Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine - The Title Race is On for the British Stand Up Paddle Champions 2008

The Title Race is On for the British Stand Up Paddle Champions 2008

By: Matt Argyle

Saturday, 18 October 2008

bsupa-dot-org-blue-small (2).gif As we approach the final event of the 2008 season the title race for the national champion in Stand Up Paddle Surfing and distance racing is on! This is the first time that national champions have ever been crowned in the UK. In fact the UK is the first country to have a national governing body for stand up paddle surfing (BSUPA) so it is the first time a national champion has been crowned in the world.

John Hibbard on his journey to the nose.

To reflect the global and historic nature the BSUPA National Champions awards for 2008 are being sponsored by the online stand up paddle surfing magazine http://www.supglobal.com .

The final event is being held, without a sponsor, in Pembrokeshire, West Wales 18^th & 19^th October 2008. The main beach is Newgale, but in case of high winds, it will be relocated to Broad Haven which offers more shelter.

Throughout the season the competitors had to complete three events in either surf or distance category to be eligible for the nation title. This means the ratings now stand like this :

Open Stand Up Paddle Surfing

Rider	Gwithian Event Result	Isle of Wight Event Result	Total
Neal Gent	2nd	1st	3 points
John Hibbard	3rd	2nd	5 points
Scott Gardner	5th	3rd	8 points
Mark Slater	9th	5th	14 points
Steve Carter	7th	7th	14 points
Nick Healey	17th	5th	22 points
Jay Manning	17th	7th	24 points

Neal Gent coming off the top earlier in the year.

Claire Blacklock, as long as she surfs in this event, has already wrapped up the women's title as, out of a field of six, she is the only competitor to make the Gwithian and Isle of Wight events.

Junior Stand Up Paddle Surfing

Rider	Gwithian Event Result	Isle of Wight Event Result	Total
Bobby Cooper	2nd	1st	3 points
Holly Bassett	3rd	2^nd	5 points

Open Distance

Rider	West Wittering Result	Gwithian Event Result	Isle of Wight Event Result	Total
John Hibbard	2nd	1st	1st	4 points
Neal Gent	1st	3rd	2^nd	6 points
Mark Slater	3rd	3rd	3rd	9 points
Steve Carter	DNC*	8th	5^th	13 points **
Nick Healy	DNC*	10th	4th	14 points **
Matt Argyle	10th	DNC	8th	18 points **
Jay Manning	6th	8th	7th	21 points