Tyneside is to become the home of British surfing's leading event after another weekend of fast-paced action off the North-East coast. Thousands of fans flocked to Tynemouth's Long Sands over 48 hours as the cream of the country's surfers chased glory in the 2004 O'Neill British National Championships. Although there was heartache for local hero Sam Lamiroy who went out of his home event at the quarter-final stage, organisers are in talks to return in 2005. Cullercoats-raised Lamiroy said: "It's disappointing to get no further than the last eight in front of all my friends and family but the North-East is the big winner again. "It's great to see so many people enjoying the sport I love and I support any move to make this an annual event. For two years running the people here have proved they can stage a top class surfing event and why not come back again and again?" Reigning British champion Lamiroy was beaten by eventual winner Alan Stokes in yesterday's knockout stages but the nation's best female surfer enhanced her reputation. Robyn Davies, the country's number one, clinched a fourth successive national crown and the Cornwall-based competitor said: "I've had to come a long way but it's worth it. "I'm a big supporter of taking surfing to the masses and if our sport is to be recognised more widely we must stage more of these events outside Devon and Cornwall." One advocate of staging more surf events in the North East was yesterday's seniors winner Gabe Davies. The Newcastle-based competitor said: "For people like me it's brilliant to be able to surf in such a high profile competition on my doorstep. I come down here all the time and it is a special place to surf." Saltburn's Gary Davies won the over-55s title to cap a successful weekend for the region's senior surfers. An O'Neill spokeswoman said: "Once again we've had a wonderful 48 hours in Tynemouth and there has never been a better supported surfing event in Britain. We've been overwhelmed by the turnout and it is almost impossible to ignore this part of the world as a stage for future major events. "Many of the surfers have to travel hundreds of miles from the South-West to compete here but there are no complaints. We are keen to make Tyneside our regular home at this time of year." Open: 1 Alan Stokes; 2 Johnny Fryer; 3 John Buchorski; 4 Micah Lester. Women: 1 Robyn Davies; 2 Tracey Bixall; 3 Kay Holt; 4 Beth Mason. Senior: 1 Gabe Davies; 2 Greg Owen; 3 Johnny Carden; 4 Spencer Hargreaves. Masters: 1 John Carden; 2 Jed Stone; 3 Simon Blower; 4 Gary Rogers. Veterans: 1 Gary Rogers; 2 Jed Stone; 3 John Copley; 4 Gary Collins. | 
