Surfers win at Championships

THERE was huge success for Sligo surfers at the recent Irish Surfing Championships which took place recently in Bundoran. In the Open Surf, two Sligo surfers 2017 Champion Gearoid McDaid and Stephen Kilfeather were chasing the title.

Kilfeather opened with an excellent score and backed that wave up with a similar score towards the end of the final pushing him well into first place. McDaid edged ahead of Conor Maguire to take 2nd leaving Conor in 3rd and Owen Murphy in 4th.

In the Open Bodyboard event, young guns Jack Clohessy, Co Sligo Surf Club and Joe Breen, Tbay Surf Club put in strong performances but were beaten in the semi-finals. This set up a final and age old rivilry between Shane Meehan, Co Sligo Surf Club and defeating Champion, Andrew Kilfeather , Co Sligo Surf Club and Martin Kelly, Causeway Coast and Ashleigh Smith. With the narrowest of margins Meehan retained his title pushed all the way by Kelly in 2nd, Kilfeather 3rd and Smith 4th. Smith also retained the Women’s Bodyboard title.

Andrew Kilfeather also took control of the Longboard final, establishing an early lead to finish a strong 1st ahead of Emmet O’Doherty 2nd, Eoin O’Malley Daly 3rd and Henry Moore 4th.

Co Sligo’s Kerry Larkin took the Masters (over 35 title), beating last year’s Champion, David Blount, West Coast Surf Club into 2nd, Patrick Cassidy, Bundoran Board Riders 3rd and Andy Burke, West Coast Surf Club 4th. Ray McDaid retiened the Kneeboard title with Peter Garret, 2nd, Brian Gordon 3rd and Joe Breen 4th.

The organisers thanked all the competitors and everybody who helped run the event especially all the judges and young Tiaran Carron, Bundoran Board Riders who kept them rolling on timer and disc all day.

Results

Surf Open: 1. Stephen Kilfeather, Co Sligo Surf Club; 2. Gearoid McDaid, Co Sligo Surf Club; 3. Conor Maguire, Bundoran Board Riders; 4. Owen Murphy, Bundoran Board Riders.

Surf Women:1. Holly Widger, Tbay Surf Club; 2. Rachel Moore, Tbay Surf Club; 3. Grace Doyle, Tbay Surf Club; 4. Una Britton, Rossnowlagh Surf Club.

Longboard: 1. Andrew Kilfeather, Co Sligo Surf Club; 2. Emmet O’Doherty, Bundoran Board Riders; 3. Eoin O’Malley Daly, Rossnowlagh Surf Club; 4. Henry Moore, Tbay Surf Club.

Bodyboard: 1. Shane Meehan, Co Sligo Surf Club; 2. Martin Kelly, Causeway Coast; 3. Andrew Kilfeather, Co Sligo Surf Club; 4. Ashleigh Smith, Easkey Surf Club.

SUP Surf 1. Finn Mullen, Bundoran Board Riders; 2. Emmet O’Doherty, Bundoran Board Riders; 3. Gabe McSharry, Co Sligo Surf Club; 4. Ross McGarry, Dublin Bay SUP.

Kneeboard: 1. Ray McDaid, Co Sligo Surf Club; 2. Peter Garrett, Easkey Surf Club; 3. Brian Gordon, Tbay Surf Club; 4. Joe Breen, Tbay Surf Club.

Masters (Over 35): 1. Kerry Larkin, Co Sligo Surf Club; 2. David Blount, West Coast Surf Club; 3. Patrick Cassidy, Bundoran Board Riders; 4. Andy Burke, West Coast Surf Club.

Master (Over 50): 1. Henry Moore, Tbay Surf Club; 2. Eamon Murphy, Bundoran Board Riders.

Master Women’s: 1. Brigita Moore, Tbay Surf Club.

Bodyboard Women’s: 1. Ashleigh Smith, Easkey Surf Club.

Sligo Rowing Club Junior 18 coxless quad back on the water last weekend in training for the 2019 racing season.

Young players from St Molaise Gaels who took part in a training session with Galway hurler Joe Canning.

Sligo’s Kerry Larkin, Andrew Kilfeather, Stephen Kilfeather and Ray McDaid with their trophies. Pic: Irish Surfing.

Galway hurler Joe Canning.

Hurling advice for a young player.