Bajan surfer retains Shandy title

Mark Holder of Barbados has successfully defended his Shandy Carib International Surfing Classic and Adventure Festival 2003 Open Division title. In the process he also picked up the Masters title when he dominated the rest of the field on Sunday during the final day of the event at San Souci Beach. Local challenger for the crown Che Lovelace had to settle for second as Holder would not be denied glory in an ongoing rivalry which has lasted 17 years.

The much anticipated final featured the Caribbean’s four best surfers who pulled out all stops to record the highest scored rides for the entirety of the two-day competition. Matura surfer Lovelace led Trinidad and Tobago’s charge on the waves but emerged runner-up. He was followed to the podium by Chris Dennis, second last year, and Alan Davis in third and fourth respectively. In the Masters Division, Holder held off Mickey Phillips, Sherrard Speirs and Peter White in second, third and fourth respectively to stamp the Bajan flag over the event and leave a lasting impression on the other competing surfers. Among the women, Alexis Jordan of Barbados emerged queen of the surf beating Jacqui Allen in second, Kaitlyn Peck in third and Amaal Ghnein in fourth. A full Barbadian youth compliment for the Junior Division was held off by Trinidad and Tobago’s Justin Tang. Bajans Shane Tuach, Brian Joseph and Jack Balding locked down the rest of the well-contested Juniors event in which all competitors put up a good effort on the surf.

In the Bodyboarding contest Alberto Santini beat Cedric Barbier into second. Alan Alleyne was third and Peter Wilson placed fourth. The surf competition began at 8 am on Sunday and set up the day for a grand finale in both the surfing and mountain biking competitions. Team Geronimo’s Cycle Sports member Colin Wilson took the 20-kilometre Open Registered Cross Country race which was covered in a time of one hour and 20 minutes. Raymond Ramcharan was second while Brent Edmund finished third. Ryan Mendes placed fourth and Steve Cooper was the fifth finisher.

In the 18-kilometre Open Sport trek Nicholas Pantin was first past the line, followed by Sean de Freitas, Danny Koo, Ian Hamelsmith and David Hackshaw in that order. The Veterans race which was also contested over a distance of 18 kilometres was won by Dr Alan Hoyt who left Gregory Solis and Richard Ramchand in the second and third positions. Women’s champ Nina Shaves dominated the 15-kilometre course to rise above Michelle De Verteuil in second and Lee Mapp in third place. In the Skills Contest, Sheldon Weeks reigned supreme while he also took the Down Hill event in a time of three minutes and 30 seconds. Benedict Viera was second and Ryan Mendes was third on a course which required riders to navigate a difficult route with slippery rocks, jumps and very steep hills.