Science/Reef South African Champs 2008 - Day 1
posted by Peter Lambert on 29th September 2008
The first day of the 22nd Annual Science/Reef South African Bodyboarding Championships went off without a hitch in interesting 2-4 feet cross-offshore conditions at Alkantsrand, in Richards Bay.
The Mens, Boys, Masters and Ladies first round heats where run with fairly strong winds making conditions challenging for competitors. If one was patient enough to chose the right wave, there were definitely awesome right handers to be scored providing solid rides all the way from the outside into the shore break.
For many riders it was their first experience of SA Champs, and some of them had hilarious initiation induced haircuts provided great entertainment for the spectators.
Standout performances in the Mens Division came from Robert Gray (CKZN), Sean Tickner (CKZN), Rayner Venter (SKZN), Wayne Du Preez (SKZN) and Ryno Turketti (BOL). Gray, who has been absent from the national contest scene for the past few years, made his intentions known early on by executing a solid ARS out of the bowl. Turketti put his many years of Alkantstrand experience to good use and impressed onlookers after he made an near impossible barrel and smashed the end section with a powerful roll.
The Boys Division riders found conditions a little more suited to their needs and made use of the occasional ramps to showcase their talents. Standout performances came from Sebastian Koopmans (WP), Murray Van Vuuren (EP) and Nikalaus Martin (EP), with Storm Prestwich (SKZN), and Andre Blignault (BOL) hot on their heals.
Former Ladies World Champ, Karla Costa-Taylor (SKZN), put on a spectacular display of world class riding during her Ladies Division heat and was closely followed by team mate, Liezl Van Vollenhoven (SKZN).
In the Masters Division local knowledge seemed to be the key in the testing surf with event organiser, John Cawood (NKZN), showing the rest how it was done, narrowly beating Gustav Botha (BOL), in a closely fought heat.
Results for the round one heats run are below. Bear in mind all the round one riders will also ride a second round, with their round one and round two percentages being added together to determine their placing, and whether or not they make it into the main event.
Scores for the heats run are as follows:
Heat 01 - Mens Round 1
Wayne Du Preez (CKZN) 300
Lennie Muller (NKZN) 275.4
Jamie Higgins (WP) 268.2
Murray Jones (EP) 245.8
Heat 02 - Mens Round 1
Robert Gray (CKZN) 300
Wayne Beekman (SKZN) 255
Kobus Bosman (BOL) 202
Peter Lambert (WP) 199
Heat 03 - Mens Round 1
Sean Tickner (CKZN) 298
Jonathan De Lauwere (EP) 285
Nick Phillips (NKZN) 276
Calla Thiart (BOL) 246
Heat 04 - Mens Round 1
Rayner Venter (SKZN) 300
Jeffrey Davies (CKZN) 250
Martin Ras (BOL) 203
Michael Cooper (NKZN) 57
Heat 05 - Mens Round 1
M J Van Rensburg (NKZN) 292
Ryno Turketti (BOL) 292
Simon Heale (WP) 253
Edward Pienaar (EP) 236
Heat 06 - Boys Round 1
Murray van Vuuren (EP) 300
Robbie Waites (CKZN) 259.4
Roger Pardoe (WP) 164
Michael Mynhardt (SKZN) 160
Heat 07 - Boys Round 1
Andre Blignault (BOL) 300
Gustav Lilienveld (WP) 235.1
Claude Coetzer (NKZN) 196.4
Mathew Plumstead (CKZN) 139
Heat 08 - Boys Round 1
Storm Prestwitch (SKZN) 300
Steven Du Preez (CKZN) 259
Storm van Thiel (NKZN) 188
Kyle Cabano (BOL) 178
Heat 09 - Boys Round 1
Nikalaus Martin (EP) 300
Dylan Maeder (WP) 204
Nicolas Westman (NKZN) 190
Michael Bowie (SKZN) 106
Heat 10 - Boys Round 1
Sebastian Koopmans (WP) 300
Matthew Lombaard (BOL) 243
Wesley Kotzee (SKZN) 209
Chris Kleynhans (EP) 141
Heat 11 - Ladies Round 1
Liezel Van Vollenhoven (SKZN) 300
Janneke De Kok (WP) 172
Monique Gresse (NKZN) 95
Heat 12 - Ladies Round 1
Carla Costa Taylor (SKZN) 300
Candice Whittakker (SKZN) 114
Hermien Greyling (BOL) 81
Geline Derbyshire (SC) 42
Heat 13 - Masters Round 1
John Cawood (NKZN) 295
Gustav Botha (BOL) 292
Michal van Huysten (CKZN) 190
Heat 14 Masters Round 1
Paul Basson (BOL) 300
Kevin Williams (SKZN) 251.4
Marcel Habets (BOL) 175.6
To download the heat sheets visit the
Science/Reef SA Champs contest page.
Tomorrow looks like another sunny day, with reports of an overnight North East wind blowing, hopefully the winds will provide competitors with a little more swell.
On a more somber note, Western Province's Chairman and team Captain, Deon Meyer's father lost his hard fought battle with cancer yesterday morning, 29 September.
To commemorate his father's life, it has been decided to hold a paddle out in his honor on Wednesday morning, 30 September. All competitors please meet at the beach at 07:00am in the morning.
Our thoughts are with Deon and his family at this difficult time.
Much love buddy!
The 22nd Annual Science/Reef South African Bodyboarding Championships is presented to you by Zululand Fever and proudly sponsored by Science Bodyboards and Reef Wetsuits in association with Ocean & Earth, Ocean Eyewear, B Smart Communications, Steers, Upperdeck Restaurant, Form -Scaff, Lockt_In and Alliance Graphics.
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