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BLOSSOM CANOLA FUN SURF SERIES #1 FEED BACK!
Well done to all surfers who took part in the first Blossom Canola Contest!
The day started off with a bit of organized chaos having to run 3 podiums and getting all kids in the right direction. Apologies to the girls at the ‘C’ beach for any complications, and to any mix ups with surfers surfing too close together at A and B Beaches. We will iron out all the teething problems at our next two events.
We will have the beach clearly marked for boundaries, and also have a separate tabulator, scoreboard and sheets up for parents and surfers at each podium. Each podium will run as an individual entity until the finals which will be run only one heat at a time at the main podium. This should iron out all confusion.
October is known for rain, and we do need rain – but it played it’s part and the heavens only opened seriously after the contest which really helped. Despite a few strong gusts of wind, and sand going everywhere – everyone managed to make it through the morning.
There were a record number of entries for the event and I was still getting calls on Saturday and had to turn surfers away. This is a fantastic sign that surfing is growing in Durban. Over 40 schools were represented and people drove from Richards Bay to Port Alfred to come to the event.
In the u10 Boys division we had 8 little guys take to the water. It is incredible how brave and ‘amped’ these little ones are. In the % rounds little Hamish Lovemore won the points total, but then in the finals young Ethan Kraus scored a big 6.5 ride with a back up of a 4.5 ride to take the win. He was followed closely by Saxton Randall who scored a total of 10 points. Then came Joshua Smit with 7.5 total, David Bartholomew with 6.5 and Hamish with a total of 5 points. Ethan Kraus is a newcomer to the surfing events and we are thrilled to have him and the other little guys join us!
In the u12 boys division Richard Kidd showed his talent by winning the % rounds and the overall event. A total of 13 boys surfed this division. In the finals Richard got a total of 10.5 points, followed by Jason Milne with 7.5, Reece Mason with 1.5, Keegan Barnes with .02 and Khetho Ngcobo did not paddle out so Byron Daynes was lucky to get the 5th prize! Richard is unfortunately moving to Johannesburg and we will miss him so much!
In the u14 boys division there was a tie first for % rounds with Wade Simkiss, Devin Whitehead, and Justin Sykes. When it came down to the finals Devin Whitehead won with a total of 9.5 points, followed by Justin Sykes with 8 points, Chris Naude with 6.5, Wade Simkiss with 6 and Luke McCraken with 2 points. A total of 24 kids surfed in this division. Well done to Devin for his win.
The u16 boys division is always very competitive and Chad Coullie (pronounced cowly! J), won the % rounds and the finals. In the final Chad got 9.5 points, then Brandon Rose got 6 points, followed by Mitchell Markgraaff with 5.6 points, Roger Allison with 5.2 points and Brady Myers with 3.2 points. 24 Surfers took part in the u16 boys. It was lovely to see these kids making the finals as some of them don’t usually make finals which shows they are improving all the time – well done!
In the u18 boys division Damien Stander won the % rounds. In the finals Vaughn Weyer showed his huge potential by getting two 7. rides and totaling 14.5 which put the other surfers in combination. In second place came Jake Stewart with 8 points, Damien Stander with 6,5, Trevor Hoyte with 4.5 and Andile Lutheuli did not show for the finals. Another big field here with 19 surfers taking to the water. Well done to Vaughn for his excellent surfing.
The u10 girls are just SO cute to watch. They get so excited and after their first heat just want to know when their next heats are. The Dad’s come out looking absolutely finished but the little girls have the biggest smiles on their faces! Young Tyla Jade Banks from Uvongo won the event with a total of 10.5 scores. Not surprising as she is the daughter of the famous Andrew Banks – a great surfers in his day and still a great surfer as he has just bee recently crowned SA Masters Champ at Mossel Bay a couple of weeks back!
In 2nd spot came Olivia Izzard – excellent as this was her first contest! Then came little Sarah Lee Smit from the Bluff, Gaby Lailvaux and Thando Mdima.
Thanks to all you parents for encouraging your little girls – you are all doing a sterling job!
The u12 girls got off to a shaky start with confusion at the girls beach, but eventually settled down and it looked to be a contest between Michaela Venter from Warner Beach and Kelly Simkiss from Umdloti. However Michaela unfortunately had her timings wrong (Michelle where were you? You are normally so on the ball) and she paddled out late for her heat. Kelly Simkiss won the event with 5.5, followed by Cana Foster very close behind with 5.2, then Alice Wootton 4.2, Jadye Lamb 3 points and Michaela Venter with 1 point. A lot of these little girls had their first contest ever so well done to you all!
In the u14 girls division we were very short of entries so only two girls paddled out. Zodwa Silwane came 1st with 1.7 scores and Bridget Luthuli came 2nd with .09 scores. Please spread the word everyone that there is lots of room in the u14 girls division for the next event!
The u16 girls is the most competitive division with 10 entries. Mia Hordyk was on form all day and won the % rounds. In the final it was Demi Mason who took the win with 5.8 scores, then Jess Wilson with 5.5, Mia Hordyk with 4, Keira Tucker from Hillcrest with 1.3 and Michelle Lang from Toti with 1.1.
The u18 girls also had very few entries and Kat Steffen won with 9.5 scores and Sydney Beukes came in 2nd with 1.9 points – please also spread the word here about lots of room in the u18 girls!
Thanks to BLOSSOM CANOLA and to Gerrit Snyders for taking the trouble to come down to the event. It was great having you there!
To all our product suppliers of give aways and prizes (I am sure you will agree the kids were super spoilt on the day!)
Lizzard/Lizzy - Gavin Roberts – for all the prizes and loan of equipment and rashies
Larmont Surf Shop – for the gift vouchers – Mike Larmont
Hurricane – for all the prizes – grips/ leashes etc – Jestyn Viljoen
Quiksilver / Roxy – for all the prizes wallets, belts, Stickers etc – Carol
Palmers – for all lotions, lip balms, hair removing cream etc – Dorianne Rose
Ceres – for the Lipton Ice Tea, towels, - Debbie McCraken
Ceres – for the Liquifruit Surfboard that we raffled – Debbie
Rip Curl – for the caps – Dean Seppings
Clover – for the Super M’s for the kids – Carl
BILT SURFBOARDS – for donating the board for the kids raffle!
There are so many people to thank for the fantastic work they all did!
Tim Hordyk – is our man who does all the equipment for KZN Surfing. Tim gets up early and takes everything down there, sets up, and is the last to leave. He also cleans the stuff and takes care of everything. Tim thanks so very much – what would we do without you – you are a SUPERSTAR!! Victor who helps Tim – is also always on duty early and always cheerful and helpful. Thanks Victor! We really appreciate you!
Carol Bennewith/Brown did so much work behind the scenes – getting the rash vests made and printed, fetching and carrying, doing the certificates, the T-shirts printing (not sizes…), (T-shirts came from Jhb – again sorry about that will have next time for everyone). Carol – thanks soooo much!!! You are a treasure to KZN Surfing!
Lynette Stander! What would we have done without you! Lynette handled all the fun and games and prizes on the day. And with the help of Paw Paw (yes that is his nickname), and Robyn Allison got all the goodies out there. Lynette was constantly cheerful and did a BRILLIANT job of managing the gazebo of give aways! An always with a smile – Lynette for President! You are amazing thanks sooo very much! Paw Paw thanks for your help keeping the gazebos lodged! We nearly had a crisis when the one gazebo blew over! Paw Paw to the rescue!
Nikita Kekana thanks so much for your help out at the girls beach – sorry it was so hectic at times but you did a great job and ran a few miles! Kevin Rodgers – thanks a million for all your time and work at the C beach! Both of you worked very hard and we are all very grateful J
Anne Wright our Contest Director and tabulator – she had a very stressful day but managed to get through it all. She treated herself to a long hot bath to get rid of the layers of sand! Thanks Anne – and thanks for never losing your cool – you are so wonderful and friendly to everyone! We love you too much!
Annie de Vries and Elani Maritz for their ‘HEADS DOWN NO BREAK’ tabulating all day. They worked like Trojans – try doing 3 beaches with 15 minute heats. Those scores just kept coming and doing % rounds makes each heat 5x longer to calculate! Then Carol Brown joined the troops and helped tabulate because it was as busy as the opening of a stock market in New York when times are good! Thanks Carol, Elani and Annie you all did such a fantastic job!
Annie de Vries – also for taking photos at the prize giving! Also to Chrissie Izzard for taking pics for me and for dropping the disc off at my house this morning! I will load all the pics on the web later today.
Mark Maritz – our wonderful patient kind judge who controls the panel of judges for KZN Surfing. Thanks Mark – I know it got a bit hectic at times. Mark has already emailed me suggestions to improve conditions for the next event. Mark is passionate about surfing and is loyal to the kids that they get the best they can at events. He was supported by Wade Botha, Jarryd Smith, Cyril, Joe, Cruize, Fortune, Malcolm Landon and Kyle – THANKS to all you guys – you did a great job!!
Thanks to Quinton Shabalala and his team of lifeguards who support our surfing events. It really helps when the lifeguards are on your side.
Well done to Ethan Kraus who won the LIQUIFRUIT surfboard!!
Thanks to all the folk who bought tickets for the raffle for Heather Clarke! We managed to raise close on R1000 and we are still fund raising for her! Well done to Darren Sykes for winning the hamper!
All in all it was a great day! Next event 22 November - we are limiting entries so please get your entries in asap. If you have entered all three don't worry to confirm but do let me know on the Thursday before if you will NOT be entering so I can put your place up for someone else. |
