Surfing: Kea comes close to ticket for Indonesia

Kea Smith of Arataki narrowly missed out on securing second place in the under-17 girls final at the Rip Curl Gromsearch at Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth. Photo/ColSurfingNZ

A number of Bay of Plenty surfers have performed well at the Rip Curl Gromsearch at Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth, despite locals ruling the waves.

Taranaki surfers dominated the weekend's action - claiming victories in half the six divisions - while seven Bay of Plenty competitors recorded top four placings at the event that was part of the New Zealand Surf Festival.

All eyes were on the boys and girls under-17 divisions, with the winner of each claiming entry to the international GromSearch final to be held at Sumbawa, Indonesia from May 7-10.

Arataki surfer Kea Smith came the closest of the Bay's representatives to booking her boarding pass, finishing third behind Australian Paris Whittaker and Gisborne's Jasmine Smith.

Lee Ririnui secured his third straight runner-up placing in the under-14 boys division behind Whangamata surfer Dylan Preston, while Elin Tawharu finished second in the under-14 girls final.

In other action, Iritana Butler finished fourth in the under-12 girls, Elin Tawharu was second in under-14 girls ahead of fourth-placed Tiana-Breeze de Mooij, and Jared Gebert claimed fourth in the under-14 boys.

FINAL STANDINGS

Under-12 Girls Final: 1st Georgia Wederell (ChCh) 7.03, 2nd Ariana Shewry (Tara) 7, 3rd Kahana Ngaia (Tara) 5.1, 4th Iritana Butler (Mnt), 4.93.

Under-14 Girls Final: 1st Zhana Hutchieson (Waitara) 9.3, 2nd Elin Tawharu (Mnt) 7.57, 3rd Kai Woolf (Gis) 6.2, 4th Tiana-Breeze de Mooij (Mnt) 3.67.

Under-17 Girls Final: 1st Paris Whittaker (Aus) 10.83, 2nd Jasmine Smith (Gis) 9.0, 3rd Kea Smith (Arataki) 8.63, 4th Britt Kindred (Muri) 3.9.

Under-12 Boys Final: 1st Tom Butland (Tara) 9.67, 2nd Taylor O'Leary (Mur) 8.57, 3rd Jai Oakley (Chch) 6.83, 4th Josef Jungwirth (Gis) 6.83.

Under-14 Boys Final: 1st Dylan Preston (Whmata) 10.17, 2nd Lee Ririnui (Mnt) 8.60, 3rd Shane Kraus (Piha) 7.57, 4th Jared Gebert (Ohope) 6.5.

Under-17 Boys Final: 1st Daniel Farr (Tara) 10.67, 2nd Isaac Kettle (Tara) 8.35, 3rd Korbin Hutchings (Gis) 8.27, 4th Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay) 5.73.