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Held at Tullan Strand Bundoran on Saturday Sept 22nd, competitors from all corners of Ireland took part in a memorable event with the sun shinning down on spectators throughout the day. The surf conditions were bordering on the large side for the Under 12 to Under 16 divisions, so the more experienced competitors hit the water first. The standard of the Boys Under 21 section was particularly high and they were keen to show their skills on Tullan’s A frame waves. Fergal Smith of Westport, took gold with a charging display of surfing. Hugh Galloway and Kevin Doyle from T-Bay Surf Club Tramore came 2nd and 3rd in a very competitive final heat. Owen Murphy, a Bundoran Board rider, won gold in the Under 18 Boys and won the Joe Roddy Perpetual Cup for his trouble with a solid display of wave riding, just beating last year’s winner Ronan Oertzon of Strandhill Surf Club into second place. Aine Devany won gold for Co Sligo Surf Club in the Under 18 Girls indicating no lack of courage in the division in very challenging conditions. Tramore’s Grace Doyle and Rossnowlagh’s Amy May Garvey took 2nd with silver and 3rd with bronze. Damien Conway, West Coast Surf Club won gold with Aaron Dees of Omagh coming 2nd in the Boys Under 16. This final was not without its dramas. Aaron Reid, the 2007 champ and favourite took off on a Tullan monster, failed to make the drop and got flogged by the wave. Emerging from the wipe-out, his board smashed in two, Reid saw his chances of back to back titles slip by. He made a valiant effort to return to the heat on a new board, but could not catch that all important 2nd highest scoring wave to move past Damien. With the tide now well in on the beach, it gave the groms the opportunity to contest their heats. Iarom Madden, a Bundoran board rider, won gold in the Under 14 Boys and should be next years favourite in this section, with Paul Murphy a delighted winner of the Under 10 Boys and James Stuart taking bronze, both for the Bundoran club. Garoid McDaid of Strandhill won gold in the U12 Open section and received a new board courtesy of Powersource Surf Boards. Niamh Kelly wrapped things up with a good win for the Strandhill club in the U14 Girls. "It was a great day out for these young surfers and next year’s event will be bigger and better and we are very proud of our junior surfers here in Bundoran." said Emmet O'Doherty, Contest Director. Thanks to all who helped, the Town Council, Powersource and our local surf shops for their support and the Bundoran RNLI for being on alert. Also belated congratulations are extended to Mike Morgan, a Bundoran Board rider who won the Men’s Irish Senior National title earlier this year. Well done from the Bundoran Board riders Surf Club. | 
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