Jesus Surf Classic 2004

Cornish youngsters dominated the 12th annual Jesus Surf Classic held at Croyde Bay in north Devon over the weekend of 11-12 September 2004. Andrew Griffin from Newquay took the Open title surfing well in challenging 4-5 feet waves. Andrew, who won the Junior title last year, was delighted to finish ahead of Bude's Paul Kirby, Richard Dodd and last year's champion, Joss Ash, also from Bude. Andrew is pictured left receiving the trophy from Andy Neil of Christian Surfers UK, the event organisers.

Mitchell Corbett of Newquay took the Junior U18s title in an all Cornish final. Runner up was Sean Kerr from Holywell Bay, with Jayce Robinson from St Ives (pictured right emerging from the water) taking third place. Reubyn Ash of Bude didn't surf the final due to illness.

Tim Thompson of St Ives won the Junior Bodyboard title beating Barnstaple's Hassan Ingram.

Saturday saw messy conditions as the heats took place. The afternoon's surfing was curtailed as the wind picked up causing problems back in the surf village with some of the gazebos and the PA tent having to be taken down before they took off! Some of the competitors, supporters and organisers suffered damaged tents overnight. Sunday morning saw prayers answered with better conditions and the surfing got underway at 8:30am.

The Women's Open Surfing Title was won by current WQS surfer Lauren Ringer for the second year running. Lauren is pictured in the final in the yellow vest. Runner up was Kim Johnson, who survived a near drowning incident, to achieve her best result yet in the JSC. Kim emerged from the final saying conditions were "murderous especially in the middle section". She explained how she'd been sucked under and back out and came up in the gills not knowing how she got there. "I thought I was going to die. Everything slowed down like in a dream."

Newcomer Sophie Cherel of London came third beating two times previous champion Sarah Whiteley.

Other winners included Roger Knight in the Masters Over 35s division. Steve Harvey came second and Jed Stone third.

In the Longboard final Ashley Braunton beat Greg Robinson, Andrew Griffin and Eddie Wilson.

In a keenly contested Bodyboard open final Oli Medland beat Renee Geofrey, the 15 year old Eddie Read and Richard Peters. Eddie Read took the Cadet title.

In the Youth surfing final Matt Burner took the title. He is pictured both wiping out in the final(below), and receiving the trophy(left). The other finalists were Tom Bentley, Jack Butler and Lyndon Wake.

National Director of Christian Surfers UK, Phil Williams, was "pleased with the way it's gone given the difficult conditions." His organisation served the 150 competitors well.

During the Saturday afternoon skateboard competition Phil Pechonis of Calvary Chapel, Woolacombe, spoke about his Christian faith and invited people to become Christians. Three young people responded immediately. Phil also spoke at the final presentation on the Sunday afternoon where the winners in each category were presented with, among their other prizes, a copy of the Surfers Bible. Other finalists were offered a copy of a Gideon New Testament.

Report by Phil Hadley

Click on the Photo Gallery page to see 135 photos giving all the action of the whole event