A NORTH Cornwall athlete has been celebrating after placing fourth at a European Surfing Competition.

Mayor Cllr Helen Bailey met with Kaleia Peres this week to discuss her amazing achievement at a European Surfing Competition and see the trophy she won.

The competition, hosted in Tenerife, was open to anyone in Europe to enter and awarded those who made the final a European title. Surfing sisters Arabella and Kaleia, from Launceston, both attend Tregadillett Primary School showed their skills at the competition.

Eight years old at the time of the competition, Kaleia competed in the under 10 girls’ category, making it through her semi-final heat to gain a place in the final. Despite being the youngest surfer in the final and taking on a tricky reef break she gained herself the title of fourth in Europe in the under 10 girls’ category.

Eleven-year-old Arabella competed in the under 12 category, however, up against tough competition and tricky conditions, she was disappointed that things did not go as well as she hoped in her heat and did not progress to the next round.

The sisters had a great experience, and it was their first time competing abroad, they are both hoping to compete in Euro kids again next year. The girls train all year round braving the cold Cornish winter swell to keep up with their training ready for the upcoming UK competition season which takes off in May with the English Nationals.

Cllr Bailey commented: “It is wonderful to hear of the successes of the young people in our town, Kaleia is so tiny and smaller than her board, yet she adventures into the sea tackling huge waves smiling and enjoying what she is doing. Very dedicated to training, along with her sisters I am sure we will be hearing so much more about them all in the future”