Headworx

For everyone who was down at Watergate at the weekend, as well everyone who missed out on a great weekend, we have now updated our Media page with all the weekends photography.

Headworx Media Archive

One of our newest signings, Miles Lee Hargreaves, has taken some time out to chat to CBBC.

Newquay surfers dominated the final day of the Headworx English Nationals at Watergate Bay, with surfers from the town claiming over 10 of the 23 titles on offer.

Winning the prestigious Open division was 19 year old Tom Butler from Newquay, with defending champion Oli Adams second, and Headworx team riders Matt Capel and Reubin Pearce third and fourth respectively.

Butler and Adams both opened the final strongly, each posting one good wave score, before the heat was effectively ended when Adams and Capel both took off on the same wave incurring a double interference penalty. With both surfers penalised half of their second wave score, Butler only required a reasonable wave to secure the win.

“It’s been a good event, we had good fun waves yesterday and luckily the waves managed to stick around today,” said Butler, who has won English titles at every stage of his career as a junior surfer. “It was a little bit smaller today but I had one good wave in the final and then a bit of luck with Matt (Capel) and Oli (Adams) having a double interference - but I’m taking the win for sure, I’m so happy. I saw they were both paddling hard for the same wave and then they both stood up so they had to call a double interference.”

Another Newquay resident who had a good day on the beach was Lee Bartlett, who showed his competitive pedigree by winning two divisions. The former English and British champion took victories in the Senior (over 28) and Masters (over 35) divisions, taking his total number of English national titles to six.

“I was so tired because I entered three categories, but luckily I got knocked out of the Open quite early which saved my energy,” said Bartlett. “I was really happy to make two finals; I thought I’d come second and third, you never seem to think you’ve done as well as you could. I’ve always wanted to do the double and now I’ve done it.”

16 year old Holly Donnelly, also from Newquay, was another surfer relishing the 3ft surf. Donnelly made up for losing in the girls division (won by Croyde’s Kathleen Spears) by winning the womens title ahead of Jersey’s Sophie Hellyer.

Other notable performances came from Darren Halse who won the bodyboard division; Saunton’s Ben Haworth who won the longboard; and Lewis Clinton, whose win in the juniors (under 18) also earned him the Dave Gent Memorial Trophy for the best-placed junior surfer from Newquay.

There was also special mention for Grishka Roberts, who was awarded the Randall Davies Memorial Trophy for the best performance by a Newquay surfer. Roberts was clearly honoured to be presented with the trophy, which is given in the memory of one of his best friends.

With 23 divisions and close to 300 entrants, the Headworx English Nationals is one of the biggest surfing competitions in Europe. This year it was also one of the busiest, with Saturday alone seeing 40 hours of heats contested simultaneously on four peaks.

“We had a really busy day on Saturday but luckily the surf was brilliant for a competition; everybody was really happy with yesterday’s surf,” said Contest Director Ester Spears. “Out in the water we’ve seen some really excellent surfing; some of the younger guys have been making real inroads into the Open competition, guys like Tom Butler, Jayce Robinson, really young guys who caned the waves yesterday and are establishing themselves in the older divisions.

“It is worth noting that the second biggest category in terms of the number of entries was the under 16s. It was fiercely competitive, and any one of the quarter-finalists could have made it to the final, there’s real depth of talent and plenty to look forward to. Luis Eyre can be very proud to have won that title.”

The winning junior surfers have also earned the right to represent England in the European Junior Surfing Championships which will be held in Morocco in November.

Ben Byfield from event sponsors Headworx, concluded: “It’s been a really successful championship; certainly the surf and the weather have played ball. The standard of competition has been higher than it’s ever been. It’s been great for Headworx to be involved because it’s such a great event with so many different age groups and disciplines, it’s a really nice community event to be involved with.”

The Headworx English Nationals are run by the English Surfing Federation (ESF), a non-profit-making organisation dedicated to the support and development of English surfers.

Open
1 Tom Butler, Newquay
2 Oli Adams, Newquay
3 Matt Capel, South Devon
4 Reubin Pearce, Newquay

Women
1 Holly Donnelly, Newquay
2 Sophie Hellyer, Jersey
3 Nicola Bunt
4 Karma Worthington

Grom (under 12)
1 Ed Smith, Newquay
2 Dale Foster, Newquay
3 Will Bailey
4 Harry DeRoth

Youth (under 14)
1 Luke Dillon, Newquay
2 Liam Turner, Newquay
3 Harry Timson
4 Sam Harwood, Newquay

Cadet (under 16)
1 Luis Eyre, Ericeira, Portugal.
2 George Picking, Newquay.
3 Josh Piper
4 Leon Mansfield

Junior (under 18)
1 Lewis Clinton, Newquay
2 Lyndon Wake, N Devon, Croyde
3 Aaron Evans, Newquay
4 Matt Burner, Kingsbridge

Girls (under 18)
1 Kathleen Spears, Croyde
2 Lucy Campbell, Woolacombe
3 Holly Donnelly, Newquay
4 Karma Worthington, Croyde

Junior Longboard (under 18)
1 Zak Lawton, Croyde
2 Callum Clark
3 Ben Sowter, Newquay
4 Trev Garland, St Ives

Womens Longboard
1 Candice O’Donnell, Newquay
2 Sophie Skinner, Porth Newquay
3 Becky Stanhope, Newquay
4 Kathryn Meredith, Newquay

Longboard
1 Ben Howarth, Saunton
2 Ben Howey
3 James Parry, Newquay
4 Ben Byfield, Newquay

Kneeboard
1 Richard Smith
2 Karl Ward
3 Richard Hewitt
4 Duncan Jones

Masters Kneeboard (Over 35)
1 Richard Hewitt
2 Nick Barkham
3 Richard Smith
4 Jodie Winter

Women Kneeboard
1 Jodie Winter (uncontested)

Stand-up Paddle Surf
1 Adam Zervas
2 Tim Mellors
3 John Hibbard
4 Lewis Timson

Bodyboard
1 Darren Halse
2 Damien Prisk
3 Jack Johns
4 P Milson

Youth Bodyboard (Under 14)
1 Sam Brabyn
2 Joe Logg
3 Ed Hone
4 Ed Shurlock

Junior Bodyboard (Under 18)
1 Luke Brabyn
2 Alex Wake
3 Joe Hone
4 Charlie Strang

Cadet Bodyboard (Under 16)
1 Luke Brabyn

Drop-knee Bodyboard
1 Darren Halse
2 Brad Hut
3 Ollie Meddlam
4 Aiden Salmon

Women Bodyboard
1 Jemma Knight
2 Clemi Hardy
3 Harriet Knight
4 Maisie Lawton

Senior (over 28)
1 Lee Bartlett, Newquay
2 Eugene Tollemache, Padstow
3 Chris Harris, Newquay
4 Roger Knight, Newquay

Masters (over 35)
1 Lee Bartlett, Newquay
2 Chris Harris, Newquay
3 Callum Mole, Newquay
4 Jed Stone, Newquay

Veterans (over 45)
1 Jed Stone, Newquay
2 Cliff Cox, Brighton
3 Les Clinton, Newquay
4 Phil Williams, Nailsea

Day One of the 2008 Headworx English Nationals kicked off in a relaxed style at Watergate Bay. With clean, mellow waves and some long-awaited sunshine, the vibe was friendly and laid-back as over 250 competitors came together for Europe’s largest annual surf contest. Winter travel stories were exchanged and new boards waxed up as Englands best surfers hit the water for the first major event of the 2008 season. With ideal 3 to 4ft surfing conditions forecast for Sunday and Monday, the contest organisers opted to hold back the open divisions on Day One, and gave the grommets and juniors a chance to take the limelight under blue skies in front of a packed beach.

The decision paid off with the U12’s making the most of the peaky conditions and winning applause from the crowd. Early standouts were Ed Smith, Harry Deroth, and in particular Dale Foster who really impressed the international panel of judges with some quick turns and stylish cutbacks to claim the highest wave score of the day. These three are hoping they can carry this form all the way through to Monday to claim the coveted Headworx English U12’s title and follow in the footsteps of England’s top surfing pro’s.

Also in the water today were the U18 Longboarders who made the most of the small-but-rippable high tide peak, and there were some competitive heats as they fought for a place in the semi-finals. Devon’s Callum Clarke showed he has put in his homework this winter and stole the highest points from the judges with two high scoring rides incorporating both traditional and progressive manoeuvres. He’ll face tough competition in the next round from Zak Lawton and Josh Daniel who also performed well.

By 6pm the early pulses of a pushing groundswell swell were just starting to show in front of the Extreme Academy, and excitement is now running high among the hungry competitors, all keen to make their mark in tomorrow’s busy schedule. Contest director Ester Spears has called an 8am start for Sunday to maximise on the incoming swell, which is forecast to be between 3 and 5 feet with light variable winds. With no fewer than 25 Headworx English Titles to be decided by Monday night, the action will be sure to come thick and fast, and the improving conditions guarantee there will be some spectacular surfing to be seen.

Sunday’s schedule kicks off at 8am until 6pm at Watergate Bay, Newquay. For those who can stand the pace, the event party is also set to rock the Koola Bar tomorrow night from 9pm til late.

Full results, information, photos and video highlights are available throughout the weekend on the Headworx English Nationals homepage at www.headworx.com. Don’t forget to post your comments live to the beach for your chance to win £150 of spanking new Headworx summer clothing!

Hires photos available for download (Jason Feast)…

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 1

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 2

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 3

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 4

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 5

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 6

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 7

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 8

Headworx English Nationals 2008 Photo 9

TODAYS RUNNING ORDER

Under 12 Round 1

Junior Longboard Round 1

Under 14 Round 1

Women Longboard Round 1

Under 12 Round 2

We’ve had a few internet problems on the beach, but the Nationals website is now up and running, unlike the surf! The next contest call is at 2pm, and the final call will be at 3pm.

Hopefully we’ll be able to keep the site updated from now on.

Starting on Saturday 3rd May, the three day event is one of the biggest surfing competitions in Europe, with over 300 surfers taking part to decide national champions in 24 divisions. There is plenty at stake. As well as the prestige of being crowned a national champion, the winning junior surfers will also enhance their chances of representing England at the European Junior Surfing Championships later this year.“The huge range of divisions and large number of surfers competing makes the Headworx English Nationals a really special event,” said Ben Byfield from Headworx, who are based at nearby Tolcarne Beach in Newquay.

“At Headworx we have been sponsoring core surf events since the company was founded in 1976, and the English Nationals is a great event to be involved with because it’s all about the grass roots of surfing. This event decides national titles and the selection of surfers to represent their country at the European Championships, so there is real pride at stake.”

Two surfers currently in great form are Headworx team riders Matt Capel and Johnny Fryer, both of whom finished on the podium at the season’s first UK Pro Surf Tour contest at Croyde last month.

“Making the final of the Croyde event was a good start to the year for me,” said Fryer. “Usually for the first contest you’re a bit rusty so it was nice to make the final. It would have been even nicer to win. Matt (Capel) just missed out on winning that event by half a point, so it was a good little warm up for the Headworx riders ahead of the English Nationals.

“A lot of the surfers will be coming back from a winter away surfing in warm water in Australia or Indonesia, which isn’t the best preparation to come back and go straight into competing in cold water. I went to Hawaii for a month in January with Headworx, and I’ve been at home since then, surfing a lot, so I’ve got the feel for English waves. I feel good at the moment; I’ve got a good board, and I’m looking forward to the Headworx English Nationals.”

Now in its 36th year, the Headworx English Nationals has expanded again to include a total of 24 divisions. Competing surfers range in age from 8 to over 60, and as well as the coveted Open title there are divisions for bodyboard, longboard, kneeboard and, for the first time, stand-up paddle surf.

The discipline, which combines elements of longboarding with traditional Polynesian outrigger canoes, sees surfers standing up on their boards using a single canoe paddle to power them into the waves.

The Extreme Academy has been home to the English Nationals since 2002. With quality peaks at all stages of the tide, Watergate Bay’s two mile stretch of beach gives organisers the option to run four sets of heats simultaneously throughout the three days of competition.

“Watergate Bay first held top level surfing competitions back in the ‘60s, and it’s fantastic to still have the latest generation of surfers competing at the beach today,” said Will Ashworth, Managing Director of The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay.

“I’m always impressed by the level of surfing we see at the Headworx English Nationals, particularly from the young surfers competing in the junior divisions. Extreme Academy team rider Harry Timson has been incredibly successful over the past couple of years, and we will be watching keenly to see how he has come on over the winter months.”

In the Junior division, 18 year old Aiden Wright from Newquay is the defending champion. Aiden, who has won the title for the past two years, is keen to continue his momentum in 2008: “It’s my last year as a junior and I hope to make it the dream three titles in a row before I move up into the Open ranks next year. I’m excited and can’t wait for the event to start.”

Oli Adams, the defending Open division champion, is equally excited about pulling on the contest rash vest again.

“I have been looking forward to coming back to defend my title as it felt so good to win last year,” said Oli. “Some of the best surfers in the country will be there so it’s never easy. It’s an opportunity to put all that winter training into practice. After last year’s win I had so much confidence going into the competitive season.”

Those unable to make it to the beach can watch the action unfold on the Headworx website: headworx.com. Results will be updated regularly throughout the event, and there will be daily video highlights and photos uploaded after each day’s heats are concluded.

The Headworx English Nationals are run by the English Surfing Federation (ESF), a non-profit-making organisation dedicated to the support and development of English surfers.

Headworx English Nationals Press Release

Entry for the Headworx English Nationals is now open. You can sign up for your division right here on the Headworx website, by clicking on Events on the main menu.

Now in its 36th year, the Headworx English Nationals will see over 300 surfers competing from Saturday 3rd to Monday 5th May. As well as the prestige of being crowned a national champion, the winning junior surfers will also enhance their chances of representing England at the European Junior Surfing Championships later this year.

Check back here for regular updates.

The British Masters Team have swapped their jackets and jeans for Headworx T shirts and boardies in preparation for the ISA World Masters Championships

The eight strong team will be competing until the 6th April against some of the best surfers from Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, France, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Italy, Tahiti, Switzerland, Dominican Republic, Argentina, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Australia and the locals, Per.

The event kicked off on Saturday 29th March at Punta Rocas, Peru.

Check back soon for regular updates.