Gisborne locals rule in day of finals at national surfing champs

Local legend Steve "Teddy" Colbert is carried across the Makorori Beach sand after winning the Over-60s men's final at the national surfing championships in Gisborne on Tuesday. It was his second national title and came 42 years after his first - the Under-18 crown in 1984. Photo / Photo CPL

Gisborne surfers competed strongly in the various division finals held in windy, choppy conditions on Day 3 of the national surfing championships at Makorori.

Surf conditions picked up a little but the onshore wind strengthened and it made for a challenging day.

The contest was again held at the Creeks surf break in waves around 2-3 foot.

Rachel Ormsby became Gisborne’s first division winner at the titles when she took out the 50-70 years women’s crown with an 8.63 total for her two best waves.

Local Gina Samson was second on 6.73.

Gisborne’s Gary Stevenson won the Over-70 men’s title ahead of fellow locals Cliff Marriott and Graham Breckell.

It was a tight final with only 0.60 separating the top three.

Teddy Colbert from Gisborne started the O60 men’s final in fine style with an opening wave score of 8.17 out of 10.

His seventh and last wave scored 7.67 for an excellent 15.84 score and victory by 3.5 points from Mark Michetti (12.34) and Stephen Glover (9.97), completing a Gisborne trifecta.

Colbert won the Under-18 title at the 1984 nationals in Gisborne. This was his second NZ crown.

“Forty-two years between drinks,” he shouted as he came ashore before receiving the traditional ritual of the champion being carried on shoulders across the beach.

The O50 men’s title was won by Matt Bennett (14.0) from Arataki Boardriders in Mount Maunganui, ahead of Hamilton’s Rick Lasch (12.90), with Gisborne’s James Fowell (9.60) third.

In the much-anticipated O40 men’s final, Gisborne brothers and two of the country’s finest surfing exponents of their time – Maz and Jay Quinn – went head-to-head.

Maz started strongly with a 7.17 ride, but little bro took a narrow lead halfway through with rides of 4.47 and 5.37.

Maz hit back with another seven-pointer in the last minute of the final to clinch the title on 14.27.

Jay was runner-up on 11.67 and Sam Johnson from Gisborne was third on 10.47.

In the combined senior women’s final, Gisborne’s Claire Youmans won the O40s title and Whangamatā’s Lou Aitken the O30s.

The O30 men’s final was a battle from the outset, with the lead changing several times.

Matt Scorringe from Mount Maunganui scored 8.0 then 7.40 to be 2.7 points clear at the halfway stage on 15.40.

However, Gisborne’s Nick White and Blair Stewart kept the pressure on.

Stewart got closest to Scorringe with rides of 7.17 and 5.80 to finish on 12.97. White was third on 12.70.

Earlier in the afternoon, the bodyboard finals were claimed by surfers from out of the district, but Gisborne riders featured with Lucy McDiarmid second and Amy Spence third.

In the men’s bodyboard, Sean Hovell from Gisborne was runner-up and local Haimona Ngata was third.

Surfers the Gisborne Herald spoke to said it was a bit tricky to get the right wave because of the messy conditions, but the water was warm.

The championships continue on Wednesday.