UK Pro Tour Review 2015: St. Ives Surfers

There were more St. Ives surfers than usual tilting at UK Tour glory in 2015 with several youngsters having their first taste of the national scene. Here’s how everyone got on, beginning with our most successful competitor of recent times, Jayce Robinson. Well, he had finished 2014 as the UK Tour champion and also took out the prestigious Wavebreaker Series. Could he repeat the feat in 2015? In the last event of the season, and the final event of the Wavebreaker Series, Jayce found his score tied for first place in that contest at Lynmouth. Competition rules state that in the event of a tie, the surfer with the highest single wave score wins. In this instance, that gave Jayce second place – enough to take the three-event Wavebreaker Series, but leaving him as runner-up on the UK Tour. First place would have seen him retain both titles! So close! Both Jayce and Harry De Roth also made the semi-finals of the Mens Open at the Boardmasters against some strong international opposition in August.

At the Pro Junior division ( 20 years and under), Harry stormed to the UK title with two first places and a second in the three events of the tour. He showed a similar dominance in the Under-18 boys division with four wins and a joint first in his five counting scores. He’s gearing up for a European campaign in 2016 as well as bidding to represent TeamGB at the World Juniors, and England in the European championships!

Harry De Roth

In her first full season campaigning on the UK Tour, Melodie Shakespear earned 10th place on the Womens’ tour, and fourth in the Under-18 girls. Both credible finishes against some seasoned competitors.

Melodie on Surf Club duty

Charley Fox ( Main picture) dipped her toes into the competitive scene in the Under-16 girls division, earning a tenth place on the tour from her only event of the two available. Similarly, in the Under-14 Girls, Charley won the one event she contested, giving her second place in that division. A great debut season!

Taylor Bairds

Taylor Bairds made his debut in the Under-14 Boys with a sixth place tour finish, and also earned fourth place on the Under-12 Open tour – his highlights being a semi-final place in the Boardmasters Under-12’s, and a second place in the English Schools. Dylan Cole Nell also had a go in the Under-14 Boys division, finishing 15th on the tour. He too could have finished in the top ten had he contested more events!

Dylan Cole Nell

Here’s wishing “Good Luck” to all St. Ives surfers who compete in 2016.

St. Ives School takes National title

by Nog Competition news General Club News Groms

These three Saints Boardriders members were missing from last Saturday’s Kids Club as they competed at the UK Schools Pro-Am Surf competition at Fistral Beach, Newquay. On a day of fierce competition among surfers from throughout the UK, they all made their respective finals, and in doing so made St. Ives School the highest scoring school in the country. Pictured are Harry De Roth, who won the Boys Under-18’s, Taylor Bairds, Runner-Up in the Boys Under-12’s, and Charley Fox who won the Girls Under-14’s. Thats a great result for St. Ives School, and maybe a small pat on the back for Saints Boardriders and it’s coaches! Well done everyone.

By the way, Harry’s latest video, as seen at our beach cinema screening last month, is now available for viewing here. Enjoy!

How Was Your Weekend?

by Nog Competition news General Club News St. Ives Surf School events Surf Club Events

OK. So the morning high tide caused the cancellation of Saturday Kids Club,much to the disappointment of kids, parents and instructors alike! So how did you get your weekend surf thrill?

Well – as it happened – there was lots of surf action to be caught at Porthmeor Beach over the weekend, courtesy of St. Ives Surf School. On Friday night Porthmeor West Beach Bakery hosted the Red Bull Surf Cinema, showing a series of Jamie O’Brien films interspersed with locally made surf films, including the premiere of Harry De Roth’s latest. It’s the best evening of the year for gathering local surfers together, catching up with friends, and for club members young and old to hang out!

DJ Justo kept us royally entertained with some soulful sounds until the evening sun dropped behind Man’s Head and the screenings began. And he was on duty again on Sunday morning aboard the Red Bull truck as the 5th edition of the famous Fancy Dress Swellboard Shootout commenced at Porthmeor.

Twenty eight teams reported for battle sporting some amazingly inventive fancy dress ideas, and after displaying for the judges, the whole competition paraded through St. Ives to remind the town that International Surfing Day was being celebrated at Porthmeor.

I’ll leave the details of the format and regulations as they have been well explained in blogs from recent years – and proceed to the results as announced at the after-party at the Balcony once the beach festivities had ended:

Best fancy dress earned Kiss a £200 prize donated by Maurice Symons of The Sloop Inn

Kiss headline at Fancy Dress comp.

Jamaican Bob – winners in the water.

The Jamaican Bobsleigh Team won the Shootout in the water – boosted enormously by a stonking ride by Adam Bayfield which received two 9’s and a 10 from the judges and earned him a goody bag of Rhythm clothing, and helped earn his team a first prize of a trip to surf the Severn Bore courtesy of Red Bull.

And to demonstrate that the day wasn’t all about surfing prowess – Eggselence were awarded the wooden spoon for the lowest score of the day – along with some cool clothing!

Takedowns and drop-ins are encouraged!

Grateful thanks Mi Luds!

We are delighted to once again help Surfers Against Sewage in their great work in campaigning for clean oceans, and heartfelt thanks go out to the sponsors who supported the weekend’s events : Red Bull, Rhythm Clothing, Korev Lager, Robies Robes, and Porthmeor Beach. Thanks also to Barnie and Joel, RNLI lifeguards who volunteered to provide water cover for the event, and to our distinguished judges – you know who you are!

Watch Luke Pilbeam’s video edit here!

Nick Pumphrey’s photo gallery of the Swellboard Shootout is here

And Harry De Roth’s latest video is here

But enough about our weekend – How was yours?

English National Surfing Championships 2015

by Nog Competition news General Club News Groms Surf Profiles

Watergate Bay in Newquay hosted the English National Surfing Championships last weekend and it was pleasing to see some of our members stepping into the fray. Taylor Bairds, entering his first major competition, made a great start in progressing through his first heat in the Boys Under-14’s. He was soon back in the water again in the Under-12’s division and suffered the disappointment of missing out on a place in the final by a mere 0.2 of a point. He later fell at the quarter final stage of the Under-14’s, but came back up the beach fired with enthusiasm and eagerly anticipating his next contest. It can take a while to find your feet in the contest surfing world – but Taylor has the skill and determination to take his place on the scene!

In the Under-18 Boys division, Harry De Roth produced a series of winning displays, culminating in a massive 16.3 score to win the final and retain the title he won last year. He also earned a 16 point score in the first round of the Mens Open, including a 9.2 ride which equalled the best single wave score of the weekend. He fell out of contention with a third place in the semi final, his only defeat of the weekend. Defending Mens Champion, Jayce Robinson also fell in the semis after powering through the early rounds with convincing wins.

A live interview with Harry after the Under-18 final

Harry Takes The Under-18 Boys Winner’s Prize

So, there’s much encouragement to be drawn from the standard of surfing produced by our surfers last weekend. We look forward to the coming season with great optimism for those three, and a keen eye out for others in the club who may be ready to join them on the contest scene.

That’s Champion Jayce

by Nog Competition news General Club News Surf Profiles

British titles were at stake last weekend in the thundering surf at Fistral. Jayce Robinson and Harry De Roth were there presenting St. Ives’ challenge for the crown, with Jayce seeking the added bonus of taking the UK Pro Surf Tour title as well. He needed to produce a better performance than leader Alan Stokes to snatch the title at this last event of the tour. The surf was monstrous and messy. The proposed running order was changed to put the Mens Open in the water first, and heats were extended to 25 minutes with a 10 minute paddle-out to give the competitors a chance of finding two good scoring waves. Round One was completed and the contest director moved straight to round two, deeming conditions to be still too challenging for the Masters, the Seniors. the Veterans or the Ladies. Harry had won the opening heat of round one, and proceeded to do the same in round two. Next heat featured Stokesy, and he had a shocker. He was eliminated from the competition, and Jayce, who was already out back for the next heat, could win the tour title by progressing through the heat – though he had little chance of knowing Stokesy’s result with the howling gale making the PA commentary unintelligible from the water! However, he duly won the heat and learned the great news when he returned his vest to the beach marshall.

You’ve won the tour, Jayce!

Competition resumed in slightly lighter surf on Sunday afternoon with Harry up in the first semi final. He was again in good form. holding first or second place to the hooter, only to be beaten when the final scores dropped after the surfers were coming back up the beach. He and Micah Lester had tied for second, with Micah progressing by virtue of having the highest first wave score!

So near and yet so far!

In the second semi final, Jayce wasn’t to be denied, and he took that winning vibe into the final where he pushed the competition’s in form surfer, Sennen’s Seb Smart, into second place to complete a great weekend’s work.

In fact, it completed a great season’s work, as Jayce has achieved the phenomenal feat of claiming the Triple Crown of English, British and UK Tour titles in a single season. Brilliant! You can see the champ in action at Porthmeor whenever there’s surf – though you’ll have to wait until he and the surf school crew return from their RnR trip to Bali from this weekend! You’ll agree with me, I’m sure, that Jayce, Harris and the boys have earned their tropical surf holiday this year!

Big Kids Comp Report – 2014

by Nog Competition news General Club News Groms Surf Club Events

The last day of British Summertime for 2014 offered our best chance to hold the final club competition of the year and find our junior champ. There was a good turnout from groups 5,6 and 7 all keen to show off their chops in some very surfable waves. The judging criteria was strictly International Surfing rules, unlike the earlier nippers’ event, but the competitors were undaunted and worked hard on their turns to impress the judges.

A distinguished panel of judges

After the opening round and repechage , the seeded surfers made their entry into procedings and pushed the standard of surfing to a higher level with some big drops and critical turns on the green waves on offer out back.

Lilly completing her ride

Jay looking for points

Harry trimming

There were some close heats bringing elation and disappointment in equal measure, but the quality of sportsmanship and goodwill toward fellow competitors was a credit to all participants.

Good effort mate!

The final itself was contested between Taylor Bairds, Jack Tarplee, Matt Burrell and Josh Martindale. Josh got off to a flyer with two strong scores in the opening five minutes, and could not improve on them as the other guys worked their way back finding good waves of their own. As the final hooter sounded his lead had held by a mere 0.3 of a point. Close one that! Jack Tarplee claimed second, Matt third and Taylor fourth.

There were no losers on the day as all surfers received their SurfingGB Junior surf scheme certificates for achieving level 1 this summer.

Charlie Smith collects his SurfingGB certificate

Then RNLI supervisor Lloyd Davies and Porthmeor Head Lifeguard, James Symons made their awards to the groms who had shown the most initiative in aiding the lifeguarding of the beach this season, with the overall trophy awarded to Matt Burrell.

Lifeguard trophy winner Matt Burrell

Charley Fox claimed the Girls Trophy for the highest finishing girl on the day – a well-deserved reward for the hours of training she has dedicated to the sport this year!

Girls Champion Charley Fox

And the main prize and new wetsuit courtesy of Tregenna Castle, went to Josh Martindale. Well done Josh!

The Champion with his swag!

Saintsboardriders thank Porthmeor Beach management and St. Ives Surf School for their continuing support for our club. Six years on from our rebirth on the beach we have over 120 Junior members and our Saturday Morning Surf Club is a sight to behold as those yellow-vested kids are led through their warm-up routines at the waters’ edge. Thanks also to all the volunteer instructors who give their time freely to club days, and to the Porthmeor RNLI lifeguards for their help and support.

Prizes for this years’ contest were donated by Robies Robes, Rip Curl, Tregenna Castle, Tombstone Surf, Off The Beaten Track, Natural Balance and Windansea. We ask our members,friends and supporters to show their appreciation of this generosity by supporting these local businesses with their custom.

And a bumper reward for readers who have got to the end of this report! Here’s gallery of photos from the competition! Enjoy.

British Juniors 2014

by Nog Competition news General Club News Groms

Saints Boardriders’ most active competitor, Harry De Roth, has had a busy September, culminating last weekend in him retaining his British Boys Under-16’s title at the National Championships at Fistral. The first half of the month was spent in The Azores, where Harry represented England in the Under-16 boys against the cream of European juniors. Although it was a double elimination format, Harry progressed smoothly to the Grand Final without needing the safety net of a second life! He finished fourth in the final, cementing his arrival at the upper echelon of the European scene. With many highly-rated international juniors below him it was a ground-breaking result, though Harry’s disappointment at not winning the event spoke volumes about his competitive drive!

Back home last weekend, the British juniors enjoyed some contestable waves and produced some fine surfing under blue skies at Fistral. Dan Harmon made a couple of heats in the Under-18’s, and Charley Fox had a bold go at the Under-14 Girls, being squeezed narrowly into third place by the end of the heat. So by the middle of Sunday afternoon Harry was the sole remaining Saints Boardrider in competition. He won every heat en route to the Under-16 final, and quickly established control there. A late slashing ride by Angus Scotney then seemed to take the crown from Harry, but with admirable cool he took a long lefthander at the buzzer, bashing out a series of vertical turns for an excellent score of 8 which clinched the win.

He was soon returning to the water for the Under-18’s final, where he again held the lead throughout, but this time the twist in the tail worked against Harry as Newquay’s Dale Foster found the score in the dying seconds to deny Harry a notable double.

Nevertheless, it has been a good month for Harry, and his confidence is high as he goes into his winter training schedule.

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Category: Competition news

UK Pro Tour Review 2015: St. Ives Surfers

St. Ives School takes National title

How Was Your Weekend?

English National Surfing Championships 2015

That’s Champion Jayce

Big Kids Comp Report – 2014

British Juniors 2014