Joanne’s three times a champ

11:04am Friday 23rd May 2008

Joanne Dennison rode the crest of wave to capture her third successive Quicksilver Welsh women's surfing title recently.

The highly talented 22-year-old Milford Haven surfer defended her Welsh women's title by defeating twice current British champion Beth Mason, from Swansea, in the final held at Freshwater West over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Joanne sealed victory with two fantastic scoring rides earning her a thoroughly deserved trio of Welsh titles.

Joanne said: "I'm really delighted to have beaten Beth. I came second in the semi-final, but in the final I really got my act together."

In the future Joanne said it would be her dream to become a professional, however, competition in surfing is highly competitive.

Surfing is a very expensive sport and for Joanne to reach her goal she would need some serious financial backing.

She is currently working as a surf instructor for Outereef surf school based at Freshwater West.

During the summer Joanne will be competing in the British tour and in October she'll be striving to win the coveted British title in Cornwall.

Other Pembrokeshire surfers placing well at the Welsh finals were Harry Cromwell, third in the open; Jack Crisp, who gain sponsorship after surfing brilliantly in the under-18s category, andbrother and sister Raife and Cara Gaskell, who finished second and fourth respectively in the under-12s section.

Welsh national surfing results: Open 1, Lloyd Cole; 2, Greg Owen; 3, Harry Cromwell; 4, Gareth Vaughan.

Womens 1, Joanne Dennison; 2, Beth Mason; 3, Renee Godfrey; 4, Breige Lawrence Under-18 boys 1, Thomas Padden; 2, Max Tucker; 3, Tom Good; 4, Tom Bentley.

Under-18s girls 1, Hannah Griffiths; 2, Mali James; 3, Patsy Poutney.

Seniors 1, Mark Vaughan; 2, Chris Griffiths; 3, Craig Burrows; 4, Andrew James.

Longboard 1, Elliot Dudley; 2, Dan Harris; 3, Chris Griffiths; 4, Evan Rogers.

Longboard Under-18s 1, Huw Bentley; 2, Evan Rogers; 3, Thomas Padden; 4, Connor Griffiths; 5 Arran Bright.

Masters 1, Simon Tucker; 2, Nick Bresnan; 3, Chris Griffiths; 4, Rob Poutney.

Cadets Under-16s 1, Tom Good 2, Jack Hughes 3, Max Tucker 4, Rhys Alexander Under-14s 1, David Williams; 2, William Sharp; 3, Daniel Bresnan; 4, Connor Griffiths.

Under-12s 1, William Sharp; 2, Raife Gaskell; 3, Arran Bright; 4, Cara Gaskell.

Bodyboard 1, Mark Griffiths; 2, Tom Hammett.