A ST SAMPSON’S HIGH schoolboy has been crowned the junior world surf kayak champion.

Adam Harvey was part of the Channel Islands team who took part in the recent World Surf Kayak Championships in Santa Cruz, Portugal.

And the 16-year-old, who completed his GCSE studies this year, took the top spot in the junior high performance class.

‘I’m really pleased and I didn’t expect it,’ said Harvey, who is sponsored by Fusion Systems, Heritage Group, Outdoor Guernsey and Quayside.

After making his way through to the final, Harvey knew he was going to have a job on his hands to claim the title as he came up against Northern Ireland’s Corin King.

The lead changed hands between the pair as both paddlers scored a little higher on each wave they took.

In three to four foot surf, Harvey, in his first final, continued to pick up big points and at the end of the 20min. heat he was crowned world champion.

‘It was a tough heat and it was pretty close, but I managed it in the end,’ said Harvey.

Harvey also made it through to the semi-finals of the senior competition.

‘It was a lot harder at that level, but it was good fun,’ he said.

‘I didn’t expect to get as far as I did. It worked out quite well.’

However, it was not such a rosy time for his older brother Chris.

For the previous three World Surf Kayak Championships he has come third, but this year he failed to make the finals.

Jersey’s David Speller was crowned the world champion.

Fellow Sarnians Dave du Port, Ruth Briggs and Lorraine Koller also did their part in helping the Channel Islands come an impressive fourth in the team event.

England took the top spot, followed by the Basque Country and Northern Ireland.

‘We’re very pleased,’ said Adam Harvey.

‘We were competing against the likes of England who have a lot more people to choose from. We had some very strong paddlers in the team.’World Surf Kayak Championships, Santa Cruz, Portugal: Harvey wins junior HP class