Surfing champion, Heather Clark is super stoked to have won the over 30s SA women’s title for the second year in a row at the 53rd South African Surfing Championships, sponsored by Mercedes–Benz SA and hosted by Buffalo City Municipality.

For Heather’s consistent performances in this division and in the open women’s group, she was awarded the Dave Fish Trophy.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Ugu Surfriders barrel down to East London

“Pretty much the same result as last year except that I traded my ‘surfer of the contest’ Tiger trophy for the beautiful Dave Fish Trophy which gets awarded to the most consistent surfer of the contest,” said Heather.

Heather led the Ugu Surfriders senior side consisting of Jesse Powell, Justin Maisch, Simo Mkhize, Cody Coetsee, Gary van Wieringen, Derek Horlock, Ryan Klynsmith, Chad Delport, Carl Roux, Daryl Adamson and Warren Wareing.

Over 150 surfers from eight districts competed in the championships, which were held in great surf over six days.

Zoe Steyn became the youngest female surfer in the 53 year history of the South African Surfing Championships to win the open women’s division title when she dominated the final in 4 – 5 foot Nahoon Reef surf.

She was also named Surfer of the Contest and was awarded the trophy by last year’s award winner, Heather, and was selected to represent South Africa at the ISA World Surfing Games which take place in Japan in September.

She will also represent South Africa at the ISA World Junior Championships in California at the end of October.

Runner up, Heather is an eight time Open Women’s Champion, winning her first South African Championship title at Nahoon Reef in 1989.

Greg Emslie successfully defended his over 40s title, narrowly beating Gary van Wieringen of Ugu Surfriders by one point.

Other impressive results from the Ugu Surfriders included Warren reaching the semi finals, and Jesse, Simo, Cody, Justin and Carl reaching the quarterfinals.

In the end, Buffalo City won the Masters Cup for the 13th year in a row, beating Cape Town Surfriders into second spot. Then came eThekweni, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eden, Ilembe and Ugu Surfriders.

https://www.facebook.com/SurfingSouthAfrica/videos/1464416393704223/

The East London team retained the Presidents Cup for the highest scores in the Open Divisions. eThekweni came second, followed by Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Bay, Ugu, Ilembe, Eden and Cape Winelands.

The Champions Cup, which is presented to the Team that scores the highest combined points total, went to the dominant Buffalo City Team. eThekweni came second, Cape Town were third followed by Nelson Mandela Bay, Ugu, Ilembe Eden and Cape Winelands.