OCEANPERF UK WRAPPED 2023

The first competition of the year began in February at the Red Bull Rescue in Biarritz France, daring jumps within a gruelling iron, Rest Bay's Ellie McCloy stormed to victory in the Women's race, David Buil from Spain won the men's race.

Then came the pool events and the spark of Charlie Haynes' return, as he took victory at the British nationals in the 50m Manakin Carry, pool specialists Samuel Lawman and James Blaby powered their way to titles alongside a seemingly unbeatable Thomas Trebilcock.

SLSGB Pool Nationals saw the arrival of stars Izzie Leigh and Molly Roodhouse, both claimed national titles, a maiden for Leigh, while Emma Henderson returned to regain some of her former glory.

Great Britain Ocean Ski series kicked off, paddlers toured the country in some long hot races in the early summer, Ryan "Scooby" Lark told everyone he is as fit as ever at the Epic Bay, Rosie Edwards displayed her dominance on the ski countless times and McCloy showed she's not just an Ironwomen at Rhoose.
 
A British crew travelled to Dinard France for the French Rescue, Australian turned British Grace Young sprung into our lives after winning the Youth Ironwomen, Kiran Gammon won the Youth Surf race and Evie Wong won the women's ski. Bob Whittaker, Piran Phillips, Mat Rowlands and McCloy all brought home medals against Europe's best.

The GBR teams for the Senior and Youth European Championships were set after the GBR trials at Branksome, Roodhouse showed she's not just a pool swimmer as she earned her first senior cap with Leigh, Wong was also awarded her first senior cap. Haynes finally found form to return to the national team and the returning Henderson. Phillips, Whittaker, Lawman, Trebilcock and Blaby completed the men's team, McCloy and Georgia Hawkins rounded out the women's. 

An exciting Youth GBR team was announced, including many debutants, Owen Pope, Freddie Postlewaite, Farli Abram-Bridges and Maisy Hawkins. Gammon, Terry Miller, Luke Waterfall and Cai Williams returned for the boy’s team, the girls brought back Annabelle Williams, Amaia Lopez, Heather Watson and Anya Hocking.

St Ives biathlon returned for the first time since the Coronavirus, Williams had just been announced in the Youth GBR team and put in a star struck performance, after a run and swim Haynes only just beat Williams on a sprint up the beach. Williams won the women’s, Haynes finished fourth in the men’s behind three elite triathletes.

In a year of comebacks, Woolacoombe returned the King’s race, a long-distance Iron in the pumping surf. Miller of Polzeath led the majority of the race after passing Phillips on the ski, but a mistake on the board meant fellow youngster Pope was victorious. Phillips ultimately finished second and Miller third. Skye Pirie took out the women’s race.

A windy and wavy July caused Cornish and Welsh championships to be postponed or incomplete, meanwhile Gammon controlled the Devon champs.

Back down to France the racing went, 13 of Britain’s finest competed at the Oceanperf Challenge France, the classic Hossegor surf delivered. Haynes the only British winner as he claimed the ski title. The French dominated, Nikita Serran and Julen Marticorena won the Iron’s, Serran doubled it with the board race.

Branksome Chine hosted another superb SLSGB National Championships for a third time. Miller looked unstoppable on a ski, Young displayed her Aussie Iron power, Drew Howells signed off his youth career in style, the younger Phillips brother Hayden showed his potential. Woolacoombe youngsters Abram-Bridges and Millie Hayes proved Britain’s future is exciting alongside Hayle’s Emilia Hogget-Crisp.

The inaugural Oceanperf Challenge UK took place during the week, a first senior competition at the age group nationals. McCloy claimed the most money of all by winning the board and Iron, Wong sprinted to the ski title, Roodhouse won the swim and Frenchwoman Annah Abravanel spoiled the party in the flags.

Meanwhile in the men’s, in familiar fashion Trebilcock won the swim and Whittaker won the iron, Phillips claimed the ski along with Pen y Bont’s Jack Evans winning the flags. New Zealander Jamie Peterson arrived on the British scene to win the board.

Following on the Youth GBR team made the trip to Poland to compete at the European championship. Miller captured the hearts of all as he stormed to victory in the ski, the Polzeath youngster doubled his winnings after claiming the mixed Taplin relay alongside Gammon, Hocking and Abram-Bridges.

Next up was the Celtic cup, Cornwall vs Devon vs Wales and the addition of Wessex. Cornwall and Wales burst into the lead right away and the points difference came down to the final race, the mixed Taplin. Lloyd Rosewell with the king of all jags on the board put Wales into the lead and won the Celtic cup for the first time in 10 years.

The final domestic competition and first complete British National Championships since 2019 at Portreath. The home club claimed the men’s board and ski relay, three- and six-man Taplin’s, men’s and mixed double ski, men’s board rescue and female tube rescue, leading the club to claim their 18^th overall aggregate victory in a row.

Individually Scooby completed his dream and won the men’s British ski title, destroying Dan Humble’s hopes of a tenth title. Trebilcock became the first Gyllyngvase national Ironman champion, along with winning the surf race. Whittaker completed regular duties by retaining his board title. Welshman Evans won the flags and 17-year-old Williams of Sker and Pink Bay won the sprint. New Zealander Hamish Miller claimed the 2km Beach run, through all the mayhem Whittaker gathered the most individual points and claimed £500 thanks to Mark Norton.

Meanwhile in the Women’s Ellie McCloy won back the ironwomen title and also retained the board title. Roodhouse won the surf race and Edwards made it a Gylly double storming to victory in the ski. Leigh comfortably won the 2km beach run, but Wong stole the show winning the beach sprint and flags, ultimately making her the individual overall points champion and winning £500 thanks to Mark Norton.

Over to Belgium the GBR team went for the European championships, there was points galore from the poolies and the team was left in an incredible position heading into the beach and sea competition. Nightmare’s for Hawkins and Phillips on the ski on the waves, the first title was still on the hunt as McCloy was beaten up the beach on the board. But as cool as ever Whittaker delivered, simply inevitable as he claimed the board title.

The second day came, the team was bewildered and down, but hugs and a big motivational talk from coach and legend George Haynes and Ashley Mann set the team up for one epic day. Charlie Haynes and Whittaker kicked off with a win in the board rescue, McCloy and Roodhouse finished second. Both Britain’s tube quartets finished fourth, then Trebilcock swam into a league of his own winning the surf race with Haynes behind in third. Whittaker paddled to another title in the iron and Trebilcock followed in behind finishing second. McCloy finally got her European title as she stormed to victory in the ironwomen. Possibly the biggest shock of the week the younger Haynes finished third in flags, matching Wong’s result in the women’s. The final race of all the mixed Taplin relay, Great Britain led from the first leg and no one came close, Leigh taking the lead on the run, Roodhouse on the swim, Whittaker on the board, Phillips on the ski claimed the European title.

Autumn fell, we all got cold, so some made the travel down under.

Whittaker ditched university to join BMD Northcliffe on the Gold Coast and entered the Nutri-Grain trials and competed with the professionals.

A British team travelled to Perth for the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week and Ocean Ski World Championships, race’s ranged from 300m to 27km.

Miller finished fourth in the u18 and Phillips matched it in the u23’s on the 300m Dash for Cash, while Edwards made the Senior’s top 10. Phillips had early success in the 12km race’s but Howells was the top British paddler in The Doctor, 27km from Rottnest Island to mainland Perth in 40 degrees heat and no wind. Miller put the wow factor at at the World Championships, finishing fourth in the u18.

Euan Dungavel graduated and flew to the beloved Mount Maunganui in New Zealnd, the Gylly member rounded the year off with a third at the Mount Monster, France's Marticorena finished second behind local Jayden Murphy.

A year for the history books, unforgettable memories in a packed out 2023. But 2024 is only set to get bigger, the World Championships on the Gold Coast, British Nationals returning to Fistral Newquay.

 I say bring it on!