Logan Nicol
Words: Steve White Photos: Jon Runnells
The Puravida MiPost Welsh National Surfing Championships 2024 was concluded at the end of November in Llantwit Major.
Both Men’s and Women’s Open titles changed hands from last year, as athletes across all divisions showcased superb surfing in the stormy conditions.
Channel Coast Surf Club’s Logan Nicol put in high-octane displays to win the Men’s Open, and Josie Hawke (Pembrokeshire Surf Club) topped the Women’s Open podium. The win helped Josie to a clean sweep at this year’s ‘Welsh’, a phenomenal achievement that highlights the talented grom’s dedication and progression in the waves.
Josie Hawke
Those first titles came on May 26 and 27, when a rare pulse of spring swell allowed the comp to run for Juniors only. Alongside Hawke’s cross-category haul, Bryn Baker (PSC) took gold for the U14 Boys, Luca Owen (Welsh Coast Surf Club) won the U16s, and Euan Buick (PSC) claimed top spot at U18 level. Willem Beck (PSC) and Katie David (PSC) secured victory in the Longboard Boys and Longboard Girls.
Sinda Sosdian
Storm Bert’s grey skies set the scene for the latest-run Welsh Nationals to date, but the senior competitors lit up the breaks at Llantwit with some electric surfing.
Drama unfolded on the slab in the Men’s Bodyboard final, where Tai Jackson (Welsh Bodyboard Club) relieved George Bevan (WBC) of his 2023 crown. The action continued for the Men’s Longboard final on the dropping tide, with Elliot Dudley (CCSC) racking up an impressive 13.2 – enough to prize the logging title back from Tom Fisher (Langland Board Riders) who accrued 9.07.
In the Women’s Longboard final, Sinda Sosdian (Channel Women Surf Club) negotiated broken sections with style to register an 8.13 total and first place; Georgina Lewtas (PSC) came in second with 5.3.
Tom Fisher
PSC’s Ryan Thomas displaced bucket-loads of channel water on his way to winning the Over 35s with a final tally of 9.93. Just a fin’s width separated second-placed Craig Bright (PSC) and Harry Cromwell (PSC) who clocked 8.5 and 8.17 respectively.
Greg Owen (WCSC) put on a timeless display in the Men’s Over 40 final that played out on the left-hand side (that breaks right) at Llantwit. The Welsh Coast legend posted a combined total of 8.3 to beat second-place Mark Vaughan (CCSC) to the veteran silverware.
Ryan Thomas
PSC’s Ryan Thomas displaced bucket-loads of channel water on his way to winning the Over 35s with a final tally of 9.93. Just a fin’s width separated second-placed Craig Bright (PSC) and Harry Cromwell (PSC) who clocked 8.5 and 8.17 respectively.
Greg Owen (WCSC) put on a timeless display in the Men’s Over 40 final that played out on the left-hand side (that breaks right) at Llantwit. The Welsh Coast legend posted a combined total of 8.3 to beat second-place Mark Vaughan (CCSC) to the veteran silverware.
Elliot Dudley
Josie Hawke hit the head-high surf with characteristic determination, going rail to rail and smashing inside sections to win the Women’s Open on a 12-point total. Sindia Sosdian (CWSC) nailed two huge turns in a buzzer-beater, her 10.5 tally securing second place.
Logan Nicol took time to open his account in the Men’s final, but patience and intricate break knowledge paid off when the local hacked a chunky right-hander to pieces, earning a 5.5. A classy 8.25 ride just before the hooter set the seal on a hard-earned victory for Nicol. Harry Cromwell almost took to the air on his final wave of the campaign, finishing with 11.2 and the silver medal.
Cromwell’s surfing was bang on the money in the Men’s Open quarter-final, where he won Barti’s Wave of the Welsh. A first for the Welsh Nationals, the award goes to the entrant who has the highest scoring wave of the event.
Tai Jackson
A full-blown back-hand assault on a left peeling wave exhibited seasoned rail work and top-to-bottom surfing that moved judges to the ‘excellent’ range of the score card. The total of 8.33 was well-deserved, earning Harry a prize purse of £500 courtesy of Barti Rum. Check out @welshsurfing_ on Instagram and judge the wave for yourself!
In summary, the Puravida MiPost Welsh National Surfing Championships ended a difficult year on a hugely successful note. Competitors enjoyed solid surf despite the tough conditions, and all athletes adapted admirably to the changing sea states.
Huge thanks to all involved.
FULL RESULTS
Juniors
U14 Boys
1st Bryn Baker (PSC) 7.00
2nd Max Davies (PSC) 3.67
3rd Oliver Molyneux (WCSC) 2.97
4th Fyn Bell (PSC) 2.14
5th Ted Davies (PSC) 1.46
U14 Girls
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 9.70
2nd Taylor Shelmerdine (LBR) 3.73
3rd Indi Ward (CCSC) 1.60
U16 Boys
1st Luca Owen (WCSC) 9.77
2nd Arthur Buick (PSC) 7.70
3rd Tomos O’Leary (WCSC) 7.07
4th Coby-Jon Williams (WCSC) 6.80
U16 Girls
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 8.00
2nd Indi Lynch (PSC) 4.27
3rd Poppy Owen (PSC) 3.67
4th Taylor Shelmerdine (LBR) 2.87
U18 Girls
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 7.56
2nd Indi Lynch (PSC 6.43
3rd Poppy Owen (PSC) 3.07
4th Taylor Shelmerdine (LBR) 3.00
U18 Boys
1st Euan Buick (PSC) 13.17
2nd Willem Beck (PSC) 9.03
3rd Tomos O’Leary (WCSC) 7.83
4th Coby-Jon Williams (WCSC) 3.10
U18 Longboard
1st Willem Beck (PSC) 6.34
2nd Katie David (PSC) 5.90
3rd Eddie Waring (PSC) 3.97
Seniors
Men’s Open
1st Logan Nicol (CCSC) 13.95
2nd Harry Cromwell (PSC) 11.20
3rd Tom Sheldon (CCSC) 8.25
4th Mark Vaughan (WCSC) 6.00
Women’s Open
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 13.00
2nd Sindia Sosdian (CWSC) 10.50
3rd Katie David (PSC) 3.20
4th Georgina Lewtas (PSC) 2.86
Men’s Longboard
1st Elliot Dudley (CCSC) 13.20
2nd Thomas Fisher (LBR) 9.07
3rd Blake Jones (CCSC) 8.13
Women’s Longboard
1st Sinda Sosdian (CWSC) 8.13
2nd Georgina Lewtas (PSC) 5.30
Men’s Over 35
1st Ryan Thomas (PSC) 9.93
2nd Craig Bright (CCSC) 8.50
3rd Harry Cromwell (PSC) 8.17
4th Mark Vaughan (WCSC) 2.63
Men’s Over 40
1st Greg Owen (WCSC) 8.43
2nd Mark Vaughan (WCSC) 6.24
3rd Tom Anderson (CCSC) 4.57
4th Gary Lewis (WCSC) 2.53
Men’s Bodyboard
1st Tai Jackson (WBC) 12.84
2nd George Bevan (WBC) 4.00
