Since the BWA returned to Gwithian in 2009 this break has consistently
delivered and 2014 was no exception. 70 of the UK’s top wavesilors descended on
Peters point for the final round of the tour. Critically, the results of this
event determine the final Championship results.
Day 1 was a dedicated Pros day but the waves didn’t arrive
with enough power to contest. With improving swell on the forecast, Head Judge
Ian Ross made the decision to hold off until Saturday.
Day 2 brought bigger waves and a solid South westerly wind.
Competition commenced at 10.45 with the Youths hitting the water first. By 5pm
70 competitors had competed in the event with final results for the Pro, Women
and Youth fleets.
Day 3 brought lighter winds but more swell. With only 2
final heats to run the Masters and Youths remained on standby for the day
whilst the judging team waited patiently for a chance to start the event. By
2.30pm the skies turned menacingly dark and the judges jumped on the chance of
heavy squalls to get the Masters into the water. And it paid off as both Ams
and Masters we
re able to complete their finals before the sun came out and the
wind deserted Peters Point.
3 days, 70 Competitors and 35 Heats completed this event has
become one of the best organised and well-attended wave events on the BWA tour.
The event also received fantastic volunteer support and a very warm welcome from
the locals. This event is sure to continue for years to come.
The Pros
It was always going to be fierce in the pros with only 1
Championship point between Phil Horrocks (Gaastra,Tabou) and Ben Proffitt
(Simmer,Simmer). Cornwall also brought out the big guns with Adam Lewis
(Fanatic,North) hopping in from the Canary isles. Graham Woods (Goya) made a
comeback after 2 years away in Oz and of course local Guru Andy King (Goya)
came to party with a history of podium finishes at this event.
As it turned out King never got his game together and went
out in the first round to Aleksy Gayda (RRD,RRD) who was on fire following his
recent 2nd place in the Tiree ‘Quickening’.
Woods also put in a solid performance to share 5th
with Gayda but it was young Horrocks who was to make it to the finals with big
bro Phil, Lewis and Proffitt. As the final four got underway it was Phil and
Dave Horrocks who were markedly commanding the heat with outstanding waveriding.
It looked for a time that it would be a Horrocks double win until Dave fell
victim to a bruising wipeout to emerge with a broken mast. Helpers on the beach
of kit caddied replacement kit to David but it was too late as Proffitt and
Lewis seized the chance to gain valuable points. By the end of a frenzied 10
minute heat Phil emerged the victor with a convincing performance. Proffitt took
second and Lewis narrowly behind in third.
WOMEN
With 3 events in the UK completed, Justynia Sniady (Simmer,Simmer)
and Sara Kellett sat in first and second and looked favourites at this event. Megan
Gayda and Ping Ling had missed the Tiree event and so they were to have their own
personal duel in the battle for Championship titles. With wind and waves
building the women made enthusiastic use of the conditions and it soon became
clear that it was going to be close. But it was another solid performance for
Sniady to take her third win of the year. Taking second place, youngster Kellet
has become one of the most improved sailors on the tour and is bound to join
Sniady before too long on the PWA tour. Like her big brother, Gayda was on fire
here and her experience in Brandon Bay was showing as she took the third place
to leave Ping in fourth.
AMS
Once again the event organisers had to cap the fastest
growing fleet of the tour at 32. Leading the tour, Mike Archer and Mike Wand
Tetley had their eyes on the prize as bad luck befell Ben Page who is has an
arm in plaster. Nial Mellon made the monster trip from Brandon Bay, Cornwall
regular Will Barrett had his eyes on another podium finish with Gregg Dunnett
attending his first BWA wave event. Lewis Merrony also returned after a year
break. But it was shocks all around as both event favourites Archer and
Wand-Tetley failed to advance from the semis to the final. In the final Mellon
and Merrony proceeded to take every wave to pieces showing once again that both
deserve a promotion to the Pro fleet in 2015. Mellon took the win with Will
Barrett in 3rd and an excellent fourth place for Dunnett
YOUTH
Three of this years youths sat with equal Championship points
going into this event and it was soon clear that despite their young years this
fleet was ferocious as the Pros and none were put off by the building waves.
James Arnell Smith was making his first BWA appearance and did well to also make
his first final. ‘Ams crusher’ Freddie Ide has had a great run so and is always
on hand to give the pros tips! But it was not to be his day as Jack Petit and
Fin Mellon battled for the top two places. Watching all the youths you would
easily be convinced you were watching the top Ams with a comment from one
bystander of “These boys would woop Andy King the way he sailed yesterday!”.
With slashy top turns in the final moments of the heat it was Jack Petit who
moved slightly ahead on points to take his first win with Fin a very respectable
second and Freddie in third.
It is very clear that the future looks bright and you can
expect to see any one of these youngsters following Freddie Ide to the PWA tour
before too long.
MASTERS
In the hotly contested Masters fleet, Tour leader Craig
Hamilton started the event well but came unstuck in the 2nd round as
Plymouth lad Dave Ewer once again commanded the waves. New to the tour in 2014 Kyle
McGinn and Daniel Ramsden were also looking for podium results but it was local
lad Justin Dennington that was here to spoil their party. A previous winner of
the Cornwall event, Dennington looked at home in the Towans break but it was
Ewer that sneaked ahead with bigger wave riding to take his second win here.
McGinn took third and a cheery faced Ramsden gave a great account in his first Cornish
Classic to take fourth.
Final Championship report to follow.
Report by Nigel Treacy, Chairman BWA.
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