The Welsh National champs tool place over the weekend at Fresh West. Jay Quinn took out the Open event. Jay was 2013 NZ champ and 2001 world junior champion (smashing Bede Durbridge in the final.) Jay has Welsh heritage.
Jo Dennison won her fifth womens title. Seth Morris won both the under 18s and under 16 titles. Raise Gaskill won the Longboard open. Womens Longboard Champ is Hazel Illett.
Jay Quinn demonstrated why he’s a former World Junior Champion with a typically polished performance at the Billabong MiPost Welsh Nationals. Surfing at Freshwater West for the first time, Quinn soon got to grips with the ever changing line up with clean and stylish surfing throughout. Jay saved his best surfing for the final, with an inverted backside air reverse that shut the door on an outstanding performance by Rhys Poulton who’d made an exceptional start to the Open final. Quinn who’d been enjoying time with his Welsh relatives prior to the event, was delighted to arrive in Pembroke to a clean 3 to 4ft swell which ended a lengthy flat spell. Within moments of the 25 minute final Poulton smashed a left to earn an 8.5, which he backed up quickly with a 5.5. Fellow finalists Adam Jenkins and Stephen Phillips had shown throughout the event they weren’t to be ignored, but struggled to match the early pace, the pair soon finding themselves chasing huge scores. Quinn soon dropped an 8 point left, thanks to some good old fashioned square off the bottom, vertical off the top backhand whacks. He quickly switched from old school to new school, pulling a backside air 180 to score an 8.7, that left Swansea’s Poulton chasing a near perfect score that never came. The Open final concluded 3 days of action held at Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, once again blessed with great waves and fantastic surfing.
In the Women’s Open Jo Dennison was equally convincing, her power and precision perfected over two years of training at the Wave Garden of Surf Snowdonia ensured she regained the title she was unable to defend last year. Whilst her duck diving may have been a little rusty her surfing was far from it. Her speed and attack was too much for Emily Williams, Niamh Mathias and Ffion Hughes to match on this occasion. The judges score cards recording excellent scores of 9’s and 8’s. Take note all you competition surfers, wave pool training works!
Seth Morris also enjoyed a superb weekend as he was crowned U18 and U16 champion. It wasn’t easy for Seth as he faced strong opposition from Cieran Hughes, Jo Morris and Jack Mathias. However young Seth found himself in great rhythm with his stylish eye catching surfing and quick fitting turns ensuring he left the beach with two titles.
Ffion Hughes demonstrated her class in the Under 18 girls, dropping a 9-point backhand right within moments of the Final’s start. Niamh Mathias fought hard to catch her up, but Ffion soon shut the door with another high scoring ride that now leaves her the undoubted queen of girls surfing in Wales.
Ejay Cogger successfully defended his Under 14 title with another solid performance, the ever improving Cogger surely one to watch in the coming years, reigned again despite spirited performances from fellow young rippers Rudder Rava, Eli Perrin Davies and Luke Barfield.
Eli Perrin Davies became Under 12 boys champion, the Ogmore youngster has been turning heads with his surfing for sometime and now has his first Welsh title. Eli is hoping for a strong future in Welsh surfing. His boundless energy, enthusiasm for surfing and a family that holds three generations of surfers, should stand him in good stead!
Anna Jenkins was awarded the best young girls performer after seeing off the challenge of older sister Mia and friend Isabelle Vaughan. All the girls were competing for the first time at the Nationals.
Mark Vaughan completed a double in the Masters and Grand Masters thanks to the extra weight in his turns. In the Kahuna and Grand Kahuna Jamie Bateman and Colin Bright confirmed their titles in convincing fashion. Bateman’s surfing is still on par with the best of the Open, the lines he draws are clean and stylish with a front side wrap that’s the envy of his peers. Brighty meanwhile, must have like, 4 trillion trophies by now; if ever there’s a national gold shortage, Colin’s your man with the reserves!
Raife Gaskell and Hazel Ilett once again defended their Longboard titles impressively, a mix of modern and old school logging ensured they left the beach with plenty of goodies courtesy of Billabong and yet more trophies to place in the cabinet. These two are a firm fixture on the Welsh Nationals podium and show no sign of going anywhere soon!
Jack Mathias was awarded the Paul Ryder award by local ripper and all round nice guy Harry Cromwell. Jack has been representing Pembrokeshire for some time on the contest scene. He’s a determined competitor and richly deserved this great honour.
Billabong Mi Post Welsh nationals results
Open
1 Jay Quin
2 Rhys Poulton
3 Adam Jenkins
4 Stephen Phillips
Women
1 Joanne Denison
2 Emily Williams
3 Niamh Matthias
4 Ffion Hughes
Under 18
1 Seth Morris
2 Cieran Hughes
3 Jo Morris
4 Jack Mathias
U12
1 – Eli Perrin Davies
2 – Sol Williams
3 – Thomas Khan
4 – Blake Jones
U14
1 – Ejay Cogger
2 – Rudder Rava
3 – Eli Perrin Davies
4 – Luke Barfield
U16
1 – Seth Morris
2 – Jo Morris
3 – Jack Mathias
4 – Rudder Rava
U18 Boys
1 – Seth Morris
2 – Cieran Hughes
3 – Jo Morris
4 – Jack Mathias
5 – Rhys Evans
U18 Girls
1 – Ffion Hughes
2 – Niamh Mathias
3 – Mia Jenkins
4 – Alice Barton
5 – Isabelle Vaughan
Ladies Longboard
1 – Hazel Ilett
2 – Georgina Lewtas
Longboard
1 – Raife Gaskell
2 – Martin John
3 – Tim Aylett
4 – Colin Bright
Masters
1 – Mark Vaughan
2 – Chris Seage
3 – Stuart Beale
4 – James Jones (retired injured)
Grandmasters
1 – Mark Vaughan
2 – Jason Cogger
3 – Adrian Boyles
4 – Craig Burrows
Kahuna
1 – Jamie Bateman
2 – Neil Newman
3 – Adrian Boyles
4 – Craig Burrows
Grand Kahuna
1 – Colin Bright
2 – Adrian Boyles
3 – Gwyn Bright (retired injured)
Paul Ryder Award
Jack Mathias
U12 Highest Place Girl
Anna Jenkins
