OF Jersey’s 15 surfers, six reached the quarter-final stage, one the semi-finals and two a final at the Billabong British Junior Championships at Bude last weekend.

In north Cornwall, the Jersey Surfboard Club minnows, competing in under-12 to under-18 sections, took on over 100 competitors from all over Britain.

Nathan Elms and Alex Vibert flew the flag to reach the U12 final where they finished second and fourth respectively.

Jersey coach Clayton Lidster said: ‘Nathan surfed well above his age and Alex was stylish and composed.

The team were all well-prepared and keen to compete at this prestigious event.

‘If a few judging decisions had gone our way we may have seen more finalists but that’s competition at the end of the day.’ Surf was a messy one-to-two foot on day one before improving to three foot with a consistent swell on day two.

Surfing with style and power through the early rounds Elms and Vibert continued their form into the semi-final stages, with high scoring waves to win final slots.

Vibert, of the AIB Junior Academy – who has only been surfing for two years – couldn’t believe his good fortune to join the more experienced Elms in an attempt to gain Jersey top honours.

Both surfed so well in the semis that the final should have been a formality.

Unfortunately a change in tide and a lull in sets proved that nothing can be taken for granted and Newquay’s Tom Good won from Elms, with Vibert fourth.

The improvement in the Jersey standard won praise from British Surfing Association judges and English team coaches.