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Posted on Sunday October 25th 2009 at 9:18 a.m.
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Photo by Silas/Kiwi Surf Mag
Seven of the eight divisions were contested throughout the day with Mount Maunganui's Tim O'Connor (Nga Puhi) displaying exceptional talent to move through to the semifinals of the Billabong Open Men's Division.
O'Connor, a previous Under 18 Men's Champion and top competitor on New Zealand's national tour, posted 15.25 out of a possible 20 in his quarterfinal match up to easily out point his opponents. His total heat score was the highest of the day.
"I haven't competed in New Zealand since last summer so it is good to get back into the competitive mode" commented O'Connor who spent part of the year in Australia competing on the Australasian ASP Pro Junior Series.
"Tomorrow I hope I can find the good waves again and go on to win my first open title. I hope get to surf Stent Road too" said O'Connor before leaving the beach for the day.
The fluidity of O'Connor's backhand surfing netted him the highest single wave score of 9.5 as he progressed alongside local surfer Conan James (Pukerangiuroa). Tomorrow the two surfers will face off against Bachelor Tipene (Ruanui) and Jamie Andrews (Ruahine).
The three Taranaki based surfers in the one heat are joined by fellow Taranaki surfers Ati Patuwairua (Ngati Maru) and Jeremy Grainger (Ruanui), the host region dominating the semifinals on their home turf.
The Rapu Under 16 Boys Division kicked off the day on the low tide in the morning. Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Ngai Te Rangi), Todd Doyle (Ngapuhi), Dune Kennings (Maniapoto) and Peri Matenga (Tainui) all got their campaigns off to winning starts.
Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Ngati Porou) was another surfer to progress to the semifinals of the Rapu Under 16 Boys. She also won her semifinal heat of the Roxy Open Women's Division, scoring 13.0, to move through to the final and a chance to defend her title at the event.
"I got a couple of good waves out there but I also hit one of those rocks in the line up" Martin - Fitzharris said after her heat. She will challenge former three-time Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles champion Jessica Santorik (Ngati Raparapa) who also dispensed of her opponents scoring 15.15 out of a possible 20 in her heat.
Late in the day the senior men's divisions were contested with local knowledge playing a big role in performance. The local surfers had the line up ‘sussed' navigating the semi-submerged rocks as they progressed through their heats.
Michael Lewis (Te Atiawa) and Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruahine) progressed through to the final of the Electric Over 30 Men's Division with Andrews also moving through to the final of the Longboard Division. Other local surfers to move through to the finals were Motu Mataa (Te Arawa), Stacey Lamb (Ngati Whatua) and Andy Matuku (Te Atiawa).
The Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles will be completed on Sunday (25th October). A decision on the location for the final day of surfing will be made by 7am. The Surfing New Zealand hotline will be updated as soon as the call is made - 0211134506.
Results from day one of the Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles are set out below..
Billabong Open Men's Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Wayne Cooper (NgaiTai), 1, Ati Patuwairua (Ngati Maru), 2, Haami Martin (Tainui), 3, Michael Lewis (Te Atiawa), 4
Heat 2
Jeremy Grainger (Ruanui), 1, Jesse Martin (Tainui), 2, Shaun Coffey (Ruahine), 3
Heat 3
Tim O'Connor (Nga Puhi), 1, Conan James (Pukerangiuroa), 2, Brandon Kingi (Ngati Rauru), 3, Cheyne Tipene (Ngati Ruanui), 4
Heat 4
Bachelor Tipene (Ruanui), 1, Jamie Andrews (Ruahine), 2, Scott Bell (Ngati Porou), 3, Dan Procter (Uepohatu), 4
Billabong Open Men's Semifinals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1
Wayne Cooper (NgaiTai), Ati Patuwairua (Ngati Maru), Jeremy Grainger (Ruanui), Jesse Martin (Tainui)
Heat 2
Tim O'Connor (Nga Puhi), Conan James (Pukerangiuroa), Bachelor Tipene (Ruanui), Jamie Andrews (Ruahine)
Rip Curl Under 18 Boys Semifinals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1
Haami Martin (Tainui), Peri Matenga (Tainui), Waretini Wano (Te Atiawa), Levi Stewart (Ngati Awa)
Heat 2
Todd Doyle (Ngapuhi), Dune Kennings (Maniapoto), Kahu Craig-Ranga (Ngai Te Rangi), Kane Stewart (Ngati Awa)
Rapu Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Kahu Craig-Ranga (Ngai Te Rangi), 1, Waretini Wano (Atiawa), 2, Mahorahora McLeod (Ngati Mutunga), 3, Tangaroa Rawiri (Tainui), N/S
Heat 2
Todd Doyle (Nga Puhi), 1, Wiremu Tonga (Tainui), 2, Hemi Porter (Te Atiawa), 3, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Kahungunu)
Heat 3
Dune Kennings (Maniapoto), 1, Levi Stewart (Ngati Awa), 2, McKenzie Bowden, 3, Dayna Story (Ngai Tahu), 4
Heat 4
Peri Matenga (Tainui), 1, Kane Stewart (Ngati Awa), 2, Eli MacDonald (Te Atiawa), 3, Toa MacDonald (Te Atiawa), 4
Rapu Under 16 Boys Semifinals (Yet to be surfed)
Heat 1
Kahu Craig-Ranga (Ngai Te Rangi), Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Ngati Porou), Dune Kennings (Maniapoto), Kane Stewart (Ngati Awa)
Heat 2
Todd Doyle (Nga Puhi), Waretini Wano (Atiawa), Levi Stewart (Ngati Awa), Peri Matenga (Tainui)
Roxy Open Women's Semifinals
Heat 1
Jessica Santorik (Ngati Raparapa), 1, Sophia Moore (Te Atiawa), 2, Lana Yearbury (Tara), 3
Heat 2
Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Ngati Porou), 1, Thandi Durham (Tara), 2, Kelly Clarkeson (Te Arawa), 3, Dayna Story (Nga Tahi), N/S
Roxy Open Women's Finals
Jessica Santorik (Ngati Raparapa), Sophia Moore (Te Atiawa), Jayda Martin - Fitzharris (Ngati Porou), Thandi Durham (Tara)
Longboard Semifinals
Heat 1
Daniel Proctor (Uepohatu), 1, James Atutahi (Nga Puhi), 2, Martin Matenga (Tainui), 3
Heat 2
Jamie Andrews (Ruahine), 1, Kirk Beyer (Te Atiawa), 2, Tunui Wano (Te Atiawa), 3, Jo Moore (Atiawa), 4
Longboard Finals (Yet to be surfed)
Daniel Proctor (Uepohatu), James Atutahi (Nga Puhi), Jamie Andrews (Ruahine), Kirk Beyer (Te Atiawa)
Electric Over 30 Men Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Michael Lewis (Te Atiawa), 1, Nick Rowe (Ngati Porou), 2
Heat 2
Wayne Cooper (Ngai Tai), 1, Shaun Coffey (Ngati Ruahine), 2, Motu Mataa (Te Arawa), N/S
Heat 3
Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruanui), 1, Harley Muru (Ngati Mahuta), 2, George Paretoa Tauniva, 3
Electric Over 30 Men Semifinals
Heat 1
Nick Rowe (Ngati Porou), 1, Wayne Cooper (Ngai Tai), 2, Shaun Coffey (Ngati Ruahine), 3
Heat 2
Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruanui), 1, Michael Lewis (Te Atiawa), 2, Harley Muru (Ngati Mahuta), 3
Electric Over 30 Men Final (Yet to be surfed)
Nick Rowe (Ngati Porou), Wayne Cooper (Ngai Tai), Jamie Andrews (Ngati Ruanui), Michael Lewis (Te Atiawa)
Ocean and Earth Over 35 Semifinals
Heat 1
Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), 1, Stacey Lamb (Ngati Whatua), 2
Heat 2
Motu Mataa (Te Arawa), 1, Shaun Coffey (Ngati Ruanui), 2, Leslie Haami (Ngati Ruanui), 3
Ocean and Earth Over 35 Final (Yet to be surfed)
Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), Stacey Lamb (Ngati Whatua), Motu Mataa (Te Arawa), 1, Shaun Coffey (Ngati Ruanui)
Seed Over 40 Men's Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Stacey Lamb (Ngati Whatua), 1, Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), 2, Peter Schafer (Kahungunu), 3
Heat 2
Andy Makutu (Te Atiawa), 1, Ronnie Mayor (Ngai Te Rangi), 2, Douglas Te Ranga (Ngai Te Rangi), 3
Heat 3
Pipi Ngaia (Te Atiawa), 1, James Atutahi (Nga Puhi), 2, Martin Matenga (Waikato), 3
Seed Over 40 Men's Semifinals
Heat 1
Andy Makutu (Te Atiawa), 1, Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi), 2, Ronnie Mayor (Ngai Te Rangi), 3
Heat 2
Pipi Ngaia (Te Atiawa)
Stacey Lamb (Ngati Whatua)
James Atutahi (Nga Puhi)
Seed Over 40 Men's Final
Andy Makutu (Te Atiawa), Phillip Willoughby (Nga Puhi)
SPONSORS: Generous support from the following companies has made this event possible - Auahi Kore the principle supporter of Maori Surfing. Division sponsorship has been provided by Rapu, Roxy, Quiksilver, Billabong, Seed, Electric, Ocean and Earth, Rip Curl and Surfers Skin.
The event is hosted by Waitara Bar Boardriders Club.
CONTACTS: For further information on the 2009 Auahi Kore Aotearoa Maori Titles please contact Surfing New Zealand's Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Surfing New Zealand Maori Coordinator Steve Ria on 021 2278731 or email steve.ria@surfingnz.co.nz.
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