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Wilmot, Phillips Take Junior Championships
By BASN Wire Services
Aug 10, 2008

Ivah Wilmot

JAMAICA -- The third and final event of the Jamaica Surfing Association’s series was held at popular east Portland surfing beach “Long Bay” back on August 2nd. 

The conditions were good with 2’-3’ waves and intermittent showers. The event got off to a late start with 21 junior surfers registering for the event, fourteen under 16 surfers and seven under 18 surfers. 

The under 16 division was run first. With 4 rounds of competition narrowing the field to the top four performers, Ivah Wilmot, Ackeam Taylor, Oshane Usher and Shama Beckford. With 1000 points on the line for first place the youngsters paddled out under the watchful eyes of the judging panel. 

The horn sounded and the final was on. Thirty waves were ridden by the contestants in the 20 minute heat. Ivah opened up with a blistering wave where he executed 5 scoring manoeuvres earning the highest wave score of the heat. Ackeam and Oshane mounted concerted attacks on Ivah’s lead with impressive rides of their own which got the north coast spectators into frenzy.

Ivah responded with another high scoring ride which opened up a bit of daylight between himself and the rest of the field. They all had more rides but failed to get the high point score necessary to overtake Ivah and by the final count down the writing was on the wall. Ivah finished in first, Ackeam second Oshane third and Shama fourth. 

Their point haul from the final was added to their point total from the two previous events in the series and Ivah Wilmot was declared the overall 2008 National Under 16 Junior Champion. 

Place	08NJSC#3 U16	points
1	Ivah Wilmot	1000
2	Ackeam Taylor	860
3	Oshane Usher	730
4	Shama Beckford	670
=5	Garren Pryce	610
=5	Amani Green	610
=7	Warren Lewis	555
=7	Ricardo Crossman	555
=7	Conrad Smith	555
=10	Leon McKenzie	488
=10	Ronald Hastings	488
=12	Ackeam Anglin	462
=12	Kevardo Mattis	462
14	Janoy Hall	438

Final ‘08 Series U16 Standings 

Place	Under 16	NJSC1	NJSC2	NJSC3	Total
1	Ivah Wilmot	1000	670	1000	2670
2	Amani Green	730	860	610	2200
=2	Garren Pryce	860	730	610	2200
4	Ronald Hastings	670	500	488	1658
5	Leon McKenzie	610	555	488	1653
6	Ackeam Anglin	610	500	462	1572
7	Ackeam Taylor	- - -	1000	860	1860
8	Shama Beckford	- - -	610	670	1280
9	Oshane Usher	- - -	610	730	1340
10	Jahnoy Hall	- - -	555	438	993
11	Ricardo Crossman			555	555
=11	Conrad Smith	- - -	- - -	555	555
13	Kevardo Mattis	- - -	- - -	462	462
14	Janoy Hall	- - -	- - -	438	438

Next up were the under 18 boys. Two semi final heats were run to reduce the seven man field to the top four performers to display their prowess for the scrutiny of the judges in attendance. Ackeam Phillips, Shane Simmonds, Michael Panton and Gawayne Gallimore then paddled out for the 20 minute final. The hirn sounded for the start of the heat and the surfers got busy.

They rode 28 waves between them with Ackeam, Shane and Michael having the best time of it. Gawayne was struggling in the very challenging surf which required a very technical approach to garner high scores. The lead changed hands several times before the final horn sounded.

Ackeam Taylor

When it did, the judge’s scores were tallied and Ackeam earned the 1000 points on offer for the top spot, Shane nabbed 860 for second, Michael 730 for third and Gawayne 670 for fourth. When the point totals from all three events were added to determine the 2008 National Under 18 Junior Champion was declared to be Ackeam Phillips. 

Place	08NJSC#3 U18	points
1	Ackeam Phillips	1000
2	Shane Simmonds	860
3	Michael Panton	730
4	Gawayne Gallimore	670
=5	Ronley Lewis	610
=5	Lennox Wright	610
7	Anthony Taylor	555

Place	Under 18	NJSC1	NJSC2	NJSC3	Total
1	Ackeam Phillips	860	1000	1000	2860
2	Ronley Lewis	730	610	610	1950
3	Shane Simmonds	1000	- - -	860	1860
4	Michael Panton	- - -	670	730	1400
5	Gawayne Gallimore	- - -	610	670	1280
6	Lennox Wright	- - -	555	610	1165
7	Lloyd Jacks	- - -	860	- - -	860
8	Jason Pusey	- - -	730	- - -	730
9	Travis Atkinson	- - -	555	- - -	555