The annual C- Skins West Coast Junior Championships took place in Lahinch, Co Clare at the weekend. It was well attended with young surfers travelling from all over Ireland to compete. The event was the first of two selection events for the Denny Irish Junior Surf Team that will compete at the World Junior Surfing Championships in Portugal in May.

The heats got under way on Saturday morning with the U16 Boys followed by the U18 Boys in difficult windy conditions. By mid afternoon the finals kicked off as Contest Director, Cliodhna Fawl, was expecting incontestable conditions for Sunday.

The first final to hit the was the U18 Longboard  were Craig Butler, Tramore took first place edging David Lavery, Derry into 2nd with David Little, Cork in 3rd and Richard Forbes, Causeway Coast in 4th.

James Garvey, Castlederg pull some good manoeuvres on some solid waves to take the U14 title but he was closely followed by Bundoran’s Iarom Madden who also put in a good performance with some high scoring waves towards the end of the final to push him into second. Peter Bannon, Jordanstown finished 3rd ahead of Conor McGuire, Bundoran in 4th.

The U18 Girls final was tightly contested with Amy May Garvey, Castlederg and Tahlia Britton, Rossnowlagh tied for the top spot, on a count back Amy May took 1st pushing Tahlia into 2nd. Rebecca Britton, Rossnowalgh and Grace Doyle, Tramore finished 3rd and 4th respectively. Both girls, relative newcomers to competitive surfing performed well to reach the final.

The U16 final was the one not to be missed with local boy, Damien Conway riding several of the highest scoring waves of the event. Damien impressed judges and spectators with some radical and powerful surfing to take the U16 title in his stride. Aaron Reid, Sligo finished 2nd with Brian Patton, Ballyshannon and Andrew Mc Hale, Strabane, 3rd and 4th respectively.

The U18 final kicked off with a high scoring wave for Colin Murphy, Spanish Point. However John James Newmarch, Easkey was quick to retaliate with a solid wave. John James then chose to paddle further out in search of a bigger wave which he found and rode to shore with some solid turns. He followed that with a couple more good scoring waves that earned him 1st place. Colin who just did not find that second high score had to settle for 2nd place with Ronan Oertzen 3rd and David Bannon 4th.

The host club, West Coast Surf Club was delighted with the turnout and success of the event and wish to thank all who contributed to the event particularly C-Skins, judges & helpers, Lahinch Surf Shop, Celtic T Shirt Shop, Lahinch Golf and Leisure and all the parents and surfers who travelled to the contest. The second selection event for the Denny Irish Junior Surf Team is scheduled to take place in Portrush, Co Antrim on the 24/25 March.
 
U18 Open
1st John James Newmarch , Easkey, Co Sligo
2nd Colin Murphy, Spanish Point, Co Clare
3rd Ronan Oertzen, Belfast
4th David Bannon, Jordanstown, Co Antrim

U16 Open
1st Damien Conway, Lahinch, Co Clare
2nd Aaron Reid, Sligo
3rd Brian Patton, Ballyshannon, Co Donegal
4th Andrew McHale, Bundoran, Co Donegal

U18 Girls
1st Amy May Garvey, Castlederg, Co Tyrone
2nd Tahlia Britton, Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal
3rd Rebecca Britton, Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal
4th Grace Doyle, Tramore, Co Waterford

U14 Open
1st James Garvey, Castlederg, Co Tyrone
2nd Iarom Madden, Bundoran, Co Donegal
3rd Peter Bannon, Jordanstown, Co Antrim
4th Conor McGuire, Bundoran, Co Donegal

U18 Longboard
1st Craig Butler, Tramore, Co Waterford
2nd Dan Lavery, Causeway Coast
3rd David Little, Cork
4th Richard Forbes, Causeway Coast