Sport Features

Putsborough in North Devon was the unscheduled venue for the British Waveski Association's 2006 English Open event.

Scheduled to take place at Woolacombe, strong cross onshore winds forced relocation to the shelter of Putsborough.

The two day event saw competitors from all over the country, including South African youth champions Shaun Holmes and Chris Tebreeke, all provided the large crowd with fantastic entertainment in the art that is waveski surfing.

Welsh waveski legend Jem Howe, 40, from the Gower gave a convincing performance, outclassing competitors half his age to take the open title.

Steve Chivers in action at Putsborough

“It mostly came down to experience in the end, I now manage to surf about 200 days a year and have just about sorted out any contest nerves," said Jem.

"I am probably fitter than I was at 27 and often manage to get out through the surf when others struggle and waste more time during their heats."

The next three positions were very close with only 1.6 points between the competitors.

The South Africans Shaun Holmes and Chis Teebreke took second and third, with local surfer Steve Chivers finishing fourth.

The New Age category was dominated by the visiting South Africans, with Holmes first and Teebreke second. Local surfer Simon De'ath of Knowle came third.

Jem Howe also added the Seniors Division to his honours list, with Simon Roberts and Mark Trise of Cornwall finishing second and third and local surfer Tony Dimond in fourth.

The final event was the Double Dutch Expression Session, which saw competitors competing for the highest scoring and most radical manoeuvre.

Although Mark Trise of Cornwall left the crowd wide mouthed with his explosive air, it wasn't enough to beat the young Shaun Holmes.

British Waveski Association spokesman Paul McHugh was delighted with the turnout of both spectators and competitors and believes that holding the competition in great venues like Puttsbourgh will see the sport in the UK go from strength to strength.