Lucy Campbell and Luke Dillon celebrate after a successful weekend of surfing at the English Nationals surfing championship at Watergate Bay in Cornwall earlier this year
Newquay’s Luke Dillon and Woolacombe’s Lucy Campbell — sponsored by Korev Cornish Lager — have been selected to represent Great Britain in Japan this week in what could be the biggest ever event for British surfing in the run-up to the 202 Tokyo Olympics.
With surfing set to become an Olympic sport for the first time in Japan, the nature of the qualifying protocols for the Olympic Games means that the performance of the team selected to represent the home nations at the forthcoming ISA World Surfing Games this week in Tahara will hold the key to Team GB qualification in 2020.
Luke and Lucy form part of a six-strong squad chosen by the four surfing federations in the UK: England, Wales, Scotland and the Channel Islands. Each federation sent through their list of top surfers based on results to the selection committee, with each federation supplying two representatives to that committee to decide the strongest team based on their performance profiles.
With Luke flying back up the World Surfing League rankings after last year’s injury, and Lucy’s continued domination of the ladies’ surf scene, retaining her Women’s UK Pro Surf Tour Open title again this year their inclusion, alongside Jay Quinn and Reuben Ash on the men’s team and Peony Knight and Ellie Turner on the women’s, the British team will travel to Japan with high hopes of nailing a high ranking and a possible passport to the 2020 Games.
Jeremy Mitchell, markating and communications director at Korev owner St Austell Brewery, said: “Both Luke and Lucy have worked incredibly hard over the last few years to give themselves this incredible opportunity to surf for their country and, ultimately, a shot at the Olympic Games, which has to be the greatest dream for any sportsman or woman.
“We’re immensely proud of their achievements and we wish them and the entire team the best of luck at the ISA Games.”
