RUNNING HOT: Whangarei surfer Tom Robinson had the highest heat score in the National Scholastic Surfing Championships yesterday. Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine picture
The youngest surfers competing at the National Scholastic Surfing Championships had their chance to earn valuable points for their regional teams yesterday as the title race advanced at Makorori Beach, north of Gisborne.
Day 3 of the event was held with the swell fading below the one-metre mark, and strong cross-shore wind gusts made surfing challenging at times. Gisborne moved up two places in the team rankings, to fourth.
Of the local surfers, Hannah King advanced to the final and Daizee Rawls reached the semifinals of the under-14 girls’ division. Finn Vette was second in his u14 boys’ Round 2 heat, and faced a tough quarterfinal today. Stella Smith won her u16 girls’ requalifying heat, and George Zame and Brie Ryan were first and second respectively in an u18 longboard requalifying heat. Earlier they had filled the first two places in a Round 1 heat before filling the last two in a Round 2 heat.
By the end of the day, Bay of Plenty had retained their top teams ranking. However, second- and third-placed Taranaki and Auckland were only one individual result away from catching them, while teams ranked fourth through to sixth were also within striking distance.
The under-14 boys’ division was surfed down to the final 12 surfers, while the u14 girls’ division entered the water for the first time at the event.
Northland’s Tom Robinson, of Whangarei, is competing at the event for the first time and has been one of the form surfers of the u14 boys’ division. Northland were in sixth place overall at the end of the day but could jump up the rankings with a couple of good results.
Robinson was to have a big match-up today, with Raglan’s Kora Cooper and Gisborne’s Vette in the quarterfinals — a crucial clash for all three teams. On yesterday’s form, after a 17.67-point heat total, Robinson will go into the heat brimming with confidence.
Cooper was also impressive yesterday, winning his heat with a 14.17-point heat total. Cooper advanced to the quarterfinals along with teammates Jayden Willoughby and Josef Jungwirth. All three have good chances of making the finals, scheduled for tomorrow.
Waikato also had a winner in Brie Bennett, in the u14 girls’ division. She advanced to her final, where she will be up against Kahana Ngaia (Taranaki), Alice Westerkamp (Auckland) and Hannah King (Gisborne).
Defending longboard champion Matt Newdick (Auckland) booked his place in the final after two slick performances that helped Auckland take a stronghold on third place overall. Newdick posted heat totals of 12.17 and 16.4. He will go up against the smooth Caspar McCormick (Christchurch) as well as Gisborne’s Brie Ryan and George Zame.
Conditions were expected to change dramatically today, with an increase in south swell and strong south-west winds. A change of venue was considered likely.
Day 3 results Team points: Bay of Plenty 9530, 1; Taranaki 9320, 2; Auckland 9150, 3; Gisborne 8815, 4; Canterbury 8790, 5; Northland 8650, 6; Coromandel 6828, 7; Waikato 6313, 8; Otago 6235, 9; West Coast 2755, 10; Wellington 1780, 11.
Under-14 boys, Round 2, Heat 1: Kora Cooper (Rag) 14.17, 1; Mitchell Daley (Mnt) 6.8, 2; Jay Gordon (Waihi Beach) 4.97, 3; Connor Green (WC) 3.98, 4.
Heat 2: Josef Jungwirth (Rag) 11.53, 1; Finn Vette (Gis) 7.8, 2; Manawa Ruru (Gis) 6.93, 3; Ben Storey (Te Awa) 3.47, 4.
Heat 3: Tom Robinson (Whngrei) 17.67, 1; Kava Matthews (Tara) 8.13, 2; Shay Wells (Tara) 7.27, 3; Jack Luke (Tara) 5.27, 4.
Heat 4: Tom Butland (Tara) 14.47, 1; Jayden Willoughby (Rag) 11.17, 2; Jacob Fitzgerald (Bul) 7.73, 3; Jude Stevens (Auck) 5.8, 4.
Heat 5: James Ririnui (Mnt) 12.17, 1; Jacob Buckle (Waipu) 7.53, 2; Cade O’Dea (Bul) 5.43, 3; Sam Charlesworth (Auck) 3.37, 4.
Heat 6: Myka Black (Chch) 11.13, 1; Jackson Peak (Auck) 11.1, 2; Koby Cameron (Chch) 6.77, 3; James Millar (Chch) 5.43, 4.
U18 girls, Requalify 1, Heat 1: Billie Scott (Whangarei) 7.83, 1; Shani Ayson (Dun) 3.63, 2; Emma Pegg (WC) 2.27, 3.
U16 girls, Requalify Round 1, Heat 1: Stella Smith (Gis) 10.6, 1; Zoe Raines (Auck) 4.87, 2; Eve Findlay (WC) 3.73, 3; Jayde Hanner (Coro) 3.47, 4.
U14 girls, Round 1, Heat 1: Brie Bennett (Rag) 9.63, 1; Kahana Ngaia (Tara) 8.4, 2; Anika Ayson (Dun) 4.4, 3.
Heat 2: Hannah King (Gis) 10.17, 1; Daizee Rawls (Gis) 9.57, 2; Mia Morgon (Coro) 3, 3; Ely Backhouse (Nrth) 2.73, 4.
Heat 3: Alice Westerkamp (Auck) 14.5, 1; Summer Carkeek (Auck) 5.6, 2; Lydia Hawes (WC) 3.03, 3; Jaya Reardon (Dun) 2.67, 4.
U14 girls, Requalifying Round 1, Heat 1: Lydia Hawes (WC) 4.83, 1; Mia Morgon (Coro) 3.53, 2; Jaya Reardon (Dun) 1.27, 3.
Requalify Round 2, Heat 1: Anika Ayson (Dun) 9.4, 1; Ely Backhouse (Nrth) 5.83, 2; Mia Morgon (Coro) 1.6, 3; Lydia Hawes (WC) 0.6, 4.
Semifinals, Heat 1: Brie Bennett (Rag) 8.77, 1; Kahana Ngaia (Tara) 6.53, 2; Ely Backhouse (Nrth) 3.8, 3; Daizee Rawls (Gis) 2.97, 4.
Heat 2: Alice Westerkamp (Auck) 8.47, 1; Hannah King (Gis) 7.13, 2; Summer Carkeek (Auck) 3.23, 3; Anika Ayson (Dun) 2.63, 4.
U18 longboard division, Round 1, Heat 1: Matt Newdick (Auck) 12.17, 1; Caspar McCormick (Cant) 8.8, 2; Poppy Holland (Wai) 4.7, 3.
Heat 2: Brie Ryan (Gis) 8.17, 1; George Zame (Gis) 5.5, 2; Bassie Waldron (Nrth) 5.13, 3.
Round 2, Heat 1: Matt Newdick (Auck) 16.4, 1; Caspar McCormick (Cant) 8.3, 2; George Zame (Gis) 6.7, 3; Brie Ryan (Gis) 5.37, 4.
Requalify Round 1, Heat 1: George Zame (Gis) 7.23, 1; Brie Ryan (Gis) 6.53, 2; Bassie Waldron (Nrth) 4.27, 3; Poppy Holland (Wai) 3.03, 4.