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Posted on Friday March 26th at 5:11 p.m.
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Image by PhotoCPL
Image by PhotoCPL
Image by PhotoCPL
Sam Johnson. Image by PhotoCPL
Surfers had to battle with a large 3.0m swell and strong south west winds to kick off the day. Despite predictions of winds easing it was not to be.
The conditions didn't take away from the fact that this year's Port Waikato event is the richest ever on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour with over $6,500 in prize money up for grabs as well as a tonne of other prizes spread across the six divisions being contested.
At the centre of the event is the tightest title race in recent years with leading surfer Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) defending his current number one standing from Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) and Daniel Procter (Gis) as the two surfers most likely to challenge him for the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour win. Owen Barnes (Mnt) is the fourth surfer in the mix with an outside chance of taking the title.
All four surfers moved through to the quarterfinals although not without a few scares. Barnfield placed second in his heat scoring only 7.85 out of a possible 20 in his heat finishing behind Gisborne surfer Kelly Ryan. Right behind Barnfield was another young Ohope surfer Joseph Stewart who scored 6.60.
"I haven't had much surf over the last could of days and I was pretty wobbly on my feet"
Said Barnfield who acknowledged he had been concentrating on studies and barely surfing since the Hyundai National Longboard Champs at Whangamata three weeks ago. "I will be alright. I just need to have a couple more surfs before my next heat" added Barnfield who felt his performance was not about the nerves that come with being the number one ranked surfer and being on the brink of his maiden Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour title.
Daniel Procter on the other hand was dominant in his performance scoring the rounds highest heat score - 13.50 points. Procter's closest rival was Sam Johnson (Gis) who progressed with the small heat score of 4.40 after breaking his board in his heat.
"Yeah I got two 6.75 point rides out there, I was lucky to get on to two good waves but I am definitely feeling confident in my surfing" Said Procter. "I am keen to challenge for the tour title, I don't want to get second like last year" added Procter who currently sits in third place and relies on results to go his way if he is to move up the rankings.
Defending Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour and Port Waikato event champion Michael Burling (Hawkes Bay) was another surfer to have a scare today placing second in his heat to move through to the quarterfinals.
Burling who has only contested one event this year, did score a 9.0 point ride - the highest of the round in his heat. He managed to back that up with a 2.0 point ride to place second behind number four seed Owen Barnes (Mnt).
"I got one good wave at the start of the heat but that was it" said Burling who has recently transferred to the Hawkes Bay Region for work purposes. "The conditions were definitely challenging and I guess a second is as good as anything and it keeps me in the race to defend my event title" he added.
Other surfers to progress to the quarterfinals with heat wins included Shane Baxter (Chch), Phil Morris (Auck), Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Brian Young (Auck) and Kirk Beyer (Wgtn).
Possible title winning scenarios:
- Dylan Barnfield places 5th or better and he wins the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour
- Thomas Kibblewhite would need to win and Dylan Barnfield place 7th or worse for him to take home tour title
- Daniel Procter would need to win and Dylan place 9th or worse for Procter to take home tour title
- Owen Barnes needs to win and have Dylan place 9th or worse for Barnes to take home the tour title.
The women's division had to contest the ugly conditions, hiding from the brunt of the swell in the small cove at Port Waikato. Current ratings leader Daisy Thomas (Chch) top scored in the round posting 10.75 to win her heat. Fellow heat winners included Belinda Goodwin scoring 8.55 and Mischa Davis (Piha) scoring 8.25.
The Over 40 Men's first round also hit the water with Gavin Neal (Chch) and Max Bound (Tara) winning their heats moving through to the quarterfinals.
Please see below for results from day one of the fifth and final event of the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour held at Port Waikato today (26th March).
Open Men's Round of 40
Heat 1
Wyn Hoogerbrugger (Kaukapakapa), 1, Bevan Gooch (Auck), 2, Scotty Riach (Orewa), 3, Tony Baker (Mngwhai), N/S
Heat 2
Phil Morris (Auck), 1, Joesph Stewart (Whtane), 2, Eli Barnfield (Ohope), 3, Kane Rogers (Auck), N/S
Heat 3
Ant McColl (Mnt), 1, Hone Douglas (Ohope), 2, Matt Craig (Ohope), 3, Leroy Rust (Dun), N/S
Heat 4
Jody Lemmon (Rag), 1, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Sam Bound (Tara), 3, James Schedwy (Auck), 4
Open Men's Round of 32
Heat 1
Shayne Baxter (ChCh), 1, Wyn Hoogerbrugger (Kaukapakapa), 2, Charlie Brown (Gis), 3, Jae Kilgour (Dun), 4
Heat 2
Owen Barnes (Mnt), 1, Michael Burling (Gis), 2, Dan Warren (ChCh), 3, Bevan Gooch (Auck), 4
Heat 3
Phil Morris (Auck), 1, Jackson Winter (Noosa), 2, Lynden Kennings (Whmata), 3, Glen Johnson (Auck), 4
Heat 4
Kelly Ryan (Gis), 1, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Joesph Stewart (Whtane), 3, Sean Hovell (Gis), 4
Heat 5
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 1, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 2, Sam Bradford (Pakiri), 3, Ant McColl (Mnt), 4
Heat 6
Brian Young (Auck), 1, Duncan Cameron (Mnt), 2, Hone Douglas (Ohope), 3, Steve Morris (Auck), 4
Heat 7
Daniel Procter (Gis), 1, Sam Johnson (GIS), 2, Morgan Bramely (Whtane), 3, Jody Lemmon (Rag), 4
Heat 8
Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 1, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Steve Tyro (ChCh), 3, Kevin Piper (Whgrei), 4
Open Men's Quarterfinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Shayne Baxter (ChCh), Jackson Winter (Noosa), Owen Barnes (Mnt), Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)
Heat 2
Phil Morris (Auck), Wyn Hoogerbrugger (Kaukapakapa), Kelly Ryan (Gis), Michael Burling (Gis)
Heat 3
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Sam Johnson (Gis), Brian Young (Auck), Blake Barnfield (Ohope)
Heat 4
Daniel Procter (Gis), Sam Guthrie (Mnt), Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), Duncan Cameron (Mnt)
Open Women Round 1
Heat 1
Belinda Goodwin (Mt), 1, Nicola Warren (ChCh), 2, Hannah Howard (Auck), 3, Ainsley Calcutt (ChCh), 4
Heat 2
Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Kirstie Thomsen (Whngrei), 2, Caroline Ryan (Gis), 3, Tsuneyo (Sunny) Yoshida (Rag), 4
Heat 3
Mischa Davis (Oratia), 1, Cheryl Lowe (Mnt), 2, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai), 3, Denise Piper (Whngrei), 4
Open Women's Semifinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Daisy Thomas (ChCh), Nicola Warren (ChCh), Kirstie Thomsen (Whngrei)
Heat 2
Mischa Davis (Oratia), Belinda Goodwin (Mt), Cheryl Lowe (Mnt)
Over 40 Men's Round 1
Heat 1
Gavin Neal (ChCh), 1, Tatana Heke (Mnt), 2, Craig Morgan (Ohope), 3
Heat 2
Max Bound (Tara), 1, Murray Lowe (Mnt), 2, Rob Bayes (Auck), 3
Over 40 Men's Quarterfinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Grant Cochrane (ChCh), Scotty Riach (Stanmore Bay), Gavin Neal (ChCh), Steve Franich (Auck)
Heat 2
Rupert Newbold (Ocean Bch), Mark Calcutt (ChCh), John Douglas (Ohope), Tatana Heke (Mnt)
Heat 3
Mike Thomson (Rag), David Storck (Auck), Max Bound (Tara), Rob Hawkins (Rag)
Heat 4
Brian Young (Orewa), Stephen Tyro (ChCh), James Atutahi (Maketu), Murray Lowe (Mnt)
To find out the prizes on offer for the ‘best surfing family in New Zealand' visit the SNZ website
Hyundai have been involved with Surfing New Zealand since 2004 and also sponsor the most prestigious event in New Zealand - The Hyundai National Championships.
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour will be available to media free of charge upon request.
For more information on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour please contact Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively, please contact Hyundai Brand Manager, Devyn Cantley on 64 9 573 2050 or dcantley@hyundai.co.nz.
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