We took a trip down to Watergate Bay last weekend to compete in the British Stand Paddlesurf Association National for surf and distance. Matt Argyle, Holly, Neal Gent, Emile Kott and I were all entered in the heats. The draw had already been made during the week so it was up to the forecast to deliver the goods. Neal and Emile pulled out before they got to the comp due to injury and illness.

Holly myself and Matt had arrived there Thursday morning as the wind picked up by the end of the day it was 25 knots on shore – we made it out the back for some punishing paddle surfing and not much riding. Friday I had some coaching to do with Gareth Grant again in 25 knots which was not ideal paddlesurfing conditions.

Holly and Matt made it out the back on Friday evening when there was some huge sets rolling in – it was still windy but have to say it was the biggest surf Holly has been out in and she didn’t back off. Matt reckoned he had the biggest hold down in 15 years of surfing!

 Over the comp weekend the conditions on Saturday were tough still very windy with loads of foamy white water and not many gaps between sets – the 20 minute heats were punishing for competitors 19 minutes of paddling out with a very short ride if you were lucky. I had pulled out the comp due to my back but Matt good through 3 heats of 20 minutes and retired out just before the last 3 heats. Holly’s heats were postponed until the Sunday.

There was some very solid paddlesurfers out over the 2 days very impressed with Aaron Rowe who certainly looks set for the No1 spot in the near future, Jim Richardson was really on fire, Defending champion Gareth Grant rode some very impressive waves during the event, Andre the eventual winner was Mr consistent all the way through the event. Matt Smith had an epic heat and was showing some full on power surfing. There is a very high standard of riding at the event making the competition much tougher this year.

On Sunday morning the Battle of the paddle was run in what looked perfect windless surf –Charlie Grey was the eventual winner with Ryan James and Mark “da bull” Slater close on his heels. Holly’s heat with ladies started as the wind picked up again –she was knocked out of the first round and was frustrated with the judging results –but she still managed to be junior national champion so we will see what happens next year.

Good job for Rich Marsh and his team for running the event.

RESULTS: Mens Open Surf
• 1st Andre Le Geyt
• 2nd Jim Richardson
• 3rd Arron Rowe
• 4th Titou Minster
Womens Open Surf
• 1st Maria Buchanan
• 2nd Abigal Barker Smith
• 3rd Kath Jones
• 4th Mi Richardson

Jnr Boys Surf
• 1st Arron Rowe
• 2nd Ollie Laddiman
• 3rd Louie Harrow

Jnr Girls Surf
• 1st Holly Basset

Battle of the Paddle – Men’s 12’6″ Class
• 1st Charlie Grey
• 2nd Ryan James
• 3rd Oliver Shilton

Battle of the Paddle – Mens 14′ Class
• 1st Matt Smith
• 2nd Andrew Peterson
• 3rd Tim Rowe

Battle of the Paddle – Women
• 1st Maria Buchanan
• 2nd Lizzie Bird

Rapanui Wave Expression Session
• 1st Gareth Grant
• 2nd Matt Thomas
• 3rd Will Rogers
• 4th Jim Richardson

2012 Watergate Bay Waterman
• Andre le Geyt

The 8th Annual Wittering Charity Paddle Race organised by West Wittering Windsurf Club and Shoresurf Club held on Sunday 29th August has more than doubled the amount raised over 2011 for The Snowdrop Trust. This year we raised the entry fee a little this year to £15, and all of this amount was given to the Snowdrop Trust, which also helped raise the overall amount. We also encouraged people to raise a minimum of £15 in sponsoship money, and Simon Bassett pledged to ride with an inflatible crocodile on his back, which more than doubled the amount he raised. Next year we are looking to including a ‘teams’ category and a ‘fancy dress’ category.

Due to strong onshore force 6 winds the event was shortened and an upwind course was laid at West Wittering beach. The 32 competitors battled through the chop, paddling into the wind around a marker buoy then headed directly down wind back to the beach and ran over the finish line.

There were riders on surfboards, standup paddle boards, prone surfboards and kayaks – the ages of competitors ranged from 7rs old (Ollie Holland, Prinstead) up to 75yrs old (Roger Wilson, East Wittering) who brought a 1930s kayak made by his father.

On the beach we had a BBQ organised by Dicky Dale and Oliver Chipperfield and supported by the lovely ladies Sandy, Kate and Charlotte . To add to the atmosphere we had some great live music from the youngsters at the Chichester Music Academy who played all afternoon.

This year the overall results were combined with the total amount raised for the charity so the winners were:

Kayak class
1st Pete Dalaway
2nd John Watts
3rd Roger Wilson

Standup Paddleboard Class
1st Simon Bassett
2nd Paul Burgess
3rd Jamie Hawkins

Ladies Surf Class
1st Mary Rotterman

Prone Surf Class
1st Adriano Roldan
2nd Graham Taplin
3rd Brian James

Juniors Kayak Class
1st Theo Burley

Juniors Prone Surf
1st Miles Piper

Juniors Surf class
1st Lucy Howell

Junior Standup Paddleboard Class
1st Holly Bassett
2nd Poppy Holland
3rd Ollie Holland

Simon Bassett event director “We had hoped for no wind all week, Sunday morning we were ready to cancel the event, but we decided to shorten the course and run the event. Our objective this year was to increase the amount of money we raised for the charity we have doubled what we raised last year to £2270.00. I had to ride an inflatable stand up Padddleboard with an inflatable toy crocadile on my back to get some more donations”

We also like to extend a huge thank you to all the helpers, volunteers, and sponsors (total prizes donated £450)

Shore Surf Club (Adriano, Will, Graham, Adrian and Sarah)
WWWC donated jetski/fuel/2 staff members
X-Train (Chris, Luke, Angus and Jack) – staff for the event
2XS (Jane and Daisy) – donated all the event t-shirts, and event photography and posters/flyers/forms
Puma safety (Martin and Neal) – donated boat/2 crew/fuel
West Wittering Estate (David, Marcus and the lifeguards) – donated boat/fuel/lifeguards
Richard Dale & Oliver Chipperfield – donated all the food (with the help of Wallace Butchers & Splits Bakery) – donated
Indoboard (Adriano, Mary) – donated medals/prizes
Wittering Surf Shop – donated prizes
Ion – donated prizes
O’Neill – donated prizes
Prosport Suncreen – donated prizes
Supglobal – donated prizes
The Beach House – donated prizes
Lazy Days (Tiggs) – donated the inflatible crocodile!

And below are listed the finish times of each competitor:

SUP Mens Race
1 – Charley Grey – 07:14
2 – Jamie Hawkins – 07:38
3 – Matt Argyle – 08:03
4 – Paul Burgess – 08:26
5 – Jay Manning – 08:31
6 – Kevin Nind – 16:19

SUP Mens Open
1 – Bart Gay – 09:25
2 – Giles Barley – 09:41
3 – Russel Taplin – 09:46
4 – Simon Basset – 11:18
5 – Ken Harmer – 11:21

SUP Ladies
1 – Julia Toms – 11:02
2 – Lauren Osbourne – 17:05

Surfboard Ladies
1 – Mary Roterman – 10:41

Prone mens
1 – Adriano Roldan – 08:27
2 – Brian James – 09:42
3 – Graham Taplin – 09:43

Kayak
1 – P turnball/J.Achelleyl – 06:18
2 – John Watts – 06:39
3 – Roger Wilson – 07:18
4 – Mark Turnball – 08:48
5 – Peter Dallaway – 16:52

Juniors SUP
1 – Holly Basset
2 – Poppy Holland
3 – Ollie Holland
4 – Bertie Burley

Junior Surf
1 – Lucy Howell

Junior Prone
1 – Moles Piper

Junior Kayak
1 – Theo Burley