The prowess and skill of IT Sligo’s students on the waves was rewarded last weekend when the Institute’s surfing team won the 2016 National Intervarsities Surfing Championships at Strandhill.
The IT surfers beat off stiff competition to secure the overall team title for the second time in the Institute’s history. The event – streamed live online – saw 148 competitors from 18 third level institutions take to the water.
“Conditions were very challenging for the surfers,” said Jack-Tim Murphy-Malone, one of the event organisers and President of the IT Surfing Club. “Our surf club had been working towards this event since the start of the academic year.
“The standard was very high, particularly in the men’s open event – but the atmosphere in the water amongst the competitors was very friendly – and showing the event live online helped capture the imagination of the wider surfing community.”
As well as winning the team prize, two IT Sligo students claimed individual titles. Gavin McCrea from Rossnowlagh, a Fine Art student, took gold in the men’s Longboard while Strandhill’s Aidan Kelly, who’s studying Pharmaceutical Science (online) won the Bodyboard event.
The full team were Ken Gunning, Daniel Simpson, Ronan Oertzen, Julliete Guichard, Marie Olsson, Killian Weir, Patrick Weis, Gavin McCrea, Jack-Tim Murphy, Kerry Larkin, Nicole Martin, Ann-Marie Smith, Michaela Gaffney, Nis Kaden and Alex McCloy.
