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Following a late call on contestability, the junior divisions of the Auto-Sleepers British Bodyboard Nationals went ahead in 2-3ft swell at Porthtowan
by George Mojo
02/10/2008:// The main Open Division was postponed to 1-2 November at the same venue; but the decision was taken to proceed with the other categories as competitors had travelled from all over the British Isles to take part in the record-breaking competition.
Saturday the 27th saw the Under 14s and Under 16s hit the water early to make the most of the low tide Porthtowan banks.
The 200 plus spectators and competitors saw the groms throw themselves into both the competition and the waist high barrels as only they can.
The judges were impressed with both the standard in the youngest divisions and the number of scoring rides achieved; with the local lads in close competition with a strong contingent from the south coast in the Under 14s.
In the end the diminutive Sam Brabyn found the best waves in the Under 14 final to edge out Harry Smith (2nd) and Lloyd Atherton (3rd) both from Bournemouth, with Ed Sherlock in 4th.
In the Under 16s, hot favourite Luke Brabyn competing for the last time in the 16s found himself up against stiff competition in the form of contest newcomer Stephen Hall. Last year’s Under 14 champion Dan ‘Stalker’ Garton from the Jersey Bodyboard Club was eliminated in the semi finals by Hall and Gwithian rider Callum Morse; to set up a final with Brabyn and Liam Benney.
In the end it was Stephen Hall who pipped Luke Brabyn by the narrowest of margins to secure the title with his last 2 rides of the final. Liam Benney finished 3rd with Callum Morse struggling to reproduce his form in the early rounds 4th.
The decision was taken to call an early end to Day1 of the competition and the Blue Bar provided a welcome haven for competitors and spectators alike. The evening’s entertainment comprised a bodyboard DVD Premiere and live band with Corona beer promotion.
Day two saw a better pulse of swell come through, and the Under 18s were the first to hit the water.
The pick of the day’s waves were in the early rounds which saw defending champion Dave Speller throw a nice tweaked invert to impress the judges and aid his progression through to the final.
He was joined by Nathan Thompson and hot from their success in the 16s, Luke Brabyn and Stephen Hall. Channel Islander Speller again proved why he his a strong bet for a placing in the World Surfing Games by taking the Under 18 crown again, Brabyn this time turned the tables on Hall as they finished 2nd and 3rd respectively with Nathan Thompson edged into 4th place.
The Women’s division was the strongest for some time; the experienced Gemma Brittan from St Agnes clinched 1st place ahead of last year’s victor Clemmie Hardy with some strong spins and rolls.
Olivia Smedley and Jasmine O’Shea in their first competitive appearances gained valuable contest experience finishing in 3rd and 4th spots.
The Seniors (over 28) drew a line-up that was a ‘who’s who’ of the British scene over the last decade. Danny Catten, Damien Prisk, Eldred Hawke and Bjorn Storey made the final from a strong early round field.
In the end it was reigning Open champion Prisk who clinched the title ahead of Storey, Hawke and Catten. The Masters (over 35) run for the first time in 2008, was an epic contest with the 5-man final comprising of Catten and Hawke, along with Jersey locals Colin Crowther and Simon Watkins and 2006 Senior champion Alasdair Newby.
In the end Eldred Hawke’s aerial moves were enough to narrowly clinch his first National title, ahead of Catten, Crowther, Watkins and Newby.
The International division attracted entries from Australia, New Zealand, France, Portugal, South Africa, and the Canaries. In the final Kiwi Aiden Dixon proved too much for Australian Ben Hughes and Portuguese Eduardo Afonso; with the 1, 2, 3 staying that way.
The small swell was perhaps most challenging for the Drop-Knee division, with the consequence that above the lip moves were rare; and the semi final saw Darren Halse (currently second on the world IBA Drop-Knee tour), eliminated.
A hotly contested final saw Aiden Salmon clinch his first UK title ahead of Remy Geffroy (2nd). Last year’s champion Porthtowan local Alex Winkworth came in 3rd with Plymouth’s Danny Wall in 4th.
Full results:
Under 14:
Sam Brabyn Harry Smith Lloyd Atherton Ed Sherlock
Under 16:
Stephen Hall Luke Brabyn Liam Benney Callum Morse
Under 18:
Dave Speller Luke Brabyn Stephen Hall Nathan Thompson
[Out of retirement, Australia's Mark Occhilupo was a first day standout with rides like this.]
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