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Posted on Wednesday January 18th at 5:02 p.m.
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Matt-Hewitt was part of a three prong Bay of Plenty attack that advanced to the semifinals of the event. Hewitt was joined by Alex Dive and Tim O’Connor. Image by PhotoCPL
As forecasted the Piha surf dropped overnight leaving the national field of surfers a decent 1.0m swell with light sea breeze winds.
The bigger framed Christie struggled with the smaller waves and low tide conditions which allowed the lighter more nimble and lighter Hewitt and Dive to thrive.
Hewitt won the heat scoring 12.27 out of 20 points to move through to the semifinals ahead of Dive who scored 11.0 points.
"It was hard out there. It was slow and you had to pick the right ones that didn't close out"
Hewitt said adding "Our heat was stacked (full of talent) for the quarters, I was confident that I could progress, I just had to catch the best waves and I did."
Hewitt has predominantly contested Australasian Pro Junior events over the past three years. He has only managed to compete in selected New Zealand events since he last won the National Championships here at Piha in 2009.
Hewitt is now waiting on official confirmation that he has been given an injury replacement position in the final Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Pro Junior event to be contested in Australia starting this weekend. He now has the dilemma about how to successfully juggle contesting the two events.
"I am frothing that I am in the main round and not the trials of the Pro Junior. If I make the final at this event I should be able to compete in it before I fly over to Aussie for the next event, I hope it works out."
The ASP World Pro Junior Series comprises three events. Hewitt has only contested one of the first two events where he placed ninth. Hewitt is the only surfer to be given a slot in the main round with Gisborne surfer Buck Woods comntesting the trials of the event on Friday.
Tim O'Connor (Mount) rounded out a top day for the Bay of Plenty surfers winning the fourth quarterfinal scoring 12.93 points. O'Connor is in search of his first win at national level in the Open Men's Division and today he showed that he possesses all the right attributes to make it through to the final and challenge the best to get his name on the most coveted trophy in New Zealand surfing.
Defending National Champion Jay Quinn (Gis) made easy work of his quarterfinal posting the day's highest heat score - 15.83. Quinn found the best set waves and late in the heat posted an 8.17 point ride to seal the win and advance one step closer to a finals berth and hence title defence. Later in the day Quinn went on to win his heat in the Over 28s Division.
While Billy Stairmand (Rag) placed second to the now eliminated Christie in their first heat, today he excelled in the smaller lefthanders scoring 15.67 points to confidently win. His speed and style saw him overcomes day three stand-out Bobby Hansen (Gis) who progressed through to the semifinals in second place.
Only eight surfers remain in the Open Men's Division. With three days remaining in the event, the best conditions will be utilised to run the premier division.
The first round of the Open Women's Division was contested today with the top three seeds being rewarded with convincing heat wins. Grace Spiers (WGM) fresh back from Australia, where she has been competing in the Australasian Pro Junior Series, posted the highest heat score of the round - 13.17 out of 20.
"Pretty stoked about the win because this morning when I was practicing I was 'kooking' it but it worked out in the end after I got a good start to the heat so that makes me happy."
Spiers is only back in New Zealand briefly to see her family and contest two domestic events here before she heads back to work and more Australian surfing events. However, at the moment her main focus is this event where she aims to at least make the final which would be a first for the 18-year-old surfer.
Earlier in the day the Under 18 Boys battled the early morning conditions. Raglan's Ben Poulter led the way from the first heat with an easy win. The defending champion in the Under 18 Boys Division has his work cut out to make it two in a row with several local surfers shining in the quarterfinals. Tane Wallis won his heat over fellow local Elliot Paerata-Reid and Waretini Wano was the third local grommet to advance to the semifinals.
Conditions for day five are expected to be good despite a drop in the swell size. Light variable winds are forecast. Day four will see the introduction of the women's and age group divisions. The Open and Under 18 Men's Division's will again be in the water.
Please see below for results from Day four of the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Wednesday 18th January).
Open Men's Division Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Billy Stairmand (Rag), 15.67, 1, Bobby Hansen (Gis), 12.93, 2m Larry Fisher (Rag), 6.17, 3, Leon Santorik (Rag), 5.55, 4
Heat 2
Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 12.27, 1, Alex Dive (Mnt), 11, 2, Richard Christie (Mahia), 8.6, 3, Matt Scorringe (Whmata), 5.97, 4
Heat 3
Jay Quinn (Gis), 15.83, 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 13.43, 2, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 7.1, 3, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 7, 4
Heat 4
Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 12.93, 1, Chris Malone (Gis), 8.83, 2, Scott Casey (Auck), 7.2, 3
Keone Campbell (Tara), 4.87, 4
Under 18 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Ben Poulter (Rag), 12.5, 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 11.33, 2, Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 7.97, 3, Jordan Hart (Tara), 4.53, 4
Heat 2
Waretini Wano (Piha), 10.1, 1, Adam Grimson (Gis), 7.5, 2, Kahu Craig-Ranga (Rag), 6.67, 3, Corey Asplin (Ham), 4.3, 4
Heat 3
Tane Wallis (Piha), 15, 1, Elliot Paerata Reid (Piha), 11.83, 2, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 8.93, 3, Josh Taylor (Tau), 6.77, 4
Heat 4
Mckenzie Bowden (Whmata), 9.4, 1, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 9.2, 2, Eli Macdonald (Waitara), 8.73, 3, Jules Craft (Gis), 7.73, 4
Open Women's Division Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Jessica Santorik (Rag), 9.27, 1, Thandi Durham - Tipene (Tara), 8.92, 2, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), 7.77, 3, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 7.4, 4
Heat 2
Grace Spiers (Whmata), 13.17, 1, Mischa Davis (Auck), 10.1, 2, Jasmine Smith (Gis), 5, 3, Marguerite Vujich (Napier), 0, 4
Heat 3
Ella Williams (Whmata), 12.23, 1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 7.67, 2, Rachel von Zalinski (Auck), 3.2, 3, Dayna Story (Gis), 2.93, 4
Under 16 Girls Semifinals
Heat 1
Jasmine Smith (Gis), 10.5, 1, Dayna Story (Gis), 6.4, 2, Demi Hewitt (Mnt), 5.77, 3, Nam Northcott (Tara), 2.03, 4
Heat 2
Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 12.67, 1, Claudia Fraser (Auck), 7.73, 2, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 7.33, 3, Jennifer Rockwell (Auck), 0.63, 4
Over 28 Men's Division Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 11.33, 1, AJ Matthews (Whmata), 11.13, 2, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 10.77, 3, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 8.8, 4
Heat 2
Jay Quinn (Gis), 11.33, 1, Liam Joyce (Phia), 9.67, 2, Danny Carse (Ota), 7.6, 3, Bevan Wiig (Auck), 4.33, 4
Heat 3
Jarred Hancox (Tara), 8.37, 1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 8, 2, Jason Ruddell (Whgrei), 6, 3, Sean Hovell (Gis), 2.8, 4
Heat 4
Larry Fisher (Rag), 9.07, 1, Josh Thickpenny (Dun), 8.87, 2, Baydon Hill (Auck), 3.97, 3, Paul Greenland (Auck), 2.77, 4
Over 35 Men's Division Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Rick Lasch (Auck), 14.17, 1, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 11.67, 2, Andrew Robinson (Auck), 9.37, 3, Stuart Millar (Piha), 5.17, 4
Heat 2
Ben Kennings (Wmata), 10.23, 1, Nat Barron (Piha), 7, 2, Shaun Coffey (Tara), 5.07, 3, Tui Eves (Nth), 0, 4
Heat 3
Scott Casey (Auck), 14.5, 1, Larry Fisher (Rag), 12.8, 2, Deane Hishon (Rag), 6.03, 3, Zain Thompson (Auck), 3.93, 4
Over 40 Men's Division Semifinals
Heat 1
Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 14.1, 1, Mike Mulcahy (Auck), 10, 2, Andrew Mann (Auck), 8.6, 3, Geoff Hutchison (Rag), 5.6, 4
Heat 2
Rick Lasch (Auck), 16.17, 1, Deane Hishon (Rag), 11.23, 2, Morgan Cronin (Auck), 9.03, 3, David Farr (Tara), 6.5, 4
Over 45 Men's Division Semifinals
Heat 1
Geoff Hutchison (Rag), 8.5, 1, Kelvin Louie (Piha), 6.67, 2, Tui Eves (Nth), 5.47, 3, Blair Walker (Auck), 3.67, 4
Heat 2
Phil Wallis (Piha), 10.57, 1, David Mann (Auck), 8.9, 2, Glen Shuker (ChCh), 7.03, 3, Ahu Teua (Piha), 3.6, 4
The all encompassing seven day event runs from the 15th - 21st of January. Please see below for a guide to when remaining divisions are expected to be contested.
Day 5 (Thurs 19th Jan) - Open Men, Under 18, 16, 14 Boys, All Women's, All Seniors, Kneeboard
Day 6 (Fri 20th Jan) - Open Men, Under 18, 16, 14 Boys, All longboard, SUP Surf, All Women's, All Seniors, Potentially some finals
Day 7 (Sat 21st Jan) - Finals, All Bodyboard
The Hyundai National Championships were first held in 1963 when they took place at Mount Maunganui. In its infancy, the event comprised Open Men's and Women's as well as Under 18 Men's divisions only. Since then it has grown to comprise a colossal 25 divisions across all disciplines and the 2012 edition will crown New Zealand's 500th national champion.
Twenty five national titles will go up for grabs at the Hyundai National Championships. As well as the premier Open Men's and Open Women's Divisions, there will be a further 23 divisions comprising of age groups from Under 14 through to Over 50s and also longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard and Kneeboard disciplines.
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