OVER the past couple of months Island surfers have been notching up the trophies in mainland contests and as far a field as south west France.
The British National Championships, held at Croyde in Devon, was run off in decent two to four-feet conditions. Johnny Fryer from Shorwell won the junior title for the third year in a row, equalling the record set by ex-European champion Spencer Hargreaves in the late 80s.
This year he had to work hard as Anglo-Kiwi Ollie Adams was in superb form pushed him all the way. Earlier in the season Fryer captained the English team at the European Junior Championships in Mimizan, south west France.
He beat the top three seeds in his semi-final of the Under-18 division but unfortunately the final was cancelled due to lack of surf. Solid performances from other team members secured England a credible third place behind France and Portugal.
Earlier this month, the final contest in the British Professional series was held at Croyde in testing 6ft waves.
Fryer won all his heats through to the final, beating number one seed Mark Harris in the semis, but was unlucky with the waves in the final and finished fourth.
Fryer is soon off to Australia for the winter to train and compete in some professional junior contests.
· The Headworx Southbourne classic was held in stormy conditions.
Fifteen-year-old Barnaby Lewington from Cowes made it through to the junior final and finished fourth, taking home a trophy and a clutch of prizes.
Longboarder Alan Reed was part of the Hotdoggers A-team, who were triumphant in Scarborough at the British Interclub Longboard championships. The first day was held in heavy 6ft storm surf with the finals on the Sunday perfect 4 to 6ft glassy conditions.
In a tight-run contest hosted by the Scarborough surf club, the Hotdoggers realised their dream of taking home the perpetual trophy they had been chasing for three years.
Team members were Reed, Alan Harris, Eric Davies, Norman and Ian Wright and Guy Robinson.