Young Bay riders advance as top rival exits

Leading Kiwi surfer Richard Christie was yesterday eliminated from the national championships at Piha by two young Bay of Plenty rivals, Matt Hewitt and Alex Dive.

Gisborne-based Christie, ranked 43rd in the world, struggled with the smaller waves and low tide conditions that allowed the lighter and more nimble Hewitt and Dive to thrive.

Hewitt, 20, won the heat, scoring 12.27 from 20 points to move into the semifinals alongside 19-year-old Dive, who scored 11 points.

"It was hard out there. It was slow and you had to pick the right ones that didn't close out," Hewitt said. "Our heat was stacked [full of talent] for the quarters ... I just had to catch the best waves and I did."

He is awaiting official word that he has been given an injury replacement position in the final Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Pro Junior event in Australia starting this weekend. He will then have to decide how to juggle contesting the two events.

Tim O'Connor, of Mt Maunganui, eyeing his first win at national level in the open men's division, won the fourth quarter-final, scoring 12.93 points.

Defending champion Jay Quinn of Gisborne, did it easily in his quarter-final, posting the day's highest heat score - 15.83. He found the best set waves and an 8.17-point ride sealed the win.

Results from day four:

Open men's division quarter-finals, heat 1- Billy Stairmand, 15.67, 1, Bobby Hansen, 12.93, 2m Larry Fisher, 6.17, 3, Leon Santorik, 5.55, 4; heat 2 - Matt Hewitt, 12.27, 1, Alex Dive, 11, 2, Richard Christie, 8.6, 3, Matt Scorringe, 5.97, 4; heat 3 -Jay Quinn, 15.83, 1, Zen Wallis, 13.43, 2, Ryan Hawker, 7.1, 3, Ben Kennings, 7, 4; heat 4 - Tim O'Connor, 12.93, 1, Chris Malone, 8.83, 2, Scott Casey, 7.2, 3, Keone Campbell, 4.87, 4