Massive scholastics day at Sandy Bay

Kalani Hansen on his way to winning the U18 boys' division during the first leg of the Northland Scholastic Surfing Series championships at Sandy Bay earlier this month. PICTURE/JASON RUDDELL

Far North surfers were to the fore in various divisions as the 2016 Northland Scholastic Surfing Series kicked off in good conditions at Sandy Bay earlier this month.

Clean 1m waves were on offer at the Whangarei break on Friday, February 19, in the event in which the top qualifiers at the end of the series have a chance to gain selection for the Northland team heading to represent the province at the national scholastics surfing titles, to be held at Gisborne in September.

The first leg of the local series attracted over 70 entries from schools across Northland contesting seven separate divisions throughout the day. Due to the large numbers, contest organisers decided to split the event into two areas in what proved a massive day which saw over 12 hours of surfing completed.

On behalf of organisers, contest director Tony Baker thanked the North Coast Boardriders club, Sport Northland and a myriad of businesses for supporting the event.

RESULTS:

UNDER-14s, girls: Leia Weeds (Kerikeri High School) 1, Kayla Carter (Bream Bay College) 2, Summer Babe-Vercoe (Bream Bay College) 3, Olivia Whitehead (Bream Bay College) 4; boys: Oscar Harper 1, Cory Vercoe (Rodney College) 2, Jacob Buckle (Huanui College) 3, Billy Gilbert (WBHS) 4, wild card Thomas Robinson 5.

UNDER-16s, girls: Grace Pevats (WGHS) 1, Nyena Weeds (Keri High) 2, Ceili Lea (Bream Bay) 3, Macey Polwart (WGHS) 4; boys: Joseph Critchfield (Rodney) 1, Max Brunker (WBHS) 2, Tom Norton (Bream Bay) 3, Daniel Adams-Robson (WBHS) 4.

UNDER-18s, girls: Billie Scott (WGHS) 1, Portia Olney-Kemp (WGHS) 2, Julia Moyle (Keri High) 3; boys: Kalani Hansen (Kaitaia College) 1, Quinn Bedford (Rodney) 2, Callum Mekkelholt (Kaitaia) 3, Jesse Matthews (Pompallier Catholic College) 4.

LONGBOARD: Bassy Waldron (Rodney) 1, C Mekkelholt 2, Kyle Levell (Bream Bay) 3.

The 2nd leg of the NSSS will take place on the Black Friday in May with the venue dependent on conditions.