Big Swell Tests Surfers At National Champs

A massive 2.0m – 3.0m swell at Whangamata has tested surfers to their limits on the first day of the Hyundai National Longboard Championships held today (6th March).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjObUKarhGk

The swell built throughout the day until the entire bay was filled with whitewash. The conditions nearly caused several upsets including defending national champion Daniel Procter who snuck through his third round match up on his last wave moments before the 20 minute heat ended.

Procter was challenged by Lynden Kennings (WGM) who used his local knowledge to its maximum potential scoring 14.8 out of a possible 20 to easily win the heat. Procter ultimately moved through to the last sixteen surfers scoring 6.17 in his heat to eliminate Trent Dickey (Auck) and Joseph Stewart (Whaka).

Procter will now face fellow Gisborne surfers Sam Johnson and Kelly Ryan along with day one stand out Phil Morris (Auck) in the quarterfinals which will be contested on Sunday morning.

Morris was one of few surfers that attacked the surf during day one completing big manoeuvres on the close out sections of his waves. Morris scored 17.5 in his third round match up for an easy victory over Thomas Kibblewhite and 2007 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour champion Daniel Kereopa (Rag) who was eliminated from the event.

Other surfers to win their third round match ups included Matt Cockayne (Auck), Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), Owen Barnes (Mnt), Duncan Cameron (Mnt), Ant McColl and Kelly Ryan (Gis).

The finalists were found in the Open Women’s Division with defending champion Daisy Thomas (Chch) moving through to the last four surfers along with 2007 Champion Anna Jolly (Piha).

Thomas scored 9.00 to win her heat over Jolly (8.30). In the other semifinal it was current Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings leader Mischa Davis (Piha) who advanced alongside Denise Piper (Whangarei), together eliminating Anna Gooding (Mnt).

The age group divisions confronted the conditions with gusto riding some big waves throughout the day. Ratings leader in the Over 40 Men’s Division, Grant Cochrane (Chch) moved through his early match up against 2009 tour winner Lynden Kennings (WGM). Kennings, who missed the third event of the tour two weeks ago is still searching for his first win of the year after placing second to Brendon Young at Sandy Bay at the start of February. Cochrane on the other hand is out to defend his lead going into the last event of the year at Port Waikato in three weeks time.

Cochrane also led the way in the Over 50 Men’s Division placing first in his heat to move through to the semifinals.! Other heat winners included Viv Treacy (Whangarei), Michael Thomson (Rag) and Rupert Newbold (Whangarei).

Surf conditions are expected to be similar on Sunday for the final day of the event. The swell may build further and a wind change to the southwest is forecast. All competitors will meet at 8.00am to confirm the running order of events. The finals are expected to be completed by 3.00pm.

Please see below for results from day one of the third event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour held at Whangamata today (6th March).

Open Men’s Round 1
Heat 1
Bevan Gooch (Auck), 1, Matt Craig (Ohope), 2
Heat 2
Matt Gillespie (Auck), 1, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Scott Tanner (Mnt), 3
Heat 3
Carl Aitchison (Auck), 1, Joseph Stewart (Whtane), 2, Dave Burbage (Whmata), 3
Heat 4
Daniel Kereopa (Rag)! , 1, Nathan Wilkinson (Red Beach), 2, Rupert Newbold (Whgrei), 3, Kane
Rogers (Auck), 4

Open Men’s Round 2
Heat 1
Mathew Cockayne (Mngwhai), 1, Charlie Brown (Gis), 2, Brian Young (Auck), 3, Bevan Gooch (Auck), 4
Heat 2
Glen Johnson (Mangawhai), 1, Sean Hovell (Gis), 2, Matt Craig (Ohope), 3
Heat 3
Matt Hands (Mnt), 1, Matt Gillespie (Auck), 2, Kerry Hunt (Mnt), 3, Mal Brady (Mnt), N/S
Heat 4
Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Sam Bradford (Pakiri), 2, Kevin Piper (Whgrei), 3, Matt Giodani (Auck), 4
Heat 5
Lynden Kennings (Whmata), 1, Jae Kilgour (Dun), 2, Hone Douglas (Ohope), 3
Heat 6
Kelly Ryan (Gis), 1, Joseph Stewart (Whtane), 2, Wyn Hoogerbrugger (Kaukapakapa), 3, Zane Baker (Mngwhai), 4
Heat 7
Sam Johnson (GIS), 1, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 2, Gavin Neal (ChCh! ), N/S, Kurtis Andrews (Whgrei), N/S
Heat 8
Phil Morris (Auck), 1, Nathan Wilkinson (Red Beach), 2, Scotty Riach (Orewa), 3, James Schedwy (Auck), 4

Open Men’s Round 3
Heat 1
Mathew Cockayne (Mangwhai), 1, Sean Hovell (Gis), 2, Shayne Baxter (ChCh), 3, Dan Warren (ChCh), 4
Heat 2

Owen Barnes (Mnt), 1, Charlie Brown (Gis), 2, Kirk Beyer (Wgtn), 3, Glen Johnson (Mangawhai), 4
Heat 3
Duncan Cameron (Mnt), 1, Steve Tyro (ChCh), 2, Matt Hands (Mnt), 3, Sam Bradford (Pakiri), 4
Heat 4
Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Matt Gillespie (Auck), 2, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 3, Morgan Bramely (Whtane), 4
Heat 5
Lynden Kennings (Whmata), 1, Daniel Procter (Gis), 2, Trent Dickey (Auck), 3, Joseph Stewart (Whtane), 4
Heat 5
Ant McColl (Mnt), 1, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 2, Jae Kilgour (Dun), 3, Steve Morris (Auck), 4
Heat 7
Sam Johnson (GIS), 1, Leroy Rust (Dun), 2, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 3, Nathan Wilkinson (Red Beach), 4
Heat 8
Phil Morris (Auck), 1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 2, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 3, Isaac Johnston (Mngwhai), 4
Open Women’s Round 1
Heat 1
Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Anna Gooding (Tau), 2, Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei), 3, Hannah Howard (Auck), 4
Heat 2
Mischa Davis (Oratia), 1, Denise Piper (Whrei), 2, Kelly Baker (Mangawhai), 3
Heat 3
Belinda Goodwin (Mt), 1, Anna Jolly (Piha), 2, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai), 3, Caroline Ryan (Gis), 4

Under 18 Men’s Round 1
Heat 1
Jae Kilgour (Dun), 1, Ben Poulter (Rag), 2, Matt Craig (Whtane), 3, Jordan Tanner (Mnt), 4
Heat 2
Joseph Stewart (Whtane), 1, Sam Poulter (Rag), 2, Brie Ryan (Gis), 3
Heat 3
Hone Douglas (Whtane), 1, Branko Vela (Auck), 2, Sam Bound (Tara), 3, Josh Spiers (Waihi Bch), 4
Heat 4
Charlie Brown (Gis), 1, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Daniel Goddard (Auck), 3, Dune Kennings (Whnmata), N/S

Over 40s Round 1
Heat 1
Lynden Kennings (Whmata), 1, Bryan Western (North Shore), 2, James Atutahi (Mnt), 3, Andrew Schedewy (Auck), 4
Heat 2
Pete Taylor (Whangaparaoa, 1, Mal Brady (Mnt), 2, Dave Hunt (Mnt), 3, Peter Boyd (Gis), N/S
Heat 3
Dave Burbage (Whmata), 1, Chris Spiers (Waihi Bch), 2, Brian Young (Orewa), 3, Rob Bayes (Auck), 3
Heat 4
John Douglas (Ohope), 1, Steve Franich (Auck), 2, Rob Hawkins (Rag), N/S, Max Bound (Tara), N/S

Over 50 Men’s Round 1
Heat 1
Rupert Newbold (Whngrei), 1, David Storck (Auck), 2, Warwick Gray (Hawaii), 3, Richard Guthrie (Mnt), 4
Heat 2
Mike Thomson (Rag), 1, Paul Browne (Orewa), 2, Max Bound (Tara), 3, Mark Jackson, N/S
Heat 3
Grant Cochrane (ChCh), 1, Erik Burggraf (Mnt), 2, Barry Watkins! (Te Puke), N/S
Heat 4
Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach), 1, Rob Bayes (Auck), 2, John Goddard (Auck), 3, Dick Medley, N/S

The final event for the 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follows:

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, Port Waikato – 26th – 27th March

Entry into the final event can be completed at www.surfingnz.co.nz under events. Complete the entry process online or download entry form and send it in. The 2010 tour is expected to r! eceive high entry levels so entrants will need to be in well before the cut off dates to assure themselves a slice of the action.

To find out the prizes on offer for the ‘best surfing family in New Zealand’ visit the SNZ website - http://www.surfingnz.co.nz/2010_hplt_family_criteria.htm.

Hyundai have been involved with Surfing New Zealand since 2004 and also sponsor the most prestigious event in New Zealand – The Hyund! ai National Championships.

The event w! ould not be possible without the amazing support from Hyundai, Starboard Stand Up Paddleboards, Surfing New Zealand and Whangamata Boardriders Club.

Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by:

Hyundai
Export Gold
SPARC
Smokefree

Date: 6th March 2010
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Longboard Surfing
Series: 2010 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour – Event 4
Dates: 6 – 7 March 2010
Location: Whangamata Beach
Event Info: www.surfingnz.co.nz www.hyundai.co.nz www.surf.co.nz/hyundai/

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