Junior European Surfing Championships

European Surfing Federation
Praia Nova, Costa de Caparica,
1 - 10 October 2004

Fourth Place for Irish Junior Surf Team

Pos.   Country
1        France
2        Portugal
3        England
4        Ireland
5        Wales
6        Israel
7        Italy
8        Germany
9        Chanel Island
10      Sweden

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 October 2004: - - The Irish Junior Surf Team has finished fourth at the European Junior Surfing Championships taking place over the last ten days in Costa De Caperica, Portugal. France won overall with Portugal second, England third, Ireland, up two places finishing fourth ahead of main rivals, Wales in fifth, Israel sixth, Italy seventh, Germany eighth, Channel Islands nineth and Swedan tenth.

Easkey Britton, Donegal had a podium finish when she surfed well to take 3rd place in the U18 Girls with Pauline Ado, France first and Bethan Mason, Wales 2nd.

Day 7: Kilcullen knocked out as Ireland cry foul!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 10 October 2004: - - Cain Kilcullen takes 5th place in Europe but fails to get to Grand Final amid controversy. The Irish have lodged a complaint when Cain was judged 3rd in the 4 man Final Rep....With only two going through to the Final, Cain is therefore eliminated. He surfed solidly and expectation was high, only to be dashed by the juges call. Irish Team officials and the Irish team were not happy with the result and felt Cain had done enough to qualify...More tomorrow....

Day5: Easkey Britton into Grand Final!!!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 07 October 2004: - - Almost unbelievable yet fully deserved, Donegal’s Easkey Britton has taken on the best Europe has to offer and has made it to the grand final of the Junior European Surfing Championships. And what away in which to do it. From the start of this contest Easkey had her work cut out for her when she was dealt a body blow in the first round, finishing poorly. She then had to battle through the reps. (qualifiers) knowing one more mistake, one more badly chosen wave would spell the end. Instead of crumbling, Easkey took up the challenge and stormed her way through round after round and made it all the way to the final. Make no mistake about it, this is an enormous achievement for herself, her family and for Irish Surfing especially Women’s surfing.

Cain cruises into the last six
Elsewhere in the event, Cain Kilcullen has made it into the last 6 and one step away from his own grand final. A little overshadowed today by his team-mate, Easkey, this should be headlines all on its own. This under 18 event is the most contested in these championships and is one of the supply lines for tomorrows surfing professionals.

Gillespie shines for Ireland
To make matters even more interesting for Ireland, Bodyboarder Tom Gillespie has also made it through to the last 6 in Europe. A great display through the reps has earned him a shot at the grand final. These are the last three Irish surfers remaining in the contest.

Iona 5th in Europe
A great achievement for Ione Byrne who today is out of the contest by the smallest of margins. She just failed to make the Grand final in her event but finished a very credible 5th place in Europe. A great finish from this girl and she has long future ahead of her.

Day 4: Ireland consolidating 4th position

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 06 October 2004: - - The Irish Bodyboarders in the under 18 event are through to the last 8. Both Tom Gillespie and Jack Mc Caughan had impressive displays in their respective heats which earned them a real crack at the Grand Final in the next day or two. Cain Kilcullen was back to winning ways in the blue ribbon event (under 18) with a well earned second place in his heat, sending him into the last 8. This alone is a huge achievement for the Sligoman as the level in this particular event is extremly high. Cain, however, will not be sitting back. He is in top form and as Irelands top surfer will be aiming to make history by making it to the final.

However Team Ireland had a few more casualties here yesterday when we lost Hugh Galloway, David Bannon and Damien Conway. Even harder to swallow was the loss of Fergal Smith. The Mayoman scored one of the highest waves in the competition but alas did not make into the last eight. Judges add the best two waves together in each heat and his combined score was just a fraction away from what was required to get through.

But the overall team picture is looking better than ever before. The majority of the team are still competing and forth place is a real possibilty. Rain, wind and even bigger surf is on the way and conditions are set to change from the warm sunny weather they have been experiancing. Update later today…..

Day 3: Fighting Irish bounce back in Reps!

All Irish surfers who had failed to get through the first round proper yesterday must have woken up this morning with an enormous sense of purpose. The disappointment of yesterday was put behind them with nearly all winning their heats. This puts Easkey Britton, Hugh Galloway, David Bannon, and Ryan McEnroe well back into contention and leaves Team Coach, Tom Hickey feeling very satisfied with their day’s work. However despite a very brave attempt, Aaron Reid failed by the smallest of margins to secure second place in his heat. This was Aaron’s first International cap and this experience coupled with his very professional approach at such a young age will make him a team regular into the future.

All Irish surfers who had failed to get through the first round proper yesterday must have woken up this morning with an enormous sense of purpose. The disappointment of yesterday was put behind them with nearly all winning their heats. This puts Easkey Britton, Hugh Galloway, David Bannon, and Ryan McEnroe well back into contention and leaves Team Coach, Tom Hickey feeling very satisfied with their day’s work. However despite a very brave attempt, Aaron Reid failed by the smallest of margins to secure second place in his heat. This was Aaron’s first International cap and this experience coupled with his very professional approach at such a young age will make him a team regular into the future.

Grinding shore break snaps Kilcullen’s Board at crucial time!
The great Irish hope, Cain Kilcullen, continued his winning ways here in Portugal today with a very competent display winning his 3 rd round heat. However, tragedy was to hit when a direct place in the semi-finals eluded him as his board was badly damaged in the fourth round by a ferocious shore break in conditions getting larger by the minute. This pushes him into the reps. allowing him another chance to progress. Fingers crossed that this does not happen again.

Meanwhile Stephen Kilfeather continues to enjoy himself easing through a difficult heat today in the under 18’s. A seasoned campaigner but still so young, Stephen has the attitude to go far at this contest, and he is still clocking up the points for this young Irish Team.  

Day 2: Kilfeather and Kelly make a High-Octane entry into contest!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 04 October 2004: - - If any of the many spectators and contestants here today had no idea what to expect from these young Irish Boys at the start of the day, they were left in no doubt by mid-morning when Stephen Kilfeather and Aidan Byrne blasted their way into first place in their respective events (under 16 and Bodyboard) with incredible ease. This was an excellent display by the two Sligomen and left the Irish team in a comfortable position at this early stage in the competition.

Too early for predictions but confidence building none the less, reality struck home with Waterford hopeful, Hugh Galloway and Donegal’s wonderwoman, Easkey Britton narrowly missing out in their heats and finding themselves facing the repercharge rounds. Not over by any means for these two excellent surfers but it means they have to pull out all the stops for their next challenge in the days to come.

Irish eyes were smiling again with an excellent surfing display in the under 16 women’s were Ione Byrne took on a difficult task with style ending up in second position and easing into the next round proper. There is no doubt that this Irish team took a few hits today but everyone is still in the competition and everything is to play for in the days ahead….

Conditions slightly smaller than yesterday with 3 foot surf and 27 degree heat…. The swell is already beginning to build for tomorrow and the standard of surfing is even hotter than the weather with an almost uncomfortable 27 degree heat….……Anyone fancy checking out some late deals at the travel agents!!!!

Day 1: Cain roars out of the starting blocks winning his first round heat.

Good start for the Irish....The First day at the European Junnior surfing championships was a good one for the Irish with Cain Kilcullen holding his nerve to score extremly well in 4 foot solid surf yesterday. The Bodyboard duo of Tom Gillespie and Jack McCaughan continued the success story with a one two finish against welsh opposition. With the top two finishers in each heat progressing to the next round this was a fantastic result as the Welsh are out to get ahead of the Irish this time round!

The Irish Longboader Damien Conway finished fourth in his heat but in a very tightly scored heat, he was very little of the mark, so all goes well as he drops into the repercharge for a second attempt. Also in the U 18 event, Fergal Smith narrowly missed out finishing 3rd but again he is through to the reps for another bite of the cherry…..Other results to follow….Conditions are perfect with surf solid and offshore gentle winds with size expected to increase to overhead over the next day or two! Team spirit is high and the weather is sunny and warm……Wish you were there?????

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