Competitors from all over the UK gathered in Colwyn Bay on the weekend for one of the most highly anticipate events on the student windsurfing calendar.

Porth Eirias played host to the BUCS/Student Windsurfing Association Nationals event for the first time ever after they won the rights to hold the event taking it from the 2012 Olympic venue in Weymouth.

The event ran over the course of Saturday and Sunday and saw over 100 students from over 20 universities take to the water and compete for advanced, intermediate, beginner, freestyling and team racing awards as well as sporting achievement points for their universities.

James Hatcher of Exeter University carried home the crown in the advanced males category while Sarah Jackson, from Bath University, was the highest ranked female competitor in the event.

Gabriel Brettel, Nottingham, and Thomas Sambrook, Birmingham, took out second and third place respectively for the advanced race.

Seb Garfield, Bath, and Emma Haferly, Exeter, led in the Intermediate category in their respective groups while Ben Essigman and Guy Murphy finished second and third in the event.

In the beginners class Bristols Thomas Casburn and Cardiff's Margaux Pouliquen won the male and female categories.

The freestyle event saw just the three competitors take to the water. Liverpool's Jane Paddison took out first place in that event followed by Bristol duo Matthew Duffin and Alice Lyons in second and third respectively.

Colwyn Bay Watersports managing director, Taffy Osborne, said: “It went incredibly well and we ended up with more students than we originally expected.

"The weather on Saturday was fantastic and it was great to see many local teenagers and parents down here to view the spectacle.

"We streamed some of the action on our social media pages and even had a drone flying to capture the action. We were delighted with how the event went.”

Competitors camped out in the Barn at Stadiwm Zip World while in Colwyn Bay and also had free time outside of the event to enjoy the hospitality on offer in the area.

For full lists of results visit https://www.studentwindsurfing.co.uk/events/calendar/event?event=137.