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 National kitesurfing champions were crowned at the Blackpool seaside last weekend (6-8 October 2011) in the Centrica Kiteival Blackpool, the final round of the British Kitesurfing Association http://www.britishkitesurfingassociation.co.uk/ (BKSA) UK tour.
Riders faced winds up to 40 knots (gale force eight) at the start of the three-day kite sports festival, making for extremely challenging conditions for kitesurfers and competitors in the kite buggy and landboard events.
Liverpool’s Luke Whiteside capped an outstanding year with his fourth consecutive event win to claim his first British championship title in the pro men’s freestyle kitesurfing division.
Going in to the event defending champion Ned Taylor was the only rider with a chance of overhauling Whiteside’s lead, but he lost in the semi-final heat meaning that his reign as British champion was over. http://press.barefootmedia.co.uk/british-kitesurfing-association/british-champions-decided-in-blackpool-season-finale/attachment/img_9967/
BKSA Chairman and event organiser Richard Gowers said: “Luke has been an outstanding competitor all year and it’s great to see him pick up his first British title. Ned Taylor and Ali Barrett have been really pushing hard and the standard of riding in the events has been consistently high this year.
“We have had some seriously challenging conditions in Blackpool which has been tough for the riders at times, but as well as the new British champions the winners here have been the spectators on the beach who have seem some incredible riding over the last three days.”
Father and daughter Peter and Hannah Whiteley – competing in the Seniors and Pro Ladies divisions respectively – both went in to the final event as 2011 British champions with unbeatable points scores of 4650 for Peter and 4415 for Hannah.
It was a UK first for Hannah, who has become the first rider to win three consecutive titles in the pro ladies division.
With both Whiteleys opting not to compete at Blackpool, 26 year old Nicky Rudd was able to cement her runner-up spot overall with a second consecutive win this year, putting on a great performance in the fierce conditions. Troon’s Holly Kennedy secured third place overall with another strong performance at Blackpool.
Cornish competitor Denzil Williams, from St Austell, was named national course race champion, after winning two of the four course race heats, with a total score of 3,550 points.Putting on an impressive performance at Blackpool, Williams benefited from the new course layout that was set upwind and downwind.
 On the sand the land boarders and buggies found a ridge of sand, packed hard due to stormy conditions which was ideal to compete on. Despite a wipe-out, crash and a blown-out tyre, the landboarders put on a great performance with Essex duo Jack Elston and Ash Garwood claiming first and second places, with Elston’s win making it four out of four in 2011.
Junior rider Robbie Shire Maidment was victorious on land and sea, winning the landboard and freestyle kitesurf titles, while Jack Daykin became the youth champion.
In the amateur divisions, Chris Forshaw’s 100% win record earned him the title in the men’s division, while Danielle Durrant triumphed over her sister Chloe to claim the ladies championship. Josh Hough won the kite buggy title, with Will Rose winning the land board.
*Results*
*Freestyle Kitesurfing*
*Pro Men*
1st – Luke Whiteside
2nd – Ned Taylor
3rd – Ali Barrat
*Pro Ladies*
1st – Hannah Whiteley
2nd – Nicky Rudd
3rd – Holly Kennedy
*Am Men*
1st – Chris Forshaw
2nd – Oliver Clatworthy
3rd – Jack Riddel
*Am Ladies*
1st – Danielle Durrant
2nd – Chloe Durrant
3rd – Polly Crathorne
*Seniors*
1st – Peter Whiteley
2nd – Pete Jones
3rd – Kevin Mathey
*Youth*
1st – Jack Daykin
2nd – Will Makinson
3rd – Sam Bull
*Juniors*
1st – Robbie Shire-Maidment
2nd – Ellys Bloor
3rd – George Dufty
*Course Race*
1st – Denzil Williams
2nd – Callum Edge
3rd – Benjamin Todd
*Land Discipline*
*Men’s Landboard*
1st – Jack Elston
2nd – Ash Garwood
3rd – Greg Chilton
*Junior Landboard*
1st – Robbie Shire-Maidment
2nd – Jordan Hurst
3rd – Ellys Bloor
*Am Landboard*
1st – Will Rose
2nd – Carl Kirton
3rd – Ned Taylor
*Am Buggy
*1st – Josh Hough
2nd – Karen Cartlidge
3rd – Phil Revill
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