Gisborne surfers dominate podium

Interclub Surf action: Open men's winner Damon Gunness cuts back on a wave at Makorori Beach in Gisborne Boardriders' interclub competition last Saturday. Origins of Light picture

Local surfers won all but one event at Gisborne Boardriders' interclub competition last Saturday.

The near clean sweep by local surfers showcased the level of the top surfers in the region.

Competition director James Fowell said he had expected Gisborne surfers to dominate.

“Our talent pool is just so deep.”

He said the day felt like the perfect start to summer, with “good vibes, the barbecue and good waves”.

Damon Gunness won the open men's division to secure his second victory in a row.

Asia Braithwaite won the women's division.

Milo Livingston won the under-12 division, Dale Cromhout (the only out-of-town winner) took home the u14 title, Kobey Gregory the u16, and John Gisby the over-60s.

Sixty-nine surfers competed across 29 heats at Creeks, Makorori, in waist-high highly contestable conditions.

Five clubs were represented at the contest, with surfers from Wellington, Mahia, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne.

Fowell said it was a positive when the weather and conditions aligned for the visit of competitors from other regions.

In its third year, the competition had started to attract a large out-of-town contingent, he said.

Normally, organisers would expect 40 to 50 entrants for an event.

“It's all really high-level competition.”

Results —

Open men: Damon Gunness 1, Joe Kelly 2, Tommy Dalton 3, Patrick Braithwaite 4.

Women: Asia Braithwaite 1, Marguerite Vujcich 2, Mahia Braithwaite 3, Ruby Lobb 4.

Under-16: Kobey Gregory 1, Luca Rendle 2, Joshua Wynee-Lewis 3, Jett Partridge 4.

U14: Dale Cromhout 1, Riku Gordon 2, Gabe Lobb 3, Eli Livingston 4.

U12: Milo Livingston 1, Archie Alder 2, Harry McFarlane 3, Waimata Crowley 4.

Over-60s: John Gisby 1, Mike Yukich 2, Ross Moodie 3, Marguerite Vujcich 4.