Scottish Junior Series Event #2 – Dunnet Beach

| 30th August 2024 | Events | No Comments

Dunnet Junior Series Competition hosted by North Shore Surf Club 24th August 2024 

A glorious morning on the glassy Pentland Firth wasn’t the usual welcome for our hardy bunch of young surfers on the 2nd Junior Series stop. Waist to shoulder high waves were peeling off really nicely with both lefts and rights on offer with good scoring potential.

The comp was quickly setup by the volunteers and judging team in time to start the Under 10 division for 9am. Six competitors, some local, one from Tynemouth Surf Club and a few from the North East took to the water and put on a great show to start the comp. These guys and girls are competitive and under the watchful eyes of our lifeguards, Jason ‘Mitch Buchannon’ Simpson and Graeme ‘Jimmy Slade’ Morgan, they were putting up some really good scores. The final saw local shredders, Rossi Jardine (NSSC) take the win closely followed by Skye Brock (NSSC) who proudly represented the girls, with Asher Noble (BSC) in 3rd and Finn Morgan (ASC) 4th pushing for the top spots.

  • Under 10’s

Under 10’s Results

  1. Rossi Jardine (NSSC)
  2. Skye Brock (NSSC)
  3. Asher Noble (BSC)
  4. Finn Morgan (ASC)

With the inevitable wind picking up and temperature plummeting as forecasted, the race was on to get the younger kids divisions wrapped up. The Under 12s brought competitors from all corners of Scotland together with a masterclass from Kai Cruickshank (BSC) delivering him a well -deserved win.  The remaining places were tightly contested with some good rides from the rest of the finalists and Oscar Morgan (ASC) securing 2nd, Reuben Milbourne (TSC) in 3rd and Rae Hood (BHSC) in 4th as the top placed female.

  • Under 12’s

Under 12’s

  1. Kai Cruickshank (BSC)
  2. Oscar Morgan (ASC)
  3. Reuben Milbourne (TSC)
  4. Rae Hood (BHSC)

The under 14 boy’s division had 8 competitors and was hotly contested. Solid scores were dropped by the Fraserburgh duo, Gabe Noble (BSC) and Sebastian Ballantyne (BSC) with Gabe taking the win, Seb in 2nd, followed by Lewis Morgan (ASC) in 3rd and Aidan Innes (BSC) in 4th who both surfed well.

  • Gabriel Noble
  • Boys U14’s

Boys U14’s

  1. Gabriel Noble (BSC)
  2. Sebastian Ballantyne (BSC)
  3. Lewis Morgan (ASC)
  4. Aidan Innes (BSC)

Callie Cruickshank (BSC) wasn’t to let her brother, Kai, get all the bragging rights as she sewed up the U14 girl’s division by a clear margin.  Maya Kobedza (SSC) showed her skills for 2nd.  Freya Pilarska (BHSC) in 3rdpipped her good mate and fellow club member, Rosie Moore (BHSC), in 4th and local grom, Olivia Sutherland (NSSC) took 5th.

  • Girls U14’s

Girls U14’s

  1. Callie Cruickshank (BSC)
  2. Maya Kobedza (SSC)
  3. Freya Pilarska (BHSC)
  4. Rosie Moore (BHSC)
  5. Olivia Sutherland (NSSC)

In the under 16 boy’s, Ansel Parkin (BHSC) was clearly on form with one of the highest heat totals of the day. Tam Hood (BHSC) put up a good show for 2nd, with Gregor Mill (NSSC) finding some scores for 3rd and Lewis Batty taking the 4th.

  • Boys U16’s

Boys U16’s

  1. Ansel Parkin (BHSC)
  2. Tam Hood (BHSC)
  3. Gregor Mill (NSSC)
  4. Lewis Batty (EBSC)

It was great to see some surfers from south of the border coming up to the event with a couple in the U16 girl’s. Lola Mitchell (BSC) proved too strong on this occasion with a 1st place but I’m sure she enjoyed being challenged by Kaja Millward from Polzeath Surf Club in 2nd, Bethan Davies of Tynemouth Surf Club in 3rd and local ripper, Voe Brock (NSSC) in 4th.

  • Girls U16’s

Girls U16’s

  1. Lola Mitchell (BSC)
  2. Kaja Millward (Polzeth Surf Club)
  3. Bethan Davies (Tynemouth Surf Club)
  4. Voe Brock (NSSC)

Some high scores were dropping in the U18 boys with a well-deserved win and big heat total for Finn Clark (EBSC), some good surfing by Ebon Parkin (BHSC) in 2nd and one good score but not the backup needed for Ben Kobedza (SSC) in 3rd.

  • Boys U18’s

Boys U18’s

  1. Finn Clark (EBSC)
  2. Ebon Parkin (BHSC)
  3. Ben Kobedza (SSC)

Robyn Larg (TSC) showed her class in the U18 girls with some good surfing for the win, Olivia MacKay (NSSC) also had a solid heat for 2nd, with another local, Tamzin Rosie (NSSC), taking 3rd. 4th place went to Athena Sintoris (EBSC) with Natalie Kobedza (SSC) getting 5th.

  • Girls U18’s

Girls U18’s

  1. Robyn Larg (TSC)
  2. Olivia Mackay (NSSC)
  3. Tamzin Rosie (NSSC)
  4. Athena Sintoris (EBSC)
  5. Natalie Kobidza (SSC)

Some of the most eagerly anticipated divisions were saved for last – the Open under 18 categories where the young pups can take on the old dogs (if under 18 is old!) There was the chance of some upsets, and we weren’t disappointed. In the boy’s Open, Gabe Noble (BSC) continued his excellent form and took out some older surfers with Finn Clark (EBSC) in 2nd and Ansel Parkin (BHSC) in 3rd closely behind. 4th went to Lewis Morgan who surfed well but couldn’t quite find the backup score he needed.

  • Boys U18 Open

Boys U18 Open

  1. Gabriel Noble (BSC)
  2. Finn Clark (EBSC)
  3. Ansel Parkin (BHSC)
  4. Lewis Morgan (ASC)

A similar trend happened in the U18 girl’s Open with Callie Cruickshank (BSC) topping off her perfect day with a solid win followed by club mate, Lola Mitchell (BSC) in 2nd, Bethan Davies (Tyne SC) in 3rd and Rosie Moore (BHSC) with a well-deserved 4th.

  • Girls U18 Open

Girls U18 Open

  1. Callie Cruickshank (BSC)
  2. Lola Mitchell (BSC)
  3. Bethan Davies (Tynemouth Surf Club)
  4. Rosie Moore (BHSC)

Overall, it was noticeable how much better the kids are at managing heats; using priority (no interference calls!); selecting waves more carefully; and building good scores. And that is even in the younger age groups. Impressive work and the judges and spectators were loving it!

The prize giving and after comp buffet took place at the NSSC hut at Thurso East – a spot these young shredders are getting to know well. 

Thanks to the hosts: NSSC, 

Event Sponsors: Stroupster Community Fund, Lost Shore Surf Resort

Junior Series Sponsors: C-Skins Wetsuits, Robie Robes

Contest Director: Chris Clarke

Judges:  Craig Greyvenstein, Neil Simmonds, Brendon Ferrier, Iona Larg, Suds

Priority Judges: Kaitlynn Mendenhall, Kirsty Parkin, Iona Larg, Catriona MacDonald

Tabulator & MC: Dan Parkin

MC’s: Scott Main (and the star that is Finn Main)

Beach Marshalls: Marcelle Lockhart, Norma Mill, Shoana McNichol, Claire Mackay & Brian Mackay

Photographers: Duncan McLachlan, Mal Anderson

Lifeguards: Jason Simpson, Graeme Morgan

Caterers: Olive in Thurso & Northern Sands Hotel, Dunnet

Tractor Driver: William Mackenzie

Words by Craig ‘Suds’ Sutherland. Photos by Duncan McLachlan & Mal Anderson

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