Sligo’s European Championship silver medalist Gearóid McDaid retained his men’s senior title at the Irish National Surfing Championship in Bundoran.
The Championships were held over two days at the weekend, with the early rounds at Tullan Strand on Saturday and finals at the Peak on Sunday.
As usual the Peak delivered with classic surf conditions.
The highlight of the weekend was the performance of the junior contingent, many competing at the National Championships for the first time but their experience from the Irish Surfing Junior tour obvious, particularly their tactical use of priority.
Of the sixteen surfers to contest the Men’s quarter finals, eight were juniors including brothers, Tom and Rory Murphy, Sky Sacolax, Odin Villarreal, Jago Brodie, Oscar Choo and Joshua Karbus along with Akiya Moore who reached the womens semi finals.
Oscar Choo and Joshua Karbus were narrowly defeated in the semi-finals but Tom Murphy and Odin Villarreal progressed to contest the Men’s final against established senior surfers Ollie O’Flaherty and European silver medalist McDaid.
McDaid took an early lead, impressing the judges to score 9.0:point for his first wave, followed up with an 8.0 point ride to retain his Irish title.
Tom Murphy took silver with two solid waves including a 7.0 point ride. 3rd place was a battle between the Clare men, master and junior, with youth prevailing as Odin edged his coach and mentor, Ollie into 4th to take 3rd by the slimmest margin.
The Women’s semi-finals saw Una Britton, Jude Lee, Ruby Knox and Akiya Moore eliminated to set up a final between Waterford’s Rachel Moore and Grace Doyle and Tyrone’s Maia Monaghan and Ayesha Garvey.
Reigning champion, Maia Monaghan dropped a solid 5.0 point ride but failed to get a solid back up while Grace Doyle rode a 5.5 and backed it up with a 4.25 to take her first Irish Women’s title.
Her Tbay club mate Rachel Moore put in a solid performance to take 2nd place with Maia setting for 3rd and Ayesha who had a 6.67 in the semis not finding her stride in the final, taking 4th.
Ollie O’Flaherty won the Masters (35+) with John Britton 2nd, Robin Keating 3rd and Kerry Larkin 4th. Brigita Moore won the Women’s Masters with her husband Henry taking the Grand Masters, Finn Mullen 2nd, Ross Lee 3rd and Mark Brodie 4th.
Seamus ‘Shambles’ Mc Goldrick retained the bodyboard title as did Luke Porter in the Kneeboard.
Men’s results
1 Gearoid Mc Daid, Donegal Bay Board Riders
2 Tom Murphy, Donegal Bay Board Riders
3 Odin Villarreal Bahamonde, West Coast Surf Club
4 Ollie O’Flaherty, West Coast Surf Club
Women’s results
1 Grace Doyle, Tbay Surf Club
2 Rachel Moore, Tbay Surf Club
3 Maia Monaghan, Rossnowlagh Surf Club
4 Ayesha Garvey, Rossnowlagh Surf Club
Master Men
1 Ollie O’Flaherty, West Coast Surf Club
2 John Britton, Rossnowlagh Surf Club
3 Robin Keating, Rossnowlagh Surf Club
4 Kerry Larkin, Sligo
Master Women
1 Brigita Moore, Tbay Surf Club
Grand Master
1 Henry Moore, Tbay Surf Club
2 Finn Mullen, Bundoran
3 Ross Lee, Tbay Surf Club
4 Mark Brodie, West Coast Surf Club
Bodyboard
1 Seamus ‘Shambles’ Mc Goldrick, Co Sligo Surf Club
2 Andrew Kilfeather, Bundoran
3 Martin Kelly, Portrush
4 Caolem Mc Carter, Bundoran
Kneeboard
1 Luke Porter, Derry
2 Petter Garrett, Donegal Bay Board Riders
3 Brian Gordon, Tbay Surf Club
4 Ray Mc Daid, Donegal Bay Board Riders
