Ballito surf master Barry Campbell brings home gold from SA Masters surf champs

Ballito’s master surfer Barry Campbell (65) has done it again, grabbing iLembe’s only gold in the South African Masters Surfing Championships (SAMC).

The event at St Mike’s beach on the South Coast saw the country’s best surfers over the age of 35 compete in age brackets of every five years, with 60+ being the final section.

That is where Campbell continued his fine form, winning the category comfortably after delivering iLembe’s first ever gold at the SAMC in Victoria Bay last year.

Campbell finished third in his qualifier, saving the best for last with a score of 15.84 to edge out eThekwini’s Chris Knutsen (10.90).

“It’s great to win again, particularly in difficult conditions. It was big and gnarly, with a screaming south-wester but I was able slowly build in the final. I made sure I didn’t get caught inside early and rode out my last wave all the way into shore,” said Campbell.

This year’s event took place closer to home, hosted by Ugu Surf Riders.

Beginning on Saturday, iLembe’s 17 hopefuls were whittled down until finals day on Tuesday, with five left competing for the medals.

Lyle Botcher (over 45) dominated his semi-final on Tuesday morning with an almost six point victory, but was outdone by eThekwini’s Paul Canning in the final to grab silver.

Tamarys de Maroussem rallied from finishing bottom of her open women’s qualifier to grab a bronze in the final behind the legendary Heather Clark (Ugu) and Tasha Mentasti (Eden).

Ian Duff (over 35) rounded out iLembe’s medal haul, also grabbing bronze behind Gavin Roberts (Ugu) and Scott Venter (eThekwini).

Alan Johns was unable to convert his recent good form into a top three in the highly competitive over 40 category, which was won by Buffalo City’s Tyrell Johnson, but took home a copper medal for fourth.

It was comfortably the best team performance in iLembe’s history, earning them a bronze medal in the overall points competition.

“The team has been great and spirits have been high throughout, even in the tough conditions. We were, of course, happy to be so competitive and it bodes well for the future,” said team manager, Steven Theunissen.

The next masters event is the South African Longboard Championships in Jeffrey’s Bay from August 24-29.

Campbell took victory in that competition last year as well and to do it again would be an historic ‘double-double’.

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