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Surfing Success for Fergal at Portrush Open
The ‘Circle One Portrush Open’ professional surf competition held at the weekend, was a brand new event, the seventh of eight UK Pro Tour (UKPST) competitions being held this year at some of the best surf venues in the country. The UKPST event attracted spectators from all over the UK and Ireland with nearly 50 competitors, many of whom were eyeing up the £4,000 prize purse. Among the surfers was Sport Northern Ireland funded Fergal Smith. Fergal reached the finals of the event and was placed fourth overall.
Twenty year old Fergal started surfing when he was seven in the Westport area of County Mayo. He arrived on the competitive scene in 2002 as an Under 16 and made an immediate impact. To date Fergal has had great success. In 2004 he was selected to compete at the European Junior Surfing Championships held in Portugal were he finished 11th, a great result for his first international event. 2005 was a successful year for Fergal as he took his first national title when he was crowned Irish Junior Champion. He also turned heads at the World Junior Surfing Championships held in California, USA beating the top Australian and French U18 surfers in his second heat and finishing 31st overall at the event. Although still in the junior ranks Fergal was selected to compete in the Open division at the European Championships held in Portugal were he finished 65th. In 2006 Fergal became Irish Champion and competed at the World Surfing Games in California, USA.
Most recently Fergal won the Scottish Open Pro (UK Pro Surf Tour). In an exciting final Fergal defied the international line up and progressed all the way to the final where he dominated beating Johnny Fryer into 2nd place. This achievement is a first for an Irish surfer.
Speaking on Fergal’s success, Professor Eric Saunders OBE Chairman of Sport Northern Ireland commented, “Sport Northern Ireland is delighted to fund great young athletes like Fergal, he is an inspiration and motivation to other young athletes, we wish him all the best for the future”.
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