at St Michaels Church Hall, Newquay, Cornwall more

As of Nov 6 this year, British Airways won't be carrying surfboards! Find out more, and how you can take action, here.
(Air South West - the low fare airline serving Newquay - will continue to carry boards as normal (statement))

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