Irish Intervarsity's 2011 Results

Ione Byrne raises the cup on behalf of the overall winners, Sligo IT

Sligo IT claimed the 2011 the Irish Student National Surf Championships held on the 19^th-20^th of February beating stiff competition from the hosts, University of Ulster Coleraine who came second, Queens University Belfast third and Trinity College Dublin fourth. A total of 8 clubs and 125 entrants from across Ireland contested the two-day event at Portrush’s West Strand in 1-2ft clean waves, groomed by light offshore winds.

Poor conditions did however postpone the start of the contest to Saturday afternoon when it commenced with the 1^st round of the novice competitions and the championship’s first ever stand up paddle event, won by Sligo IT.

After a fantastic night’s entertainment, competitors awoke to a small consistent wave across the beach allowing the remaining heats to take place. The call proved a good one and by the afternoon the pushing tide provided a more than contestable wave for the finals to take place in.

The novice category again proved to be the most contested with over 70 entries between the men and women’s divisions. The very worthy eventual titles went to Moira Donoghue (IT Carlow) in the women’s division and David Lynch (UCC) in the men's.

The men’s longboard final proved a close affair with UUC’s Rory McNeary narrowly defeating Sligo IT’s Christian McCleod whilst the women’s longboard title was taken in style by Sligo’s Ione Byrne. Sligo also collected both the men and women’s bodyboard titles with the honours going to Ryan McEnroe and Nicole Schiffer.

In the Women’s Open Easkey Britton (UUC) took her 3rd open title at the Championships and as the light faded, the waves grew leaving 4 clubs to battle for the coveted Troggs Men’s Open title. As anticipated by his performance in previous heats the improving conditions provided a stage for event standout, Sligo IT's Ronan Oertzen who earned top spot and simultaneously attained the prize for highest two wave total, sponsored by Portrush Surf School.

The University of Ulster Surf Club would like to thank all who took part and the contests sponsors: Troggs.com, SurfDock.ie, Flow Boards Ireland, Bundoran Surf Co., Woodies Surf Shop, Portrush Surf School, WestCoastSurfer.com, Lahinch Surf Shop, Incide and The Playhouse Portrush.

Special thanks go to Causeway Coast Surf Club, the Irish Surf Association and Coleraine Borough Council for their invaluable help and experience.

-Thomas Smyth

Men's Open finalist Owen Murphy making the most of the small conditions on Sunday Morning

Longboards found the going slightly easier. QUB's Brian Cox finding some tip time to progress to the mens longboard final.

Your's truly couldn't match last years form and failed to progress through the first round.

The men and women's novice divisions were again hotly contested with over 70 entrants between them.

Sligo IT's Christian McLeod finding a shapely wave in the mens longboard final.

The swell steadily improved for the finals. Easkey Britton on a West Bay peak.

Ronan, Stephen, Aaron and Owen all battling for position in the Troggs Mens Open Final

The fading light and growing breeze didn't stop a good crowd for gathering to watch the finals.

The winning team

Men's Open finalists with Trogg's Andy Hill

Massive thanks to Adam and Andy for the shots!

Full list of results:

Mens Open

1^st Ronan Oertzen (SIT)

2^nd Owen Murphy (GMIT)

3^rd Aaron Dees (QUB)

4^th Stephen Murray (UUC)

Womens Open

1^st Easkey Britton (UUC)

2^nd Clare Stephens (QUB)

3^rd Niamh Marie Smyth (QUB)

3^rd Alice Jameson (TCD)

Mens Longboard

1^st Rory McNeary (UUC)

2^nd Christian McLeod (SIT)

3^rd Brian Cox (QUB)

4^th Cathal Sheridan (CIT)

Womens Longboard

1^st Ione Byrne (SIT)

2^nd Daniela Eckstein (UUC)

Mens Bodyboard

1^st Ryan McEnroe (SIT)

2^nd Patrick Alan O’Connaire (GMIT)

Womens Bodyboard

1^st N. Schiffer (SIT)

Mens Novice

1^st David Lynch (UCC)

2^nd Luke Storey (UUC)

3^rd Colin Burgess (QUB)

4^th Adam Karakurt (IT Carlow)

Womens Novice

1^st Moira Donoghue (IT Carlow)

2^nd Alice Garcia (IT Carlow)

3^rd Maria Hall (QUB)

4^th Aoibhin Curran (TCD)

Stand Up Paddle

1^st Sligo IT

2^nd Carlow IT

3^rd Queens University Belfast

4^th Trinity College Dublin

ISA Intervarsities

Saturday dawned small, still and clean.

Things remained much the same for the first heat of the mens open

Where lots of pumping went on

and even more sinking...

Some were able to make the most of it.
About as performance as you could get considering the conditions

Not your typical contest shortboard (mmm....)

Good from a far but far from good.

The tide started to fill and onshores blow as the day drew to an end and the finals commenced

Yours truly representing Coleraine and stoked to be in a final

Pretty in Pink

Your eventual longboard winner Stephen Kelleher

Easkey bringing home the goods for UUC in the womens final ran alongside the longboard

Sun down on Strandhill signalled an alternative source of liquid entertainment

Collecting 3rd in the Longboard (Buzzing)

Goofy superstar Stephen Murray in his post heat interview

El Capitano gracing us with a few words of wisdom

UUC on tour...

The morning after the night before

Sunday morning. Contest over and not a ripple...

Cheers to NUIG, the ISA and all involved for a great contest and a HUGE shout to Lauren, Eugene and Emmett from UUC for making the weekend such a success.

Emptys at East...

Empty right...

Owen doing his best to psyche himself up before the Uni mini-compThere were a few lefts being riddenBut most ended like this

Section beater

Took a few photos before the University's minicomp at East last Wednesday. Some nice waves last week but I was dosed with the cold till about Friday when I got a short but very (very very) sweet sunset session on the longboard. Very little in the way of waves forecasted for the next wee while so I made the best of a nice evening tonight and paddled out in 2ft of the worst onshore dribble you'll be likely to see. Was still better than enjoying the end of daylight from my desk though...

Here at last, on the shores of the sea... comes the end of our Fellowship.

Thought I'd share some images which have made up my last week of Uni life and living in the Port. Sunday with the ladies family, teaching the girls how to surf, enjoying some sunsets, camping on Rathlin and a wee bit of time spent in the pub throughout...

Today I packed up the last of my stuff, said my goodbyes, handed in the keys and and finally moved back home. Thom has once again become another urban dwelling city surfer!