Vans Irish National Junior Surfing Championships

Irish Surfing Association
Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal
20 21 August 2005

Large entry as surf arrives at last!

FERGAL SMITH CROWNED IRISH JUNIOR CHAMPION !
Eilisha Hickey's long wait ends with sweet victory in Under 18's!

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 23 August, 2005 : - - With the last four events on the Irish Surfing Association Calendar cancelled due to no waves the pressure was mounting for the Vans Irish National Junior Surfing Championships held in Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal over the weekend. On Saturday morning competitors were treated to glass 3ft waves at Rossnowlagh beach. The contest kicked off with the U10 Expression Session, dozens off young surfers all under ten paddle out and put on a superb surfing demonstration.

With one of the largest entries ever for the contest, heat after heat ran on Saturday until there was no longer sufficient daylight to continue. On Sunday Morning the finals got under way with nine new Irish Junior Champions to be crowned.

In the U18 Boys and Girls Bodyboard, Ryan Mc Enroe, Strandhill and Ione Byrne, Aughris finished first in their respective divisions. Stephen Kilfeather, Strandhill dominated the Longboard event with a great combination of modern and traditional manoeuvres. Fergal Smith, Westport finished 2nd, Ryan Doherty, Strabane 3rd and Rebecca Britton, Rossnowlagh 4th.

The U12 saw Peter Bannon, Jordanstown, took the title avernging a defeat earlier this season to James Garvey, Castlederg who finished 2nd. Charlie Copper, Sligo finished 3rd and Jamie Mc Garrigle, Rossnowlagh 4th.

The U14 Girls title was tightly fought with Amy May Garvey, Castlederg narrowly edging Tahlia Britton, Rossnowlagh into 2nd place to take the title. Anna Rafferty, Ballyshannon and Emma Barr, Enniskillen battled it out for 3rd and 4th places with Anna eventually taking 3rd and Emma 4th.

Damien Conway, Lahinch blitzed the U14 Boys with some exceptional surfing. Sligo's Aaron Reid also surfed well to take 2nd place with Enniscrone Grommet, Barry Tuffy making his first national final to take 3rd and Eoghan Shanley ? 4th.

John James Newmarsh, Easkey won his first contest and became the Irish U16 Champion. Accustomed to more powerful reef breaks, John James adapted well to the beach break type conditions Rossnowlagh had to offer and rode several good waves with two very high scoring. He was followed in 2nd place by David Bannon, Jordanstown, Ryan Doherty, Strabane 3rd and Ronan Oertzen, Belfast 4th.

Elisha Hickey, her first big win, clinched the U18 Girls final. A solid opening wave secured the final for Elisha leaving the other three finalists constantly playing catch-up. Shauna Ward, Bundoran finished 2nd just edging Ione Byrne, Aughris in to 3rd and Clare Mc Guckin, Castlederg 4th.

It was no surprise when Mayo surfer Fergal Smith took the U18 title to become the 2005 Irish Junior Champion. With style and power his surfing has been going from strength to strength all season. However his title was not easily had, Stephen Kilfeather, Strandhill had a high scoring wave early in the final placing him in first until Smith eventually retaliated with a high score of his own. Kilfeather was close behind but had to settle for 2nd place with Hugh Galloway, Kilmeadan 3rd and Oliver O'Flaherty, Lahinch 4th.

Event sponsor, Vans, has confirmed the company will continue to support the Irish National Junior Surfing Championships for a further three years.

 
Results
U18 Boys Surf
1. Fergal Smith, Westport
2. Stephen Kilfeather, Strandhill
3. Hugh Galloway, Kilmeadan
4. Oliver O'Flaherty, Lahinch

U18 Girls Surf
1. Elisha Hickey, Strandhill
2. Shauna Ward, Bundoran
3. Ione Byrne, Aughris
4. Claire Mc Guckin, Castlederg

U18 Boys Bodyboard
1. Ryan Mc Enroe, Strandhill
2. Aidan Kelly, Strandhill
3. Jack Mc Caughan, Ballycastle
4. Rian Mc Morrow, Strandhill

U18 Girls Bodyboard
1. Ione Byrne, Aughris
2. Amy May Garvey, Castlederg
3. Tahlia Britton, Rossnowlagh
4. Claire Mc Guckin, Castlederg

U18 Longboard
1. Stephen Kilfeather, Strandhill
2. Fergal Smith, Westport
3. Ryan Doherty, Strabane
4. Rebecca Britton, Rossnowlagh

U16 Surf
1. John James Newmarsh, Easkey
2. David Bannon, Jordanstown
3. Ryan Doherty, Strabane
4. Ronan Oertzen, Belfast

U14 Boys Surf
1. Damien Conway, Lahinch
2. Aaron Reid, Sligo
3. Barry Tuffy, Enniscrone
4. Eoghan Shanley,

U14 Girls Surf
1. Amy May Garvey, Castlederg
2. Tahlia Britton, Rossnowlagh
3. Anna Rafferty, Ballyshannon
4. Emma Barr, Enniskillen

U12 Surf
1. Peter Bannon, Jordanstown
2. James Garvey, Castlederg
3. Charlie Copper, Sligo
4. Jamie Mc Garrigle, Rossnowlagh

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