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Cornwall's Egor has taken an early lead
by George Mojo
14/04/2008:// Cornwall's Mark "egor" Harris has taken an early lead on the UK Pro Surf Tour after winning the opening event of the season in North Devon.
Harris, who won the overall Open title in 2002, put on a masterclass of inspired surfing at Croyde Bay to take top spot.
The England international snatched the Saltrock Open title from fellow finalists South Devon's Matt Capel, Joss Ash, from Bude, and Johnny Fryer, of the Isle of Wight.
Earlier in the contest, defending oopen champion Sam Lamiroy, who lives in Perranporth, advanced confidently through the heats until the semi final where he lost out in tricky conditions.
Newquay's Alan Stokes surfed well all weekend but was judged to have interfered with Johnny Fryer's wave in the next semi which effectively ended his challenge for the title, but Harris surfed well and advanced alongside first place Fryer.
There they joined Matt Capel and Joss Ash from Bude who pulled an outstanding air reverse to secure his place in the final.
Entries were bulging in each of the six divisions up for grabs at the famed North Devon beachbreak.
First off the blocks were the Pro-Juniors, who paddled out eagerly into the powerful surf.
It was certainly survival of the fittest in the early rounds as anyone not firing on all cylinders was soon swept aside by the strongly surging water.
Newquay's Tom Butler and Reubyn Ash stood out early on, surfing skilfully and confidently through the rounds to compete in an action packed final where a deserving Ash was eventually crowned Pro Junior champion.
The Groms had to battle similarly tricky conditions and it was a real test of the young surfers' water knowledge to find a path through the surging white water.
The final saw a showdown between stars of the future St Merryn's Toby Donachie and Newquay's Josh Piper, with a triumphant Donachie finally clinching the win.
A strong women's field also took to the water with competitors taking the opportunity to paddle out the full 10 minutes allowed before each heat to beat a path through to the larger, cleaner waves rolling through out the back.
In a field full of surfers who have been busy grabbing headlines across the world this winter, there were some excellent displays of power and technical skill by less well known names including Zoe Sheath, from the Isle of Wight and Jenny Horbas, of Bournemouth, but it was the consistently good Nicole Morgan who took the title, beating Sarah Bentley, from St Agnes, to the post in a tense final.
Last years Saltrock Open winner Sam Lamiroy (Newcastle) advanced confidently through the heats until the semi final where he lost out in tricky conditions. Alan Stokes (Newquay) surfed well all weekend but was judged to have interfered with Johnny Fryer's wave in the next semi which effectively ended his challenge for the title, but Mark Egor Harris surfed well and advanced alongside first place Fryer. There they joined Matt Capel and Joss Ash from Bude who pulled an outstanding air reverse to secure his place in the final.
The Relentless Money Move for the best Aerial of the event went to Reubyn Ash who preformed an air reverse in his Pro Junior semi final heat.
Ash said: "It is great to get this extra award which could also have gone to my brother Joss as he preformed an aerial in the Open semi final".
Top seeds took control of the ASP World Qualfying Series 6-Star Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal posting big scores and impressive performances in the good three to four foot waves on offer at Ribeira d’Ilhas
Briton Russell Winter's run in the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal came to an abrupt end when the Cornishman finished last in his second round heat
The upcoming Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley may be the closest thing eight-time ASP World Champion and ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) has to a home court advantage on the ASP World Tour
Home advantage saw Lee Ann Curren claim top spot in Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw a hive of activity at the inaugural Quiksilver Skins invitation competition, one of the most innovative contest formats to grace the circuit
Champions tell the story of their success step by step
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