Newsletter join now Keep in touch with all the latest surf news, green scene and partner info by joining the Drift weekly update. SIGN UP NOW
What are we made of? Drift Magazine is made from ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) FSC Certified pulp and low VOC vegetable inks. Studio power by Ecotricity and delivery made using Biopower V100 waste oil.
Newcastle surfer crowned British Surfing Champion
by George Mojo
29/11/2006:// A victorious Sam Lamiroy consolidated one of the best years of his career this weekend when he was crowned British Surfing Champion for the second time at the O’Neill British Surf Championships in North Devon.
It's been an epic year for the Newcastle surfer having made it to the quarter finals of the World Surfing Games, being placed 16th in the world, having surfed some of the biggest waves ever conquered in the UK and even finding the time to get married.
Following three frustrating postponements due to poor conditions, the British Surfing Association decided to move the event to Putsborough in North Devon to ensure ideal waves and surfers traveled to compete in the veteran, masters, seniors and open categories.
Clean 4-5ft conditions provided the backdrop for some fine British surfing action that saw Lamiroy up against Newquay boys Mark ‘Egor’ Harris, Llewellyn Whittaker and Ritchie Mullins in the final of the open.
Surfing strong all the way through the heats, Harris looked like a likely contender for the title but he couldn’t beat Lamiroys form and in the end took second place with Mullins and Whittaker taking third and fourth respectively.
And 16 year old Beth Mason of Swansea also consolidated her position at the top of the UK’s women’s scene taking the British title.
This marked yet another high point in a year that has seen her surfing as the youngest competitor in the Freespirit British Surf team for the World Surfing Games in California as well as completing her GCSEs.
Jo Dennison of Milford Haven, Gwen Spurlock of Swansea and Kathleen Spears of Croyde took second, third and fourth places.
Also showing phenomenal form, Grishka Roberts, who has entered five competitions this year and won four, rode to victory in the Masters section with Jamie Owen, Neil Clifton and Jed Stone taking second, third and fourth places on the podium.
Both Roberts and Stone will be traveling to Puerto Rico in January to represent Britain at the World Masters Championships
In the seniors, Gabe Davies of Newcastle scored the top wave of the day with a 9.17 on a wave in his final against Paul Kirby of Bude, Gold Rush champion Scott Eastwood of Jersey, Neil Clifton of Woolacombe and Daz Wright of Newquay who came second, third, fourth and fifth.
In the Veterans, Gary Rogers of Saltburn took second place with Jed Stone of Newquay taking the championship title.
Karen Walton, National Director of the BSA said, “We are all really pleased to have been able to run the O’Neill British at last and the ideal conditions showed just how much talent we have in UK surfing. It went amazingly well and I would really like to thank everyone involved including top sponsors O'Neill, the judges, all the officials, the competitors, the spectators and the Putsborough Beach Café. Massive congratulations to all the surfers who made the podium spots and what a way to see out the year!”
Full results:
OPEN Sam Lamiroy 2 Mark Harris 3 Richie Mullins 4 Llewellyn Whittaker
WOMEN 1 Bethan Mason 2 Jo Dennison 3 Gwen Spurlock 4 Kathleen Spears
SENIOR 1 Gabe Davies 2 Paul Kirby 3 Scott Eastwood 4 Neil Clifton
MASTERS 1 Grishka Roberts 2 Jamie Owen 3 Neil Clifton 4 Jed Stone
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
Skype us
.jpg)
.jpg)
Surf art 
Surf environment