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| Issue 54: Reportage |
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Page 3 of 7 Cornish surf team Kernow competed overseas and returned with pride having dominated the surfing at the InterCeltic Watersports. The Cornwall Surfing Team carried the St Piran flag high, not only onto the beautiful beaches of the Crozon Peninsula, Britanny, but through the streets of Morlaix, the regional capital, where their chanting of ‘Oggi, oggi, oggi’ was interspersed with the haunting sound of the bag-pipes of the Gallicians. This chance to compete riding waves has given ten minority regions of the Atlantic Fringe the opportunity to celebrate their cultural identity and subtly advertise their political drift towards greater autonomy through sport. Euskadi (Basques), Asturias and Gallicia were the traditional Hispanic groups, supported by new regional arrivals from North Portugal and the Canary Islands. From further north were Kernow, Breizh, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and a new outsider, Normandy. Wales was noticeable by its absence. Of all these surfing regions, it had been Cornwall that had first taken to riding waves back in the early Sixties. Its 21st century team was composed of Cornish, Cornish born and immigrants to the region, united by their love of beach life on its Atlantic northern coast. Standout performances through a range of categories in the 2-6 foot, often onshore wind conditions, came from Lee Bartlett, Adam Griffiths, Ben Skinner, Tom Butler, James Parry, Ben Sowter, Jack Butler, Sean Skilton, Tom Good and Holly Donnelly.  Cornwall would not have had a team without the independent co-ordination of team manager Minnow Green and financial support from Skinners Brewery. Overall, including the sailing and rowing events, Cornwall placed third amongst this gathering of regions for the InterCeltic Watersports of 2007, who all now recognise the distinctive flag of St Piran. |
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