2005 Surf Comp

*****Kieran Evans wins the 2005 crown at Porth Ceiriad*****

Open
1st Kieran Evans
2nd Phil Wood
3rd Stefan Harkon
Best Female Robyn McCanliss

Bodyboard
1st Penny Hancox
2nd Toby Edwards
3rd Samual Bishop

Kieran Evans at the Comp.....photo: John Wormald

The annual West Coast North Wales Open Surf Contest went ahead on Saturday 8th October. The sign in was limited to 25 people for the open and by 9.30 all the places had been filled. The conditions at Porth Neigwl looked promising but with a west or north west wind forecast a decision was made to move the event to Porth Ceiriad. An army of helpers carried the judging tower and other contest paraphernalia down the beach. The surf was glassy and a couple of foot and gave the competitors enough to play with. There were few upsets with most of the more experienced surfers getting through to the next round. After the surfing heats the body boarders took to the water. There were enough entrants to hold two heats and a final. With the waves deteriorating fast it looked difficult for the competitors to shine. A couple of longer and bigger waves did come through and a clear winner emerged. Penny Hancox beat Toby Edwards by finding the longer, cleaner waves and a promising performance by junior Samual Bishop earnt him a third. The open quarter finalists were next. The waves were now being chopped up by a cross shore breeze and competitors had to use all their wave knowledge to pick the better waves. A decision was made to hold a six man final and six of the most competent surfers in North Wales paddled (or walked) out into "classic" North Wales waves. Cornish Skating legend Stefan Harkon chose the short rights while Phil Wood and Kieran Evans traded backhand off the tops on the lefts. It was Kieran's, obvious, experience and skill that showed as he found speed where others couldn't and drove his board past vertical on several occasions to emerge the winner. There was a prize for the best placed Female competitor and Robyn McCanliss surfed well in her heat collecting, by far, the best female points.
The, infamous, party on Saturday night followed and the prize giving drew a large crowd to cheer the victors. Thanks must go to the Yacht Club and staff for accommodating us once more and to the 2 excellent bands, The Stinky Limpits and the Jack Rabbit Slims... Thanks are also due to Bangor Uni Surf Club for enthusiastic competitors and more enthusiastic party goers and we must thank Joe Salomon for bringing his experience and helping out with the Judging. O'Shea were, as ever, fully behind the event and lent support where needed. Finally - thanks to all who came and who made it a fun day and night!