iLembe surfers shine at KZN Surfing Championships

Close on 200 surfers competed in the annual KZN Surfing Championships which took place at St Mikes Beach, Saint Michaels on Sea, Margate from Saturday, November 30 to Sunday, December 1.

Considered to be one of the biggest surf contests in the province, the annual competition hosted this year by Ugu Surf Riders is held to crown the 2019 KZN surfing champions in both the men and women’s division from U10 all the way to masters division. The event is also heralded as one of the most ‘fun’ family contests of the year.

Individual surfers were crowned KZN champions in both boys and girls, ranging from U10 to grand masters (45+).

Hosts, Ugu Surf Riders clinched the overall team award earning a total of 26,596 points while arch rivals eThekwini (24,440) finished runners-up with iLembe (21,633) in third position and King-Cetshwayo in fourth.

Ilembe Surf Riders secretary, Dee Southwood said the event was well supported with over 40 of iLembe’s surfers traveling down to St Mikes for the two-day competition.

“We managed to increase our points by more than 10 000 from last year. We are showing KZN we are a force to be reckoned with and moving forward we will focus on encouraging more women and boys/girls from U10 upwards to take part. We would like to thank Ugu for running such a fantastic event and to all our surfers – well done on your great results and sportsmanship throughout the competition,” said Southwood.

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Ilembe Surf Riders also sponsored six of their transformation surfers for the weekend. Thapelo and Romeo Mthethwa both went through to the U16 boys semifinals.

iLembe Surf Riders podium results for the 2019 KZN Surfing Championships:

U10 boys: 1st Rylie Balfour and 2nd Nathan Tyler

U12 boys: 4th Ry Colepepper

U14 girls: 1st Mayah Potgieter

U16 boys: 3rd Brayden Bergset and 4th Hayden Booysen

U18 boys: 1st Dominic Southwod

Open ladies: 3rd Sophie Bell

Masters 35+: 2nd Ryan Balfour, 3rd Allan Johns and 4th Ian Duff

Grand masters 45+: 2nd Andrew Banks

Legends 55+: 4th Barry Campbell

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