East of England

Words: Steve White Photos: Craig Nicol

New champions were crowned at the Puravida-MiPost Welsh National Surfing Championships 2026 at Freshwater West last weekend.

Langland Board Rider’s Patrick Langdon-Dark topped the podium in the Men’s Open, while Josie Hawke of Pembrokeshire Surf Club (PSC) won the Women’s Open title.

Thanks to its infrastructure that supports event live streaming, Llantwit Major is the usual venue of choice for the Welsh Nationals, but swell forecasts turned organisers’ eyes towards Pembrokeshire this year, and we were not disappointed.

Business was finalised across all other categories at Fresh West, where solid southerly swell and sunshine made for an outstanding three days of competition.

On the Friday, senior rounds got underway in 4-5ft surf with brisk offshores making for challenging conditions. Nevertheless, the sea was torn to shreds by Men’s Open heats which culminated in a final notable for its absence of 2025 Welsh champion, Eli Perrins-Davies. Despite storming through his early heats, the Channel Coast Surf Club (CCSC) youngster couldn’t quite find his rhythm in the semis and failed to progress.

The final was, however, still stacked with QS talent. Former Welsh champion, Logan Nicol (CCSC) built solid scores executing powerful roundhouse cutbacks and gouging buckets out of a series of reeling rights in a fluid performance. Last year’s GB Cup finalist, Euan Buick (PSC) registered points on a few outside bombs, while LBR’s Elliot Barton put on a high-octane display to notch up a combined 13.33, pushing him into the silver-medal position.

No-one could match the surgical precision of Pat Langdon-Dark. On a stand-out wave he stuck like glue to the pocket, seamlessly linking vertical re-entries with deep bottom turns to impress the judges and draw cheers from the beach.

Besides the gold medal, PLD also hit an 8.33, the tournament’s highest single wave score matched only by PSC’s Harry Cromwell. Both surfers took home an equal share of the £500 prize for Wave of the Welsh, sponsored by Barti.

Pat said:

“It was a good day. Thank you to everyone for coming down. It felt like the old days coming down to Fresh on a sunny spring day. It was nice to see all the kids down here a day early. Thanks to everyone for supporting and for coming down. I’m stoked!”

Last year’s champion Emily Williams’ decision to not compete in this year’s Welsh meant the Women’s Open crown would change hands in west Wales. Indi Lynch (PSC) did well to transfer training successes onto the competitive stage, opening with a five-point ride that pushed her to the top of the leaderboard. However, she struggled to find a second meaningful score and couldn’t capitalise on her advantage.

Last year’s UK RipCurl Grom Search champion, Hawke needed no second invite, attacking the waves with characteristic determination and power. Her final combined total of 13.17 was enough to secure the Women’s Open crown, moving Indi into second place with 7.43 overall.

The talented Katrina Roth-Gale (LBR) carved up inside ramps with rail-to-rail surfing, reminding us why she’s one to watch for the future. The U12 European champion ended her campaign on 6.2 combined and the bronze medal. Sindia Sosdian (Channel Women Surf Club) came in fourth with 4.33 points, followed by PSC’s Georgina Lewtas on 2.

Josie said:

“I was quite nervous going into it because it was quite a stacked crew, especially with Kat because she’s absolutely ripping, and obviously Sindia from Llantwit. But honestly, the waves looked so fun and you could just see those lefts peeling. I had my eye on them and I was so excited to just go out and get some. So, I kind of forgot about the heat when I was out there and I was just surfing.”

Lewtas and Sosdian were in action once again for the Women’s Over 35 final, and it was the latter’s turn to clinch victory, finishing on a 6.27. Georgina Lewtas took second place, and Elen Jones (PSC), third.

Sindia said:

“Loads of wind here, we were all out there trying hard and it was just all about locking in those rights and lefts. I just managed to get a long right which I surfed super conservative, and that kind of got me through the heat.

“I’m so stoked to see all the women out here in the Women’s Open, the Longboard Open and across the other divisions. It was a bit blustery so we all tried to be strategic with the current, so we would use that to get out as opposed to trying to head straight back out when you got a wave in.”

The Women’s Longboard final saw Sosdian bank her second win of the day. Her experience came through as she hunted down shoulder-high walls that were subsequently navigated with skill. Fresh from appearances at last month’s BLU Tyneside Classic, Amelia Dickinson and Georgina Lewtas cross-stepped their way to second and third place respectively, while Elen Jones took the remaining podium place.

Sindia said:

“It’s great, I love being here at Fresh West because you get to see the younger surfers coming through; the Open was stacked with the junior rippers, and we had the Longboard heats too. For me it’s about seeing a lot of the women surfing together. I’m stoked to get the Longboard win.”

The Men’s Over 35 division brought together old adversaries and made for a gripping final. Harry Cromwell (PSC) was the standout performer, local instinct conducting him to the right place at the right time. His seasoned display garnered the £250-winning 8.83 single wave score, which alongside a 5.33 produced a podium-topping pay-out of 14.66. Ryan Thomas (PSC) marauded a series of sections to secure the runner-up spot, just short of his club rival. Channel Coast’s Craig Bright took the bronze with 11.33 overall, and former GB surfer Lloyd Cole (LBR) came in fourth on 8.53.

Harry said:

"I had a fun event. I got gifted wave of the day in the last minute of the final. Gutted I couldn't make the Open, but there's always next year."

In the Men’s Over 40 the finalists went searching for a peak amid slacker mid-tide surf. Mark Vaughan (CCSC) pulled into a few right handers out back but failed to nail down a winning total and finished on a combined 4.37. Ageless Greg Owen (Welsh Coast Surf Club) stayed busy throughout, building to a 5.36 that would prove sufficient to claim the division’s crown. Gareth Bennett came in third and Lloyd Cole (LBR) fourth.

Vaughan had a chance of payback in the Over 50s, but it wasn’t to be. In training for this year’s European championships, Owen’s competitive edge showed; the ripsaw from Rest Bay followed up a number of solid re-entries with layback hack through the froth on his way to a combined total of 10.33. Mark Vaughan did better than his previous final to finish in second on 7.76. Phil Sadler (PSC) and Craig Burrows (WSF) ended their campaigns in third and fourth respectively.

Greg said:

“I got the results! Today, the waves were difficult. You could see where the right waves were, but you were fighting the tide and the current. If you could get where you wanted to be, you’d find mechanical waves, which was nice, so long as you had enough energy remaining to surf them!

“In the Over 50s, I’d had two alright waves, and I thought ‘Right, I need a good one now.’ I knew Mark Vaughan was probably in the lead at that point – it was on 18 minutes gone. I paddled out the back, I thought ‘Right, you got two minutes left, you can’t really hang around. Just take anything!' And a good one popped up, and I thought ‘Right, I’m going’. It offered me two manoeuvres, and I thought ‘What a gift!’”

Commenting on doing a double over old adversary and friend Mark Vaughan, Greg said:

“Mark is an amazing surfer. I notice he’s had 13 Welsh titles prior to this, and I’d had ten before this event. So now I’m up to 12 but he’s still got one more than me so I’m still on the hunt!”

Welsh longboard international, Evan Rogers came into the Welsh Nationals already with silverware in the bag from a first at the Men’s Open up in Tyneside. The Saltburn stormer put momentum to good effect and stroked into a host of set waves. Rogers laid down measured knee-drop cutbacks, moving top-to-bottom on solid rides, notching his overall tally up to a final-conquering 11.5.

Gower’s Oscar Arnold put together a sophisticated exhibition to carve into second place, just ahead of local talent Elijah Jones (PSC) who claimed bronze. Craig Nicol’s foray into Welsh Nationals action saw the Channel Coast Surf Club cruiser reach 3.6 overall and the fourth place on the podium.

Evan Rogers said:

"What a day it was! Pumping surf and stunning weather. With my grandad from St Davids passing away recently, it made it special to become Welsh champ in Pembrokeshire."

In a combined Men’s and Women’s Bodyboard final, Tai Jackson (Welsh Bodyboard Club) got the barrel rolls flying on bowling waves bumping over a fun inside bank. On her first Welsh Nationals outing, Sally Howells got stuck into the action and put in a great effort to finish in second place.

Tai said:

"It was really good, tricky conditions but it was fun as the tide dropped back a bit. It was windy but pretty bowly in there, managed to get a couple of barrel-rolls in so I’m happy with that. This will be my second Welsh Bodyboarding champion, so hopefully I’ll get another one next year.”

Sally said:

“It was a super fun day – the first time I’ve entered a comp. Tai was awesome; I loved it”

The wind dropped and the swell tempered overnight to present a better organised set-up and strong waves for the Welsh Nationals day two.

The U18 Girls got proceedings underway and we enjoyed a showcase in Welsh talent. Katrina Roth-Gale forgot all about any Women’s Open disappointment by opening her account with a 4.77. The Langland prodigy added a further 1.33 to take her overall points haul to six – enough to land the main prize.

Local Indi Lynch (PSC) sent her board north of the lip to put together an eventual 5.33 combined. She finished just ahead of Josie Hawke, who’s more accustomed to the higher view from the steps. Improving all the time, Summer-Marie Moore (Welsh Coast Surf Club) capped off a good campaign to narrowly fall into fourth place on 4.84.

Katrina said:

“It went really well. The waves were quite fun but there was a hell of a sandbar. I’m super chuffed. The waves were on the sand bar; it was very heavy and dumpy, but you could get some really nice runners.”

Hawke managed to reassert herself in the U16 Girls final, taking apart the high-tide peelers at Fresh West and slicing her way to 11.84 and the gold medal. Kat Roth-Gale was always in the mix but didn’t pin down the score she needed in the dying minutes, ending on 6.37. Third and fourth places were taken by Alma Buick (PSC) on 4.94) and Florence Curran (PSC) on 2.6.

Josie said:

“I wasn’t feeling that great after the heat before, but I was pleased to go out there and get some nice waves. The banks were starting to work a bit better so it was nice to get some good ones. I got a decent left and then a couple of rights, so yeah, I’m stoked.”

Standards stayed high for the Boys U18 finale, with LBR’s Max Davies' confident display earning top honours. The Langland grom’s vibrant all-out approach reflected time spent under the supervision of coach, Patrick Langdon-Dark. Elijah Jones gave everything as always, his combined 8.33 landing second place. Pembs and Swansea shared the spoils in the remaining places, with Ryan Croucher (LBR) coming in third, and Fyn Bell (PSC) fourth.

Max said:

“It was tiring; non-stop paddling, but I managed to pick up a few on the corner where the sandbank was. I just did a couple of turns and I’m happy with that. I’m so happy but so tired but I’ve got another heat coming. In one place, I did a quick turn, I think there was some spray on it and I dropped down going so fast, and then thought ‘I’ve just got to hit it’, so I did a bottom turn and just hit it and came down, I was like ‘I made it!’ so I was pretty blown away by myself. I managed to do it, so it’s great!

“I just want to say thanks to dad, Pat, and John Purton for making my board.”

The Langland show continued in the U16 Boys final through U18 champion Max Davies who sustained technical ability with solid fitness. Davies stuck two great scores to reach a category-winning 11.2. Fellow club member Monty Cole invested rail time into waves that took him through to the inside en route to the silver medal. Ryan Croucher (LBR) and Ollie Phillips (CCSC) both put in a shift, finishing on 6.5 and 5.47 respectively.

Max Davies said:

“Pretty hard final – a lot of paddling. There’s a couple though to catch, but I managed to get a few out back, I got a few, did a few turns and managed to get the win. I’m quite blown away by it! One wave I had, I had one turn and I thought my feet weren’t going to stick it, but it all came together, I got my board back and landed it, did a little claim and I was happy with that.”

Bowling waves at high-tide created awkward conditions for our junior loggers, but each finalist dug deep. It was a two-seahorse race as the minutes ticked down, with Elijah Jones and Oliver Molyneux (both PSC) both deftly stitching drop-knee turns and dab-fives into waves breaking in a rush.

Perhaps owing his edge to experience, Jones registered a combined 5.66 and succeeded in retaining his 2025 category crown. Molyneux was unlucky not to get the win this time around, finishing his campaign on 5.17. Will Proctor (WCSC) worked hard but couldn’t locate wave faces with high scoring potential; he came in third followed by Bryn Bailey (WCSC) in fourth. 

Elijah said:

“It was fun out there overall, but not too fun for a longboard heat as it was quite shorey and kind of dumpy. I found a couple of corners and got one little nug’ at the end, so I’m happy. The wind went onshore and the waves doubled up in places, so it was tricky, but I’m stoked.”

Fog cleared on the morning of the Welsh Nationals day three to reveal glassy waves in the 2-3ft range pulsing into the bay, allaying pre-contest fears that the surf would fade completely. This was the perfect canvas for the U14s to have a blast and get stuck into competitive surfing; they didn’t disappoint, each athlete exhibiting commitment and technical ability that impressed onlookers and judges alike.

It was to be Ryan Croucher’s day. Another Langland grom, Croucher snagged a set wave early on, executed a composed bottom turn and set up for a critical lip-smash that sent showers over Skomer. A roundhouse cut back set a neat seal on proceedings before Croucher rode out through the white water.

The stand-out ride wrested 6.83 from the judges and was followed up by more good surfing that built Ryan’s house to 12.33 come the final hooter. Once again Monty Cole was all over it, throwing spray from neat off-the-tops and demonstrating smooth rail work to raise his final tally to 11.63. Just behind in third place was Ollie Phillips (CCSC) on 9.03, and Bryn Baker (PSC) on 8.10. This was a high quality, closely contested final that spoke of exciting futures in Welsh surfing.

FULL RESULTS

JUNIORS

U14 Boys
1st Ryan Croucher (WCSC) 12.33
2nd Monty Cole (LBR) 11.63
3rd Ollie Phillips (CCSC) 9.03
4th Bryn Baker (PSC) 8.10

U14 Girls
1st Katerina Roth-Gale (LBR) 10.66
2nd Summer-Marie Moore (WCSC) 9.64
3rd Alma Buick (PSC) 4.17

U16 Boys
1st Max Davies (LBR) 11.26
2nd Monty Cole (LBR) 7.34
3rd Ryan Croucher (LBR) 6.5
4th Ollie Phillips (CCSC) 5.47

U16 Girls
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 11.84
2nd Katerina Roth-Gale (LBR) 6.37
3rd Alma Buick (PSC) 4.94
4th Florence Curren (PSC) 2.60

U18 Girls
1st Katerina Roth-Gale (LBR) 6
2nd Indi Lynch (PSC) 5.63
3rd Josie Hawke (PSC) 5.10
4th Summer-Marie Moore (WCSC) 4.84

U18 Boys
1st Max Davies (LBR) 10.67
2nd Elijah Jones (PSC) 8.33
3rd Ryan Croucher (WCSC) 7.03
4th Fyn Bell (PSC) 2.47

U18 Longboard
1st Elijah Jones (PSC) 5.66
2nd Oliver Molyneux (PSC) 5.17
3rd William Procter (WCSC) 1.83
4th Bryn Bailey (WCSC) 0

SENIORS

Men’s Open
1st Pat Langdon-Dark (LBR) 17.20
2nd Elliot Barton (LBR) 13.33
3rd Logan Nicol (CCSC) 12
4th Euan Buick (PSC) 9.73

Women’s Open
1st Josie Hawke (PSC) 13.17
2nd Indi Lynch (PSC) 7.43
3rd Sindia Sosdian (CWSC) 4.33
4th Georgina Lewtas (PSC) 2

Men’s Longboard
1st Evan Rogers (CCSC) 11.5
2nd Oscar Arnold 6.10
3rd Craig Nicol (CCSC) 3.6

Women’s Longboard
1st Sindia Sosdian (CWSC) 6.27
2nd Amelia Dickinson (WSF) 6
3rd Georgina Lewtas (PSC) 4.5
2nd Elen Jones 2

Men’s Over 35
1st Harry Cromwell (PSC) 14.66
2nd Ryan Thomas (PSC) 13.06
3rd Craig Bright (CCSC) 11.33
4th Lloyd Cole (LBR) 8.53

Men’s Over 40
1st Greg Owen (WCSC) 5.36
2nd Mark Vaughan (WCSC) 4.37
3rd Gareth Bennett 1.3
4th Lloyd Cole (LBR) 1
5th Stephen Phillips (CCSC) 0

Men’s Over 50
1st Greg Owen (WCSC) 10.33
2nd Mark Vaughan (WCSC) 7.76
3rd Phil Sadler (PSC) 2.37
4th Craig Burrows 1.3

· Pembrokeshire Surf Club Paul ‘Spyder’ Ryder Award: Alma Buick (PSC)
· Barti Wave of the Welsh: Shared between Patrick Langdon-Dark (LBR) and Harry Cromwell (PSC). Highest scoring wave: 8.33