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Posted on Thursday September 29th 2011 at 4:42 p.m.
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Adam Grimson. Image by by Tom Grimson
A growing Easterly swell accompanied by an offshore nor-west wind guaranteed great surf conditions all weekend for competitors to show off their stuff. Grimson produced the right stuff, winning not only the premier Open division but also the Under 16 and Under 20 divisions.
The Open division may have been short on competitors but certainly wasn't short on talent. Grimson, who dominated both the Under 16 and 20 divisions at the previous club contest, was given the opportunity he was looking for to take out the Open final after local surfing legend Blair Stewart - Open division victor in the club's June contest- pulled out of the weekend's comp having broken both wrists in a snowboarding accident. In a closely fought battle with an in-form Jules Craft, Grimson managed to get the upper hand before the final hooter. Not far behind were Sean Hovell (3rd), Sam Johnson (4th) and Jacob Kohn (5th).
Jules Craft. Image by by Tom Grimson
The Under 16 and Under 20 divisions also came down to a battle between in-form surfers Adam Grimson and Jules Craft, with Grimson unstoppable in both divisions. Due to few entries, the Under 20 division was held as a one heat final. Grimson utilised the great surf on offer to execute two huge re-entries on his winning wave. Kohn finished third behind Grimson and Craft. A count-back was required to split the tie between Patrick Cranston in fourth and Duncan Milne in fifth.
The Under 16 division saw the largest number of entries. Craft left his mark on the weekend's contest scoring the highest individual wave score and highest heat score with a scintillating 9-point ride in the third round. However Craft was again pipped in the final by the sizzling Grimson. Jayda Martin-Fitzharris and Sunny Brown finished third and fourth.
Dayna Story. Image by by Tom Grimson
Christchurch visitor Harrison Whiteside improved on his second place in the previous comp in the Under 14 division, keeping the girls at bay with some solid surfing. Chasing him in the final were the highly competitive Jasmine Smith (2nd) and Dayna Story (3rd). Jack Virtue had to settle for fourth. Story had taken out the previous day's second round, showing the boys that they needed to bring their A game for Sunday's final.
The weekend's surf was very challenging for the Under 12 division with competitors and parents opting to run the final round in the safer conditions at Northern Makarori. Reuben Mottart won the little league for the second time this year, with Rangi Moore close behind in second, and newcomers Psalm Patea-Taylor and Jake Trafford finishing third and fourth.
Sunny Brown. Image by by Tom Grimson
Martin-Fitzharris again dominated in the Women's division. Jasmine Smith had to settle for second place, ahead of Rachel von Zalinski (3rd) and Hannah Kohn (4th).
Low entries in the Senior (Over 28) division resulted in a straight final, which was taken out by Sam Johnson, ahead of Andy McCulloch and Nick Chapman. The Over 45 division had more entries enabling three rounds of competition, but not even the speedy Teddy Colbert could catch John Gisby in the final. Colbert finished second ahead of Gary Quinn (3rd) and Warwick ‘Spring' Thomson (4th).
Newcomer Te Aorangi Pearless made his mark on the Longboard division, surfing impressively to clinch first place from the previous comp's winner, Sean Hovell. Andy McCulloch placed third, ahead of a tired looking Sunny Brown who perhaps was missing the hour's sleep stolen by daylight savings the night before.
The club series of three contests is open to non-members and has seen participants from as far away as Canterbury and Bay of Plenty competing. However it is surprising that the substantial $1200 prize-money on offer in each of the three contests hasn't attracted more local non-members. The next event in the series takes place on 26, 27 November.
More information is online at www.gisborneboardriders.com