SSF Junior Series Event #2 – Tiree Event Report

Scottish Surfing Federation | 23rd June 2022 | Events | No Comments

SSF Junior Series Event #2 – Tiree

On Friday the 17th of June some of the most talented young surfers in Scotland made the journey to Tiree to compete in the 2nd stop of The SSF Junior Series hosted by Tiree Surf Club and sponsored by Blackhouse Watersports. The forecast was for challenging conditions; huge swells and wind but the groms were ready to surf.

After a meet on the Friday it was decided that the under 12’s would take to the water that evening with Crossapol beach offering small clean conditions and consistent sets. In the final of the mixed under 12’s we saw some of the youngest grommets in Scotland show that there is a lot of talent coming through with bags of enthusiasm.

U12s

1st – Rudi Forrest (BHSC)

2nd- Sebastian Ballantyne (BSC)

3rd – Alfie Pugh (BHSC)

4th – Rosie Moore (BHSC)

On Saturday the swell picked up and it was back to Crossapol where strong offshore winds provided challenging conditions . The sun came out for the heats of the under 14’s (mixed) and the under 16 girls. The conditions made it tricky to stay in position and pick up the waves but when they did, surfers showed confidence and a variety of surfing manoeuvres.

Sunday was finals day and it was a whopper! A 3.5m westerly swell wrapping into Balephuil beach with offshore winds meant that sets were head (sometimes head and a half) high. First to the water were the under 18 boys. Surfing was a high standard with scores consistently in the good and excellent ranges. The final was a very close call with Ben Larg taking the win;

U18 Boys

1st – Ben Larg (TSC)

2nd – Craig MClachlan (NSSC),

3rd – Max Cooley (ENG)

4th – Ebon Parkin (BHSC)

The under 18 girls saw 5 smiley faces take to the water in a brutal paddle out of continuous head and a half height waves. Undeterred, they committed to the surf, took some serious drops and scored some epic waves.

U18 Girls

1st – Robyn Larg (TSC)

2nd – Annie Herd (EBSC)

3rd- Olivia Mackay (NSSC)

4th – Lola Mitchell (BSC)

5th – Tamzin Rosie (NSSC)

The under 16 boys saw some incredible talent from all over Scotland. The stoke level was through the roof. Again, there were constantly high scores and a variety of manoeuvres on show. First place went to Ansel Parkin.

U16 Boys

1st – Ansel Parkin (BHSC)

2nd – Ebon Parkin (BHSC)

3rd – William Whyte (BSC)

4th – Sebastian Ballantyne (BSC)

It was back to the water for the girls (many of whom had a free surf in between) for the under 16’s final. In this heat Lola Mitchell took the win with waves scores in the excellent range and some fantastic surfing.

U16 Girls

1st – Lola Mitchell (BSC)

2nd – Olivia MacKay (NSSC)

3rd – Robyn Larg (TSC)

4th – Tamzin Rosie (NSSC)

The last heat of the day was the under 14 final. It was a hotly contested final and the penultimate round of the category with the most entrants. Surfers worked hard to impress the judges and in the end it was Ebon Parkin who took the win.

U14s

1st – Ansel Parkin (BHSC)

2nd – Sebastian Ballantyne (BSC)

3rd – Charlie Pugh (BHSC)

4th – Rudi Forrest (BHSC)

After the surf it was off to The Scarinish beach hotel for prize giving and dinner…. followed by a late surf again back at Balephuil 🙂

Huge thanks to all of the competitors and their families for making the journey to Tiree. Thank you to Fiona Armstrong for a wonderful meal at the Farmhouse Cafe on the Saturday, to all the event Sponsors: C skins, Thirty Square , The Tiree Scarinish Hotel and Blackhouse Watersports. A massive thanks to all the volunteers, the SSF and especially head judge Craig Greyvenstein for his time and effort.

Thanks to Nampet Ballantyne, Dan Parkin, William Whyte, Charlotte Cadzow and Marcelle Lockheart for the photos.