WATCH: Manorbier Inclusive Tag-Team event celebrates Pembrokeshire surfing community

Six teams, 60 surfers, sunshine, great waves and a beach full of cheering spectators made the Manorbier Inclusive Tag-Team Shootout on Saturday, October 3 a celebration of everything that is special about Pembrokeshire’s surfing community.

After a two-week postponement due to poor weather, the competition returned to Manorbier in glorious autumn sunshine, with 2–3ft waves and an incredible atmosphere both in and out of the water.

Organised by Blue Horizons Coastal Adventures CIC, alongside experienced surf competition organisers, the event brought together surfers of all ages and abilities.

Beginners, experienced surfers, children, local surfing legends and adaptive surfers competed side by side in six mixed-ability teams, with every surfer’s contribution counting towards their team’s result.

Different ages, different abilities, different ways of surfing, but one team.

While the surfing was fantastic, some of the most memorable moments came from the people taking part.

During the presentations, Gail Evans, who won the Most Stoked award, spoke movingly about how surfing had saved her life and given her hope following a brain injury.

The brother of Phil Tee (Tex) shared how Phil, once a keen surfer, had finally got his life back after being unable to access the sea for around 20 years following a stroke.

Phil went on to receive the Hardest Charger trophy.

Another young competitor, aged 13, who first joined Blue Horizons four years ago, proudly competed alongside everyone else. She enjoyed the experience so much that she declared she wanted to keep entering the competition until she was 90!

Blue Horizons founders Ollie Bird and Emma-Mary Webster said: “These are the moments that remind us why we do what we do. For some people, surfing is about having fun and making friends. For others, it can mean rebuilding confidence, rediscovering independence or getting back a part of their life they thought they’d lost forever.

“Seeing everyone competing together, encouraging each other and genuinely belonging to the same surfing community is exactly what we hoped this event would achieve.”

Behind the scenes, the organising committee, judges, lifeguards, water safety teams and volunteers contributed more than 350 hours of voluntary time.

Tenby Surf Life Saving Club provided lifeguard and water safety support, while local businesses contributed funding, prizes, refreshments and equipment.

Thanks to this generosity, every competitor received a competition T-shirt, a beach bag featuring sponsors’ logos and surfing clothing or prizes.

Two young competitors even went home with brand-new surfboards donated by JP Surboards, helping support grassroots surfing in Pembrokeshire.

Barti Rum sponsored the £500 winning team prize, which went to Surf on My Face, captained by Paul Maytum.

Jonathan Williams, Founder of Barti Rum, said: “Barti was born here on the Pembrokeshire coast, so supporting events like this feels completely natural to us. Surfing, the sea and getting people together outdoors are a huge part of the world we come from and should be celebrated as much as possible.”

Rachel Davies, Managing Director of LBS, added: “We’re incredibly proud to have supported the Manorbier Community Tag Team Surf Competition and to have seen such a fantastic celebration of inclusion, community and surfing.

“Events like this are vital in creating opportunities for everyone to take part, have fun and feel part of something.”

The event was supported by Barti Rum, Port of Milford Haven, LBS Builders Merchants, Pro Waste Pembs, Love Waves Gower, Four Seasons Fruit & Veg, RWE Power Station, Surf’s Up, Billy Can, Wild Lakes, Bluestone, JP Surfboards, Coors Light, Castell Howell, Princes Gate Water, The Castle Inn, Paul McHugh, Tenby Surf Life Saving Club, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Manorbier House Café and Great Escape Coffee Co.

Photographer Alun Richardson, who captured the event throughout the day, reflected on what made it so special: “The atmosphere was electric and embodied what true inclusion is. While the big rides and competition-winning waves were naturally part of the story, some of the best moments happened between the heats.

“Beginners being encouraged by experienced surfers, children watching their local surfing heroes, teams celebrating waves ridden by adaptive surfers, and friends and families cheering from the beach.

“Volunteers worked quietly behind the scenes and surfers who arrived as strangers left with new friends. It was a wonderful example of what happens when a community comes together.”

The celebrations continued at Mano House Tea Rooms, with food prepared by Martin Johns and helpers, live music from Paul Anderson, Nipper and Hollie from Nipper and the Dawgs, and the presentation of team and individual awards.

For Blue Horizons, the greatest achievement wasn’t the trophies or competition result but seeing people who might otherwise never share the same sporting experience competing, laughing and celebrating together.

A spokesperson said: “One of the things we’re most proud of is knowing that, long after the competition, an adaptive surfer and a competitive surfer might walk along the same beach wearing exactly the same competition T-shirt.

“Neither is defined by their ability or disability. They’re both surfers, they’re both part of the same community and they both belong.”

Surfing brought everyone to the beach. The community made the day what it was.