Gisborne connections strong

Finalist: Gisborne surfer Finn Vette, here in action at the 2019 National Scholastics Surfing Championships at Raglan, won his semifinal to reach the under-16 boys' final at the national surfing championships in Dunedin. Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine picture

GISBORNE'S Malone and Vette families are to the fore in age-group competition at the national surfing championships finishing in Dunedin today.

Chris Malone, national open men's champion in 1998 when he was based in Gisborne, has spent much of the past few years in Raglan, working in education. But he retains strong connections to Gisborne through family and friends.

Yesterday he finished second to Taranaki surfer Jarred Hancox in the over-35 men's final, with a two-wave total of 12.13 points, just over two points behind Hancox.

Also yesterday, he won his semifinal heat in the over-40 men's division, with a total of 11.6pts, over four points ahead of the heat runner-up. Today's final could be a battle royal between Malone and the winner of the other semifinal, Taranaki surfer Jason Matthews, whose winning total was 11.5pts.

Malone's son Navryn won his under-16 boys' semifinal heat with a total of 10.27pts and in the final will come up against Gisborne surfer Finn Vette, who won the other semi with a heat total of 13.53pts.

They both contested the u18 division, as well, before being eliminated in yesterday's semifinals.

Conditions yesterday were the best of the event so far, with a clean one-metre to 1.5m swell and light variable winds.

In today's competition at St Clair Beach, defending champion Billy Stairmand (Raglan) will try to win the men's open title for an eighth time, but first he has to get through the semifinals.

Results from yesterday, Day 5 of the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships held at St Clair Beach, Dunedin —

Under-18 boys, semifinals, Heat 1: Jack Lee (Whakatane) 14.46, 1; Tom Butland (Tara) 10.94, 2; Kora Cooper (Rag) 9, 3; Navryn Malone (Rag) 8.47, 4.

Heat 2: Taylor O'Leary (Mur) 14.47, 1; Josef Jungwirth (Rag) 11.93, 2; Finn Vette (Gis) 11.23, 3; Jack Luke (Tara), 4.5, 4.

U16 boys, semifinals, Heat 1: Navryn Malone (Rag) 10.27, 1; Jayden Willoughby (Rag) 9.63, 2; Ryder Pennington (Tara) 7.26, 3; Tana Clapham (Rag) 5.87, 4.

Heat 2: Finn Vette (Gis) 13.53, 1; Kora Cooper (Rag) 9.3, 2; Kalani Louis (Tara) 7.73, 3; Bill Byers (Piha) 6.77, 4.

Over-40 men, semifinals, Heat 1: Chris Malone (Gis) 11.6, 1; Alan Te Moananui (Kaik) 7.5, 2; Duan Reardon (Dun) 4.63, 3.

Heat 2: Jason Matthews (Tara) 11.5, 1; Lyndon Fairbairn (Dun) 7.34, 2; Paul McFetridge (Tara) 6.43, 3.

Men's stand-up paddleboard, final: Jamie Andrews (Tara) 13.4, 1, Alan Te Moananui (Kaik) 11.2, 2, Jamie McCaw (Auck) 9.67, 3, Sam Loader (Chch) 5.9, 4.

Men's longboard, final: Ambrose McNeill (Chch) 12.6, 1; Zen Wallis (Piha) 8.07, 2; Cameron Haylock (Chch) 6.74, 3; Billy Whelan (Mangawhai) 5.74, 4.

Women's longboard, final: Gabi Paul (Piha) 10, 1; Josephine Moore (Tara) 6.9, 2; Donna Henderson (Chch) 5.97, 3; Tegen Bishop (Chch) 4.6, 4.

U18 longboard, semifinals, Heat 1: Ben Counsell (Auck) 15.7, 1; Noah Stratford (Dun) 7.43, 2; Jai Wallis (Piha) 7, 3.

Kneeboard final: Malcolm Diack (Dun) 13.3, 1; Kelvin Weir (Tara) 13.2, 2; Jeff Patton (Dun) 7.57, 3; Murray Weir (Tara) 6.47, 4.

Women's stand-up paddleboard, final: Amelie Wink (Chch) 8.97, 1; Lucy Te Moananui (Chch) 8.13, 2.

Junior longboard, final: Nat Fitt (Auck) 12.5, 1; Billy Whelan (Mangawhai) 10.2, 2; Ben Counsell (Auck) 10.2, 3; Noah Stratford (Dun) 4.23, 4.

Bodyboard, final: Aaron Lock (Chch) 15.6, 1; Zen Wallis (Piha) 8.6, 2; Jai Wallis (Piha) 3.54, 3.

Women's bodyboard, final: Marguerite Vujcich (HBay) 3.5, 1.

Over-35 men, final: Jarred Hancox (Tara) 14.2, 1; Chris Malone (Gis) 12.13, 2; Josh Thickpenny (Dun) 10.47, 3; Damian Phillips (Dun) 9.53, 4.

Over-45 men, final: Simon Brennan (Dun) 10.5, 1; Ben Kennings (Whangamata) 10.1, 2; Dawson Tamati (Tara) 8.17, 3; Lyndon Fairbairn (Dun) 6.83, 4.

Over-55 men, final: Geoff Hutchison (Rag) 12.3, 1; Neill Robb (Chch) 8.27, 2; John Roussey (Chch) 7.5, 3; Phil Wallis (Piha) 5.2, 4.