Gisby makes it 37 titles

TITLE-WINNER EXTRAORDINAIRE: Gisborne surfer John Gisby on his way to his 37th national age-group title. Gisby’s ability to score well in any conditions was to the fore throughout the men’s over-60 competition, as he held off the challenges of well-performed veterans. Picture by Paul Rickard

GISBORNE surfing phenomenon John Gisby won his 37th national age-group title yesterday.

Gisby, 64, beat Whakatane’s Tony Ogilvy, Whangarei’s Rupert Newbold and Gisborne’s Spring Thompson in the over-60 men’s final at Makorori Beach.

It was one of a slew of age-group titles decided yesterday, but the standout contests for the impartial observer were the open men’s semifinal heats.

In the first, Levi Stewart (Waihi Beach) and Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) advanced to the final, at the expense of Piha’s Zen Wallis and Dunedin’s Elliott Brown.

In the second, Piha’s Elliot Paerata-Reid and Gisborne/Mahia’s Ricardo Christie posted heat scores of 17.0 and 16.13 respectively to go through ahead of Nick White (Mt Maunganui) and Johnny Hicks (Gisborne).

The results of all the finals were expected to be known by lunchtime today.

Of the other Gisborne competitors on the water yesterday, Stella Smith did best, retaining her national women’s stand-up paddleboard title with a heat score of 17.6 — the highest all day.

Sean Hovell and Geoff Pardoe were third and fourth respectively in the men’s stand-up paddleboard final, Daizee Rawls was fourth in the under-14 girls’ surfing final, Finn Vette was third in the u14 boys’ final, Patrick Braithwaite was second in the over-45 men’s final, Noel Francis was fourth in the over-55 men’s final, and Gina Samson claimed the over-55 women’s division.

Former Gisborne, now Raglan, surfer and 1998 open men’s champion Chris Malone was second in the over-35 final, and son Navryn was fourth in the u14 boys’ final.

Surfers with a mix of experience and emerging talent advanced from the open men’s semifinals, contested in clean one-metre waves yesterday.

World Qualifying Series campaigners Paerata-Reid and former Championship Tour competitor Christie led newcomers Stewart and Moretti into the finals.

Paerata-Reid, 21, made it back-to-back finals at the national championships. His 17-point heat total featured a dominant display of powerful backhand re-entries.

He was hoping his performance in the final would be better than it was last year, when he had an off-day in his home waters.

“Well, I hope I do something different, considering I got a tiny heat total in the final,” Paerata-Reid said.

Christie said he was “stoked” to get through a tough semifinal.

“It has actually been a tough little run to get to the final, so I have been taking it a heat at a time” he said.

“Blimmin’ Elliot got two eight-point rides at the start of the heat so it was a battle for second, really. Nick White and Johnny Hicks are good surfers, so I put myself under a bit of pressure and I am stoked to get through.”

Widely regarded as the underdogs of the final, Stewart and Moretti were determined to show they could mix it with the best at this event.

“They are big dogs, but I am not fazed,” Stewart said.

“I am from Waihi Beach and we don’t back down.

“It is fun to get good waves and to go through with Paul again like the quarters. We have grown up competing together and I am stoked to go through with him.”

Stewart, 22, was grounded for a lengthy period with a back injury that stopped him surfing, so his comeback at this event has been extra-special.

For Moretti, it was about keeping as laid-back as possible in the build-up to the final but the Northland surfer conceded he was “amped” at making the final four.

“I have enjoyed myself all week and Gisborne has turned it on,” Moretti said.

In finals contested yesterday, Raglan’s Daniel Kereopa reclaimed the men’s stand-up paddleboard title, while Auckland’s Craig McDonald retained his kneeboard title.

Whangarei’s Derek Brunker won the men’s over-55 division; Pauanui’s Matt Groube, the over-45s; and Taranaki’s Jarred Hancox, the over-35s.

All five women in the senior women’s division entered the water together. Mt Maunganui’s Kathy Stead took home the first women’s over-60s title; Hawke’s Bay’s Marguerite Vujcich, the over-55s; Gisborne’s Samson, the over-50s; Christchurch’s Donna Henderson, the over-40s; and Lucy Te Moananui, the over-30s.

The u14 finals were contested at the end of the day’s competition. Raglan’s Jayden Willoughby won the boys’ title and Christchurch’s Ava Henderson, the girls’.