This article is from page 41 of the 2008-09-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 41 JPG
LAHINCH’S growing reputation as a top international surfing venue will be further enhanced on September 13 and 14 when the West Coast Surf Club will host the 2008 Longboard Classic which has become one of the most hotly anticipated competitions in the Irish surfing calendar.
Started in 2003, the event — the only of its kind in Ireland — attracts long- boarders from all over Ireland and is particularly resonant in the closing wake of the Bejing Olympics as surf- ing is widely tipped to feature in the 2012 Games.
Ireland – and Lahinch – holds its own on the world stage in terms of the quality of surf available and also given the standard of Irish surfers which is again among the best inter- nationally.
Last year saw a record number of entrants, the overall winner being Garry Hall from Kerry with Ben Hanna from the West Coast Surf Club in second place.
This year’s event is set to attract an even greater response with organ- izers Cliodhna Fawl, Dave Flynn, Alan Black and David Collins over- Whelmed with the level of applica- tions to date.
Stating that the event had attracted a record number of sponsors, Cliodhna Fawl said, ““We’ve always been great- ly impressed with the level of interest and support we’ve attracted since the inaugural event in 2003.
‘In addition to an enthusiastic level of support from local businesses, we’re also delighted that Sony are signed up as a sponsor for this year’s classic.”
Subject to weather conditions and swell, it is anticipated that Septem- ber 13 will see the initial heats and quarter finals run off with the sem1- final and finals being held on the fol- lowing day.
Interested participants may down- load an entry form off the West Coast Surf Club’s website (www.westcoast- surfclub.com) while the deadline for applications sent by post – to Lahinch Surf Shop, Old Promenade, Lahinch, c/o Chodhna Fawl – is Thursday, September 4.
A non-refundable entry fee of €15 is required on application as 1s cur- rent Irish Surfing Association mem- bership.
For further details on the compe- tition contact Cliodhna Fawl 086 3366023, David Collins 087 8036963 or Dave Flynn 087 629 2335, or visit www.westcoastsurfclub.com.