Johnny Fryer Wins The Foster’s North East Open In Typical North East Weather!
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 01 November 2004: – - Johnny Fryer became the Foster’s North East Open Champion this weekend battling through the tough conditions better than any of his counterparts. The event was staged on just the Saturday as a wintry chill set over the whole of the country and a typical North sea mist and fog ghosted in and out off the shoreline.
This made it difficult for both surfers and judges alike but both sets of members made the best of the unsavoury conditions to put on a show for those who braved the elements to lend their support for the local surfers taking part and to watch Britain’s best tough it out for important BPSA points.
Johnny Fryer from the Isle of Wight emerged victorious over Spencer Hargreaves from Newquay by the tiniest margins with the contest won on the very last wave of the competition. The former British Junior Champion took the all important points over the rest of the field which included 2003 Champion, Sam Lamiroy, and 2002 Champion, Mark Harris. Sam Lamiroy was expected to do well in his native North East but was surprisingly knocked out in the semi finals and with none of the challengers getting in the top 4.
John Buchorski from Sennen, Cornwall, was third and Nathan Phillips from Wales was fourth in excellent 3-4 foot hollow waves. When the sun did get out, the crowd began to swell around the event base at the top of the hill at Cayton Bay where the Foster’s crew had arranged for a state-of-the-art mobile bar to supply the all-important liquid refreshment.
The BPSA Tour now moves to the other end of the country in Challaborough, South Devon for the Freerange Sports Optics South Coast Challenge on Saturday 6th – Sunday 7th November, 2004.
