Established 1979...
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In the ‘60s, Surfing Contests were usually run by Surf Life Saving Clubs and were mainly aimed at Surf Life Saving Club members. Surf Clubs started to appear in the mid 60s, to cater for those surfers that just wanted to surf, compete with each other and have social events in their village.
Croyde attracted some surfers, but most surfed at Woolacombe, Putsborough or Saunton. Croyde Beach had a bad reputation for rips (remember there were no leashes in those days). Woolacombe had a surf club, The Red Barn, surf contests and The Long Bar at the Narracott Grand Hotel. We used to surf Croyde and then drive to Woolacombe for the evening. On the way, we’d stop off at the Kings Arms in Georgeham and usually didn’t get much further! That was the evening meeting place for the Croyde surfing community.
In the mid ‘70s, the Thatched Barn Village Tea Rooms became a public house and, along with the Beach Club a little later, became the haunt of many of the local surfers. We didn’t have to leave the village any more!
By the late ‘70s, many of the local lads were surfing well enough to enter and be successful in national competitions. Several were chosen to represent their country in British, European and World Contests. Most of the important competitions were being staged by British Surfing Association Officials, often in Cornwall. We had to redress the balance.
The initial idea to form a club came in 1979 from Tim Barrow, Peter Oram and Richard Carter sitting in Pete’s van one horrible day in Down End car park. They went back to Pete’s house in Church Street, where Leonie Oram put everything down on paper. Pete was the chairman, Leonie the secretary, Richard the social secretary and Tim was the contest director; after that we recruited Keith West, Terry and Liz Veitch, and Simon Pearse, who all played their part. So big up the girls, who did all the tedious work, couldn’t have done it without YOU and thanks to all who paid their dues hereafter, there are so many.
The main aim was to focus the obvious surfing interest in the community in order to be able to run our own contests, grow the surf talent of the village, have local social events and host, organise and run Regional and National Contests.
Forming the club was pretty easy, as there was a lot of local support, although we had to have Parish Council approval to use the name Croyde! During the ‘80s, we hosted and ran many Local, Regional and National Contests, won many National Inter-Club Championships and had several early successes from within the ranks. The social side was pretty good too! Croyde Surf Club parties in the ‘80s Beach Club / Cave Rave days will live forever in the minds of all who were fortunate to be there and are still able to remember!
AWARDS
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Open League Champions
2023 - Sam Taylor
2019 - Will Bailey
2018 - Ed Knight
2017 - Ed Knight
2016 - Ed Knight
2015 - Alex Gibson
2014 - Taz Knight
2013 - Taz Knight
2012 - Beau Bromham
2011 - Matt Jenkins
2010 - Scott Rannochan
2009 - Lyndon Wake
2008 - Scott Rannochan
2007 - No Winner
2006 - Scott Rannochan
2005 - Matt Jenkins
2004 - Ossian Pleasance
2003 - Matt Jenkins
2002 - Andy Cotton
2001 - Matt Jenkins
2000 - Scott Rannochan
1999 - Dave Allen
1994 - Scott Rannochan
1993 - Wayne 'Waxer' Cowie
1992 - Ross Thompson
Womens League Champions
2023 - Boe Bowell
2019 - Belle Betteridge
2018 - Claire Moodie
2017 - Andrea Lawrence
2016 - Peony Knight
2015 - Andrea Lawrence
2014 - Andrea Lawrence
2013 - Andrea Lawrence
2012 - Debs Nettley
2011 - Andrea Lawrence
2010 - Laura Crane
2009 - Lucy Campbell
2008 - Kathleen Spears
2007 - Kathleen Spears
2006 - Karma Worthington
2005 - Kathleen Spears
2004 - Kathleen Spears
2003 - Lorna Giles
Masters League Champions 35+
2023 - James Bonney / Mark Hagley
2019 - Charlie Smith
2018 - Charley Charlesworth
2017 - Charley Charlesworth
2016 - Mike Tomlinson
2015 - Carlo Ferrero
2014 - Charley Charlesworth
2013 - Charley Charlesworth
2012 - Charley Charlesworth
2011 - Charley Charlesworth / Darren Burrett
Veterans League Champions 45+
2023 - Ossian Pleasance
2019 - Tom Hewitt
2018 - Steve Arrowsmith
2017 - Steve Arrowsmith
2016 - Darren Burrett
2015 - Lee Parkins
2014 - Darren Burrett
2013 - Lee Parkins
2012 - Matt Knight
2011 - Melvin Everleigh
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Junior League Champions
Under 18 Boys
2023 - Malakai Hagley
2019 - Jake Arrowsmith
2018 - Freedom Wall
2017 - Storm Wall
2016 - Storm Wall
2015 - Alex Gibson
2014 - Taz Knight
2013 - Taz Knight
2012 - Ali Deswert
2011 - Jack Middleton
2010 - Beau Bromham
2009 - Beau Bromham
2008 - Joe Windsor
2007 - Alex Baker
2006 - Connor Spears
2005 - Eddie Knight
2004 - Adam Thornton
1999 - Dan Gooding
1995 - Dan Newsome
1994 - Scott Rannochan
1993 - Dan Rudman
1992 - Scott Rannochan
Junior League Champions
Under 18 Girls
2023 - Boe Bowell
2019 - Belle Betteridge
2018 - No Winner
2017 - No Winner
2016 - Evie Preston
2015 - Peony Knight
2014 - Peony Knight
2013 - No Winner
2012 - Peony Knight
2011 - Harriet Knight
Junior League Champions
Under 16 Boys
2023 - Ziggy Robinson
2019 - Sam Taylor
2018 - Sam Taylor
2017 - Freedom Wall
2016 - Will Gale
2015 - Storm Wall
2014 - Will Bailey
2013 - Will Bailey
2012 - Jack Banks
2011 - Taz Knight
Junior League Champions
Under 16 Girls
2023 - Boe Bowell
2019 - Belle Betteridge
2018 - No Winner
2017 - Amy Dyer
2016 - Amy Dyer
2015 - Esme French
2014 - Evie Preston
2013 - Peony Knight
2012 - Peony Knight
2011 - Livvy Bridges
Junior League Champions
Under 14 Boys
2023 - Reuben Moy
2019 - Malakai Hagley
2018 - Beau Betteridge
2017 - Jake Arrowsmith
2016 - Jake Arrowsmith
2015 - Freedom Wall
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2014 - Garin Clay
2013 - Storm Wall
2012 - Will Bailey
2011 - Alex Gibson
2010 - Taz Knight
2009 - Jack Hough
2008 - Taz Knight
2007 - Beau Bromham
2006 - Zac Lawton
2005 - Stuart Campbell
2004 - Stuart Campbell
Junior League Champions
Under 14 Girls
2023 - Lani Ashton
2019 - Eva Moorcroft Holland
2018 - No Winner
2017 - Holly Thompson
2016 - No Winner
2015 - Lily Mandeville
2014 - Georgia Buckley
2013 - Evie Preston
2012 - No Winner
2011 - Peony Knight
2010 - Flora Lawton
2009 - Lucy Campbell
2008 - Lucy Campbell
2007 - Lucy Campbell
2006 - Laura Crain
Junior League Champions
Under 12 Boys
2023 - Jack Strutt
2019 - Siyanda Hewitt
2018 - Malakai Hagley
2017 - Lewie Arrowsmith
2016 - Lewie Arrowsmith
2015 - Jake Arrowsmith
2014 - Jake Arrowsmith
2013 - Freedom Wall
2012 - Gabe Ley
2011 - Storm Wall/Garin Clay
2010 - Alex Gibson
Junior League Champions
Under 12 Girls
2023 - Aniie Nicholls
2018 - Belle Betteridge
2017 - Belle Betteridge / Georgie Thompson
2016 - Evie Sharp
2015 - Holly Thompson
Junior League Champions
Under 10 Boys
2023 - Henry Carlino
2019 - Hugh Elliss
2018 - Heath Gillespie
2017 - Siyanda Hewitt
2016 - Fynn Gillespie
2015 - Frank Gray
2014 - Lewie Arrowsmith
2013 - Jake Arrowsmith
2012 - Stanley Norman
2011 - Gabriel Ley
2010 - Garin Clay
2009 - Garin Clay
Junior League Champions
Under 10 Girls
2023 - Daisy Myers
CONTESTS
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OPEN CHAMPIONS
2016: Ed Knight
2015: Alex Gibson
2014: Charley Charlesworth
2013: Taz Knight (u18)
2012: Lyndon Wake
2011: Matthew Jenkins
2010: Scott Rannochan
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2009: Lyndon Wake
2008: Scott Rannochan
2007: Alex Baker (u18)
2006: Jonty Tucker
2005: Carlo Ferrero
2004: Ossian Pleasance
2003: Wayne (Waxer) Cowie
Al Rannochan was a superb committee and community member. A past Chairman of the club and a great ambassador for surfing in North Devon, Al is remembered each year by Croyde Surf Club.
Father to ex-UK Pro Surfer Scott Rannochan, Al sadly passed away in 2003 due to cancer. It was always his wish to own a Harley Davidson and in his last few months with us, he was fortunate to own and ride one.
Al was a bloody legend. Everyone who knew him always makes the effort to attend the first contest of the year and tries to win the very unique and prestigious trophy.
Past winners include:
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2018: Will Bailey
2017: Will Bailey
2016: Ed Knight
2015: Beau Bromham
2014: Charley Charlesworth
2013: Taz Knight (u18)
2012: Lyndon Wake
2011: Matthew Jenkins
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2010: Scott Rannochan
2009: Lyndon Wake
2008: Scott Rannochan
2007: Alex Baker (u18)
2006: Jonty Tucker
2005: Carlo Ferrero
2004: Ossian Pleasance
2003: Wayne (Waxer) Cowie
Steve McKewan was a well liked lifeguard who tragically died in a car accident.
Past winners include:
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2019 - Will Bailey
2018 - Beau Bromham
2017 - Beau Bromham
2016 - Lyndon Wake
2015 - Lyndon Wake
2014 - Taz Knight
2013 - Charley Charlesworth
2012 - Beau Bromham
2011 - Matt Jenkins
2010 - Ossian Pleasance
2009 - Jack Smith
2008 - Adam Thornton
2007 - Steve Outram
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2006 - Scott Rannochan
2005 - Jonathan Sweetman
2004 - Edward Knight
2003 - Ossian Pleasance
2002 - Wayne 'Waxer' Cowie
2001 - Matt Jenkins
2000 - Scott Rannochan
1999 - Rob Colwill
1998 - Scott Rannochan
1997 - Scott Rannochan
1996 - Scott Rannochan
1995 - Scott Rannochan
1994 - David Allen
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1993 - David Allen
1992 - Matt Jenkins
1991 - Ross Thompson
1990 - Matt Saunders
1989 - Neil Clifton
1998 - David Allen
1987 - 1982 - Richard Carter
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The Redwood Supergrom contest is the brainchild of ex-British champion, Richard Carter. Richard and his staff at Redwood Surf Shop recognise the need to develop our youth and encourage them into the water. The Redwood Supergrom is the biggest grass roots junior surf event in the UK.
The Redwood has built a reputation for fun and is as much about taking part and introducing the youngsters to the world of competitive surfing. To that end, we’ve added an Under 10 assist division so those youngsters getting to grips with surfing can have help getting into waves.
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Environment: SAS Beach Cleans
Annually, CSC works closely with the environmental pressure group, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS). CSC actively supports and promotes the SAS beach cleans which aims to protect the coastline from marine litter including beach cleans and education events. As part of our events, we actively encourage our members to be environmentally aware and aim to educate them about the importance of protecting our beaches so everyone can enjoy safely and sustainably.
