LYNDON WAKE has won the Saltrock rookie of the year prize at the annual UK Pro Surf Awards night in Newquay.

The 19-year-old Billabong rider from Croyde has had a hectic year that saw him competing on the Pro Surf Tour as well as spending time in France and making numerous magazine photo trips.

Lyndon placed highest out of the 10 newbies on the tour, finishing a respectable 14th overall.

"I'm really stoked to receive the award, and am working to improving my performance for next year," he said.

"I wasn't consistent enough this year and need to convert those quarter-finals into semis and finals.

"It will be my last year on the European Pro Junior Tour and I want to go big.

"I was lucky enough to go to Tahiti where I surfed with Nike 6.0 rider Michel Bourez, as well as spending time at the Nike house in France. Surfing with those guys was amazing and really help my surfing."

Talking after his latest photoshoot in the Canaries, Lyndon is keen to keep the focus on the forthcoming 2010 season.

Croyde surfer and purveyor of hot-tubs Ian Blake is just one event away from winning this year's Fantasy Surfer League.

The worldwide competition, run by Surfer magazine, has attracted more than 18,000 entrants, and Blakey is sitting pretty at the top of the pile as world number one.

The Pipeline Masters, which starts next week in Hawaii, is the final stop on the 2009 WCR.A good performance from his selected surfers could see Ian grab the grand prize, a trip for two to the Gold Coast for the 2010 Quiksilver Pro.

Barnstaple's Nick Lloyd has just returned from a surfer's dream — an 11-day boat trip through the Hinako Islands, Indonesia.

He won a competition run by Baggys.co.uk and Holidays With A Purpose that gave two British surfers a golden ticket to some of the best waves in the world as well as working to help island communities.

"It was a dream trip with so many highlights," said Nick.

"We endured two tropical storms, scored an amazing day of waves at Lagundri and met some amazing people.

"We worked for three days at an orphanage in Gunung Sitoli, helping decorate the kids' rooms and gardening.

"We also visited some of the other projects Holidays With A Purpose have on the islands.

"It was an amazing trip on all levels, pushing the kids from the orphanage into waves on the final day was emotional, we were sad to leave.

"To actually put something back into the community was enjoyable and humbling. I will hopefully go back one day."

More than 70 volunteers descended on Saunton Sands on Sunday with bin bags, gloves and plenty of determination for a beach clean organised by Surfers Against Sewage.

Braving torrential rain and gale-force winds, the plucky crew cleared almost five tonnes of litter.

Newly-appointed North Devon representative of Surfers Against Sewage and event organiser Mikey Corker said: "A huge thank you to all those who came to help, it was a massive task and could not have been achieved without each and every person who gave up their time in truly testing conditions.

"Special thanks also to Wild Thyme cafe and Edds Grocers for supplying soup and rolls, Saunton Sands Hotel for providing hot drinks all day, Sandra and Sheila from Saunton Break cafe for help with the catering, and Paul and Lucy from the beach shop for letting us make use of their equipment."

If you would like to help fight the marine litter problem, sign an online petition that will be submitted to the Government next year. Go to http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/marine-litter.

The Steve McEwan Memorial Contest will be hosted by Croyde Surf Club Saturday with a 9am check-in at Downend.