TEENAGE surf kayaker David Speller has finished second in the first round of the men’s World Cup Finals in Ile d’Oleron – though poor surf wrecked Team Jersey’s hopes of beating England to the BCU Home International title.
Speller (pictured) came through from his third round World Cup tie against team mate Stuart McGlinchey but narrowly lost the final to Spanish paddler Edu Exteberria.
Speller also missed out on the junior World Cup honours – pipped in the final by England’s Sam Davenport – but McGlinchey said the team put in a great performance despite struggling to find good form in small waves.
The conditions were so poor that the final rounds of the Home Internationals, fought out by three teams, had to be scrapped, meaning that leaders England maintained their top placing, followed by Jersey in second and Guernsey in third.
