Classic Surf For Billabong Easkey Open

Competitors at the Billabong Easkey Open hosted by West Sligo Surf Club and the Irish Surfing Association were treated to two days of excellent surfing conditions in Easkey, Co Sligo this weekend. Conditions could not have been better with a solid swell, offshore winds and sunshine for most of the weekend. A pod of dolphins even arrived to catch the end of the Open final and the start of the Women’s final on Sunday. The contest was the final event of the 2010 Irish Championships Tour and the first of three selection events for the 2011 Irish Surf Team.

The Easkey Open title was fiercely contested with great performances from three of Ireland top junior surfers, Cillian Ryan, Wexford, Iarom Madden Travers, Bundoran and Aaron Reid, Sligo along with Ollie O’Flaherty, Clare and newcomer, Carl Mazon, Kerry and Fergal Smith, Mayo. Cillian and Carl were eliminated in the semi finals leaving Aaron, Ollie, Iarom and Fergal to contest the final. All four surfers were on top form pushing each other wave for wave with Fergal coming out on top to clinch the Easkey Open title. Aaron took second, edging Iarom into third and Ollie finished fourth.

Nicole Morgan won the Women’s event while Ashleigh Smith took the Women’s Bodyboard title. Shane Meehan won the Men’s Bodyboard with John Mc Curry taking the Longboard title. Keith O’Brien, Tramore won the Senior event and returning to competition after several years, Richard Fitzgerald won the Masters. Emmet O’ Doherty, Bundoran won the Stand Up Paddle event with a solid performance.

The Irish Championships Tour was comprised of four events this year however due to poor surf conditions earlier in the year, two of the events were cancelled leaving the Co Sligo Open and Easkey Open to crown our 2010 Irish Champion.

Stephen and Andrew Kilfeather, Strandhill were celebrating as Stephen was crowned Irish Champion and Andrew, Irish Bodyboard Champion. Nicole Morgan retained the Irish Women’s title while Ashleigh Smith retained the Irish Women’s Bodyboard title. Young Craig Butler, Tramore took the Longboard title making history as he is now Irish Junior and Senior Longboard Champion for 2010. John Britton, Rossnowlagh clinched the Senior title and Stevie Burns, Portrush continued his domination of the Masters title. Finn Mullen took his second Stand Up Paddleboard title.

Thanks to event sponsors Billabong and Monster Energy, Contest Director, Paul O’Kane, Head Judge, Pascal Devine and Tabulator, Eileesh Buckley, Seventh Wave Surf School and to all the competitors and spectators who made the event such a huge success.

Billabong Easkey Open Results
Open
1 Fergal Smith, Westport
2 Aaron Reid, Sligo
3 Iarom Madden Travers, Bundoran
4 Ollie O’Flaherty, Lahinch

Women
1 Nicole Morgan, Bundoran
2 Easkey Britton, Rossnowlagh
3 Shauna Ward, Bundoran
4 Tahlia Britton, Rossnowlagh

Longboard
1 John Mc Curry, Portrush
2 Stephen Kelleher, Lahinch
3 Crain Butler, Tramore
4 Emmet O’Doherty, Bundoran

Bodyboard
1 Shane Meehan, Strandhill
2 Darragh Mc Carter, Bundoran
3 Tom Gilllespie, Dublin
4 Andrew Kilfeather, Strandhill

Women’s Bodyboard
1 Ashleigh Smith, Strandhill

Senior
1 Keith O’Brien, Tramore
2 John Britton, Rossnowlagh
3 Kerry Larkin, Strandhill
4 David Blount, Tramore

Master
1 Richard Fitzgerald, Bundoran
2 Derek Parle, Sligo
3 Stevie Burns, Portrush
4 Jimmy Meehan, Bundoran

SUP
1 Emmet O’Doherty, Bundoran
2 Finn Mullen, Portrush
3 John Mc Curry, Portrush

Irish Championships Tour Final Results
Open
1 Stephen Kilfeather, Strandhill
2 Ollie O’Flaherty, Lahinch
3 Ronan Oertzen, Belfast/Aaron Reid, Sligo

Women
1 Nicole Morgan, Bundoran
2 Easkey Britton, Rossnowlagh
3 Shauna Ward, Bundoran
4 Amy May Garvey, Castlederg

Longboard
1 Craig Butler, Tramore
2 John Mc Curry, Portrush
3 Stephen Kelleher, Lahinch
4 John Coady, Courttown

Bodyboard
1 Andrew Kilfeather, Strandhill
2 Darragh Mc Carter/ Paul Mc Carter, Bundoran
4 Martin Kelly, Coleraine

Womens Bodyboard
1 Ashleigh Smith, Strandhill

Senior
1 John Britton, Rossnowlagh
2 Kerry Larkin, Strandhill
3 Colin O’Hare, Strandhill
4 Kenny Ward, Bundoran

Master
1 Stevie Burns, Portrush
2 Finn Mullen, Portrush
3 Richard Fitzgerald, Bundoran
4 Derek Parle, Sligo

SUP
1 Finn Mullen, Portrush
2 Emmet O’Doherty, Bundoran
3 Andrew Kilfeather, Strandhill
4 John Mc Curry, Portrush

Check out Aaron Pierce's Photos of the event- http://liquid-storm.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html

and Nicole's video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CtJwVmTPmw