| Shane Simmonds and Garren Pryce win the first stage of the 2009 Jamaican Junior Surfing Championships |
| Monday, 13 July 2009 13:41 |
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Garren Pryce of Bull Bay in Saint Andrew and eighteen year old Shane Simmonds of Boston Bay in Portland were respective winners in the under 16 and under 18 divisions at the first event of the of the Jamaica Surfing Association’s 2009 National Junior Surfing Championship Series. Twenty young surfers registered for the event which was contested in light onshore winds in 3’ waves at the Copa Cabana surfing beach in Bull Bay, St. Andrew on Saturday 11th July. There were 16 entrants competing in the under-16 division. Four first round heats were held from which the top eight would compete for the four available positions in the final. Semi-final one saw Ivah Wilmot up against Ackeem Talor, Garren Pryce and Alex Williams. The surfers rode 27 waves between them. Garren picked off the best wave of the heat which earned a 7.5 from the judges and was the highest scoring wave of the event. Garren and Ivah advanced to the final. In semi-final two, the face off was between Shama Beckford, Armani Green, Ricardo Crossman and Jamoy Hall. The surfers rode 27 waves, with Shama Beckford capturing the top spot after riding the highest scoring wave of the heat; earning him a 6.5. Shama Beckford and Armani Green both advanced to the final. The Final was exciting and saw Ivah, Garren, Armani and Shama paddling out to challenge for under 16 national glory. The wind had picked up which made wave selection a vital tactic in each surfer’s battle plan. The horn sounded and the 20 minute final was on. Thirty six waves were ridden with a number of excellent rides being demonstrated by the young athletes. It was close but when the scores were tallied Garren held on to first by a thread from Shama in second, Ivah in third and Armani in fourth. Place Under 16 Boys points The Under 18 division was also in contention and only four contestants registered for the one heat final. Shane Simmonds and Michael Rickets from Boston Bay in Portland were up against Leon McKenzie and Gabre Beckford from Bull Bay in Saint Andrew. The wind had picked up and was making the conditions a bit more challenging as the better waves were harder to find. The twenty minute heat saw 24 waves ridden by the bigger boys. It was touch and go with great exchanges between the top young under 18’s. When the final horn sounded Shane had taken it with Gabre in second, Leon in third and Michael in forth. Place Under 18 Boys points The next event in the series will be held at the Long Bay surfing beach in Portland on Saturday August 1st beginning at 9:00am. Source: Jamaica Surfing Association |
