Gisborne Boardriders Club takes top position

Surfing Gisborne Boardriders Top Club: Stella Smith, Gina Samson, Maz Quinn, Ricardo Christie, John Gisby - (absent George Zame). The club reclaimed the No.1 status at the national surfing championships held in Gisborne last month. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE Boardriders Club reclaimed the No.1 status at the national surfing championships held in Gisborne last month.

Helped by a five-title haul, Gisborne finished ahead of Point Boardriders of Raglan in the always hotly-contested club points competition.

Ricardo Christie led the Gisborne assault in claiming his second open men’s crown, 13 years after first winning it as a 16-year-old.

That statistic paled in comparison to veteran John Gisby whose victory in the over-60s men’s final made it 37 age group crowns as the nationals dating back to 1987.

Maz Quinn couldn’t make it five open titles but was in brilliant form in winning the over-40s division.

Stella Smith retained the open women’s standup paddleboard title and Gina Samson won the over-50 women’s shortboard division. The club received high praise for its hosting of the champs which featured 300 entries over 29 divisions ranging in age from under-14 to over-60.

It will add to its proud history when it hosts the inaugural New Zealand Lawyers Easter Surfing Festival on March 31-April 1.

The club held its AGM last night.