009-055 News Page V36.qxp
3/7/11
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s w e N f r u S in the world of surfing on ing go s at’ wh at k loo a es tak überdog pictures to news@teamwoof.co.uk to contribute? Email your news and Want
Irish surfers ready to take
on Europe in Bundoran
John McCurry from Portrush, one of twelve who have secured a place on the Irish national surf team
TWELVE of the thirteen members of the Irish Surf Team have been selected to represent the country when the European Surfing Championships “Eurosurf” supported by Fáilte Ireland, happen, in Bundoran, County Donegal from September 23rd until October 3rd this year. Shane Meehan from Strandhill, Stephen Kilfeather and Ashleigh Smith from Sligo, Cain Kilcullen from Enniscrone, Ronan Oertzen, Shauna Ward, Darragh McCarter and Richie Fitzgerald from Bundoran, Easkey Britton from Rossnowlagh, John McCurry from Portrush and Oliver O’Flaherty and Stephen Kelleher from Lahinch, County Clare competed in a series of selection events in early 2011 in order to secure a place on the Irish national surf team. The team have singularly competed in competitions all across the world including the previous Eurosurf held in Jersey in 2009. Titles held by team members include Irish National Open Champion 2010, Irish Seniors Champion 2010, 4 times Irish Women’s Champion, Women’s Bodyboard Champion and West Coast Surf Club Longboard Champion 2008.
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One position remains to be filled on the team and the contest is between John Britton (JB) from Rossnowlagh and Keith O’Brien from Tramore. A “surf-off” will take place at the Sea Sessions surf and music festival in Bundoran at the end of June to decide the final member of the Irish Surf team to compete at Eurosurf 2011. The team will be coached by Pascal Devine, a native of Newtownstewart in County Tyrone and managed by Stevie Burns from Portrush, County Antrim - with over 40 years of surfing between them, they are well qualified to bring the team through their paces to compete against the best of Europe in September.
ABOUT EUROSURF 2011 The European Surfing Championships alternate each year between the senior event “Eurosurf” (odd years) and the Junior event “Eurojunior” (even years). The separation into a junior event and senior event happened in 1992. The Euro’s were first held in 1970 in Jersey. 2011 will be Irelands 4th time to host Eurosurf, and 3rd time in Bundoran. The previous Eurosurf events held in Ireland were 1972 in Spanish Point, Co. Clare
which was won by England, 1985 in Bundoran, Co. Donegal won by France, 1997 in Bundoran, Co. Donegal won by Portugal. Until recently there had been a trend that the winners in Ireland retained the senior title until the Eurosurf returned to Ireland. England held the title from
1970 to 1985, then France held it from 1985 to 1997 when Portugal won the senior title for the first time. They then lost the title to Spain in 2003, who proceeded to relinquish it once more to Portugal in 2005. Portugal retained the title in 2007 before losing it to France two years ago in Jersey.
Irish Junior Surf Team
returns from Peru THE IRISH JUNIOR Surf Team returned from Peru having finished 21st at the ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships. A team of eleven surfers and three management represented Ireland at the event. Conor Maguire, Cian Cagney and Cian Logue flew the flag for Ireland in the U18 Boys division along with new cap, Louis Martin. The U18 Girls division included three new caps, Emer Mc Hugh, Meadb McCloskey and Aideen Hillery. Gearoid Mc Daid led the charge in the U16 Boys accompanied by three new caps, Donough Cronin, David Gaynor and Neil Murphy. The team was led by man-
ager, Zoë Lally and coaches Pascal Devine and Ashleigh Smith. Australia, having dominated the event in recent years had to settle for 3rd place with host nation, Peru taking the overall title and South Africa 2nd. Ireland’s Gearoid Mc Daid contributed to Australia’s demise when he knocked one of their top U16 surfers, Mitchell Parkinson out of the contest. Gearoid was Ireland’s highest ranked surfer finishing 37th overall. Thanks to everybody who supported the team to attend the 2011 ISA Quiksilver World Junior Surfing Championships particularly kit sponsors, Emerald Surfwear. www.uberdogmagazine.co.uk