Barbados Surfing Association Newsletter #3 Apr. 26, 2007

NEWSLETTER #3

APRIL 2007

The Barbados Surfing Association held the N.K.M. School Surfing Championships on Saturday, March 31st and Sunday, April 1st at Brandons, Drill Hall Beach. There were forty-eight entries from nine public and private primary and secondary schools from across the island – with competitors as young as five years of age. The Divisions contested were Boys and Girls Under 12, Boys and Girls Under 16, Boys and Girls Under 20 as well as Boys and Girls Open Bodyboarding and a special Beginners Division. Surfers competed in three to five feet waves making conditions ideal for the younger competitors.

In the Girls Under 12 Division, Chelsea Tuach from the Ursuline Schools took top honours, Annemiec Mackie from the St. Gabriel’s School was second, Georgia Smith-Daniels and Nancy Edghill from St. Winifred’s were third and fourth respectively. In the Boys Under 12 Division, ten year old Daniel Edghill from St. Winifred’s came out the winner, Gavin Fernandes from the Rock Primary School was second, Joshua Burke from St. Winifred’s third and Mathew Roach from the Learning For Life Centre was fourth..

In the Girls Under 16 age group, Chelsea Roett from St. Winifred’s emerged victorious, Chelsea Tuach from the Ursuline Schools was second, Alix Fitwilliam also from the Ursuline Schools was third and Jade Niccolls from St. Winifred’s was fourth. In the Boys Under 16 Division, 14 year old Mathew Kieffer from Queen’s College showed his experience and skill on the small waves to earn the top spot while Todd Gloumeau from the St. Leonard’s Boys School was second, Gavin Fernandes from the Rock Christian Primary was third and Danny Edghill from the St. Winifred’s School was fourth.

Mathew Kieffer from Queen’s College also emerged the winner in the Boys Under 20 age group while Gavin Fernandes from the Rock Christian Primary was second, Zachary Foster from Queen’s College was third and Mathew McKenzie from the Lodge School was fourth. In the Girls Under 20 age group, Alix Fitzwilliam from the Ursuline Schools was first, Chelsea Roett from St. Winifred’s was second, Chelsea Tuach from the Ursuline Schools was third and Jade Niccolls from St. Winifred’s was fourth. In the Open Bodyboarding Division, Haiden Ward from Harrisons College was first while Matthew Kieffer from Queen’s College was second, Adam Steinbock from Harrisons College was third and Daniel Edghill from St. Winifred’s was fourth.

In the Boys and Girls Open Beginners’ Division, top honours went to eleven year old Annemiec Mackie of the St. Gabriel’s School, while seven year old Che Allen from St. Winifred’s was second, Warren Ashby from Queen’s College was third and another seven year old, Kai McKenzie also from St. Winifred’s was fourth. The top four placed competitors from each school received points for his/her school and beautiful trophies compliments of N.K.M. Surf and Skate. Matthew Kieffer and Chelsea Tuach won the most points overall for their schools with Matthew amassing 2, 860 and Chelsea 2, 590.

The Rock Christain Primary School was fourth with 2450 points (with only one surfer – 10 year old Gavin Fernandes), tied for second position were the Ursuline Schools (with just two surfers, Alix Fitzwilliam and ChelseaTuach ) and Queen’s College with 4320 points each while the defending Champions, the St. Winifred’s School emerged victorious once again with a total of 8470 points. Chelsea Roett and Danny Edghill were the two outstanding performers for the champion school which had a total of 10 surfers in the finals.

In terms of fund-raising, a raffle has been launched with some wonderful prizes at just $5 per chance to raise funds for our National Junior Team. Thank you to everyone who donated prizes and to those who have already taken a chance. There is still time to get a chance so please contact any committee member. Prizes include a private 4 hr. cruise for 9 compliments OCEAN ADVENURES (Value $2,600); a week-end getaway for two at an exclusive West Coast Villa, compliments Bajan Services Ltd; a Citizen Diver’s Watch compliments Colombian Emeralds, a Full Car Valet compliments Detailed Car Valet, Lunch/Dinner for two @ Lord Willoughby’s Tavern; One complimentary entry to the Reef Bowl Contest ($150); Gift Vouchers and more! The raffle will be drawn this week-end and the lucky winners will be contacted by telephone.

Our fund-raising committee has been hard at work raising funds to send our Juniors overseas and held a successful cake/book sale at Big B Super Centre on Saturday, March 10th. Thanks to all those who contributed and helped on this day. Last Saturday, we also held the SaltyMudd Treasure Hunt and after party at Harbour Lights. A great time was had by all – special thanks to Michelle Mackie and Philip McConney for putting it all together and to all those who helped to make it such a success!

These funds will be going towards sending a full team of twelve (12) Juniors to compete at the Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championships in Costa Caparica, Portugal May 4-13, 2007. The team comprises four (4) under 18 boys –Stefan Corbin, Jonathan Reece, Zach Foster and Arron Fernandes; four (4) under 16 boys- Bruce Mackie, Matthew Kieffer, Mathew Mackenzie and Jordan Heaselgrave; and four (4) under 18 girls – Ametza Nicholls, Alix Fitzwilliam, Shannon Kieffer and Chelsea Roett. They will be accompanied by a Management Team comprising Andrew Lewis, Rachel Roett and Coach Peter Corbin.

Team members have all been training hard and are seeking to better their personal rankings and that of their country. Last year’s five member team performed creditably in Brazil earning Barbados a world ranking of 19, just two spots below the 17th placed finish in California in 2005 with a full team. This year, our Junior National Surf Team is seeking to get into the top 10 nations. The Quiksilver ISA World Junior Surfing Championship is already live. Check it out at www.caparicasurf.com. Best of luck to our young talented surfers as they head off for the experience of a life-time!!

Our next event is slated for June 2nd. Our original idea was to hold a night surfing event – but we have decided to hold a Gromfest event on this date instead. The venue will be Surfer’s Point and the Divisions to be contested will be Boys and Girls Under 14, Boys and Girls Under 12 and a special Boys and Girls Under 14 Beginner’s Division. All competitors and finalists will be awarded medals and the winners of the Boys and Girls Under 14 Division will be given a brand new surfboard compliments Stewart Stoute, Alan Burke and the BSA. We are looking for sponsorship of this exciting event – please contact Andrew if you are interested in working with us to continue to promote Junior surfing in Barbados.

There have been two important changes to our Calendar this year. Firstly, the PASA games have been rescheduled to the first week in November (coinciding with our annual REEF Bowl event and thus prompting a change of dates). The PASA event is now to take place November 3 – 12 and the team comprises 4 Open surfers, 4 Juniors, 2 Ladies, 2 Longboarders, 2 Male Bodyboarders, 1 female Bodyboarder and Management. As stated in an earlier Newsletter, the Team will be selected after the 5th and final SOTY event.

Our Reef Bowl event has been rescheduled to the week-end of November 16 – 18 so mark your Calendars as you won’t want to miss what promises to be our biggest and best event yet since, thanks to the efforts of our President, Andrew Lewis, it is now an ASP/ALAS event, the first to ever be held!!

BSA Executive Committee: Andrew Lewis – President (262 6095); – Jason Kistoo - Vice-President (256 3298); Margot Tuach – Secretary (231 0296); Rachel Roett - Treasurer (256 0079).

www.bsasurf.net
e-mail: bsa@bsasurf.net

‘committed since 1983’