[ivanmcp]

Fat Face Night Surf Grommet Event

The Fat Face Night Surf Grommet competition took place over the weekend with the top spot going to 15 year old Toby Donachie from St Merryn making it two wins out of two for the 2008 season.

The crowd at Lusty Glaze Beach enjoyed top surfing action with the strong field of young surfers making the most of the pumping waves ensuring the future looks bright for the British surfing scene.

This was the second stop of the UKPSA (UK Pro Surfing Association) Grommet Tour. The under 16 podium was full of talent with Leon Mansfield from Newquay taking 2nd place, Josh Daniel from Hayle taking 3rd place in his first Fat Face competition, while Tom Good from Newquay was pleased with his 4th place.

Zoe Shealth from the Isle of Wight took 1st place in the Under 16 girls competition and enjoyed a solid performance throughout the heats to take the final. Lucy Campbell from Woolacombe took 2nd place, followed by Poppy Barlow-Griffin from Penzance in 3rd position and Gabi Rowe from Looe came 4th.

One of the closest fought contests of the day was the Under 12’s Open. The larger crashing waves as the tide came up the beach made conditions challenging for the younger competitors. Ed Smith of Liskeard enjoyed jumping up to take 1st place; Tas Knight from Chulmleigh came a close 2nd. The 3rd spot went to local Dale Foster from Newquay with Alfie Turner from Bodmin taking the 4th spot.

One of the highlights of the day was watching the champagne spraying style celebrations by the youngsters, all supplied with fizzy apple juice!

Winner of the Fat Face Night Surf Grommet event 2008, Toby Donachie commented: “It was such a great event and I’m looking to continue on my success of 2008 having won the Saltrock open in Croyde and now this event. I’m hoping to keep getting the top result. I’m also keen to ‘up’ the profile of British surfing on the European pro-junior circuit.

4th Placed Tom Good said: “This is my third time competing in the Fat Face Grommet competition and it just gets bigger and better every year. The waves this year were the best yet!”

Winner of the under 16 girls Zoe Sheath from the Isle of Wight said: “I really enjoyed this event and am very pleased with my win. Conditions were tricky at times, however it was the same for all of us.”

Everyone involved in the event felt that this was one of the best, if not the best Fat Face Night Surf yet, with everything coming together to produce the ultimate platform for the surfing talent to shine. Will Blair, marketing manager, Fat Face, comments: “Watching the upcoming stars was inspiring and it was great to see so many talented youngsters, it certainly boads well for the future of British surfing.”

David Reed, contest director for the Fat Face Night Surf and tour commented: “We would like to thank Fat Face for once again sponsoring this important contest on the surfing calendar and also Lusty Glaze for allowing us to host this event” adding “This event has not only allowed the surfers the opportunity to show how well they can surf, but also given the surfers a chance to raise their profile and one day possibly make a career out of the sport as a professional athlete”.