2005 Billabong Grom Series in Association with Oceanbridge

Surfing New Zealand
Boys and Girls Under 16, 14 and 12
Tay Street Mount Maunganui
22 - 23 January 2005

Tim O'Connor wins Billabong Grom Series at Tay Street.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 22 January 2005: - - Tim O’Connor today (Sunday) finished what he started yesterday by winning the Under 16 Boys Division of the first event of the Billabong Grom Series held at Mount Maunganui. O’Connor stormed home in the Under 16 Boys final held in 2ft conditions at Mount Maunganui’s Tay Street. On his last wave he posted a heat high of 7.83 to win the final. O’Connor also had a second scoring wave of 6.17 that he scored on his first wave of the final.

O’Connor now looks in ominous form for the rest of the summer competition schedule after last week winning the National Title in Opunake. Bodhi Whitaker (Ohope) surfed an excellent final as well but was unable to find the quality waves that local boy O’Connor found. Scoring 11.40 in the final was enough for Whitaker to beat Ryan Hawker (Piha) into third place after scoring 10.03. Waihi surfer Matt Young placed fourth after surfing brilliantly all weekend.

Under 16 Girls National Champion Paige Hareb (Tara) was too good for her competitors in a one sided final that saw Hareb post 13.94 to win. Hareb being smaller than the other three finalists managed to surf with plenty of speed completing quick turns to post her two best scores of 7.5 and 6.43 (13.94 total).

It was the second win in two weeks for Hareb who will now have a head start in the ratings and her eye on the Series win and ticket to the Billabong Occy’s Grom Comp in Australia. Mount Maunganui surfer Laura Rishworth surfed to a 6.17 on her best wave which was enough to secure second place over Wini Paul (Sandy Bay) with a total heat score of 8.87 with Raglan’s Sharnae Van Der Helder finishing in fourth place.

The Under 14 Boys was dominated by current Under 14 National Champion Ryan Hawker of Piha. The young 13 year old surfer could not be stopped even by the three Whangamata buddies in Braedon Williams, Stefan White and Ryan Pickett. Hawker’s top two scoring rides were surfed in the first half of the heat and he never relinquished the lead. Williams was the closest of the ‘Whanga’ boys with his best performance so far placing second with a score of 11.13. Stefan White edged out Ryan Pickett for third after Pickett made a come back late in the heat.

Double finalist Grace Spiers (WGM) made it two from two firstly winning the Under 14 Girls and then the Under 12 Girls. Spiers scored a total of 9.67 to win the Under 14 final beating Gisborne’s Renee Pearson into second. Auckland’s Maddy Phillips placed third and Samantha Sanderson (Waihi Beach) finished fourth.

Tane Wallis (Piha) dominated his first ever final scoring 7.33 and 6.83 to easily win the Under 12 Boys. Wallis looked confident in his performance and came in from the water brimming with confidence making his older brother carry his board up the beach. The remaining three competitors were also first time finalists. Brad Pitcher (WGM) managed to sneak into second with Fraser Chatham (WGM) placing third and Northland’s Cody Hale in fourth all three surfers finishing less than a point apart from each other.

Grace Spiers and Alexis Poulter battled it out for the Under 12 Girls win but it was Grace Spiers and her smooth flowing turns that took the win with scores of 6.5 and 5.7 (12.2 total) over Poulter’s 10.33. Local girl Johnana Brebner finished up in third with Samantha Sanderson in fourth.

For further information on the Billabong Grom Series, please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand 0274787369 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.

Below are results from the final day of the Billabong Grom Series at Mount Maunganui.

U16 BOYS Finals
Tim O’Connor, Mnt, 1, Bhodi Whitaker, Ohope, 2, Ryan Hawker, Piha, 3, Matt Young, Waihi Bch, 4

U14 BOYS Finals
Ryan Hawker, Piha, 1, Braedon Williams, WGM, 2, Stefan White, WGM, 3, Ryan Pickett, WGM, 4

U12 Boys Finals
Tane Wallis, Piha, 1, Brad Pitcher, WGM, 2, Fraser Chatham, WGM, 3, Cody Hale, Kaitaia, 4

Under 16 Girls Finals
Paige Hareb, Tara, 1, Laura Rishworth, Mnt, 2, Wini Paul, Sandy Bay, 3, Sharnae Van Der Helder, Rag, 4

U14 GIRLS Finals
Grace Spiers, WGM, 1, Renee Pearson, Gis, 2, Maddy Phillips, Auck, 3, Samantha Sanderson, Waihi Bch, 4

U12 GIRLS Finals
Grace Spiers, WGM, 1, Alexis Poulter, Waihi Bch, 2, Johana Brebner, Mnt, 3, Samantha Sanderson, Waihi Bch, 4

Keep your eyes peeled for the remaining two Billabong Grom Series Events near you:
Billabong Grom Series Event Two – February 5th/6th Whangamata
Billabong Grom Series Event Three – March 19th/20th Piha Beach Auckland

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong series invests in future of New Zealand surfing
# 2 : Small summer swell awaits NZ Billabong Grommet Series
# 3 : Local lad O'Connor the standout at Billabong Grom Series

The Billabong Grom Series is brought to you by Billabong, Oceanbridge, Coca Cola and Von Vipper. The event would not be possible without the assistance of Bay Boardriders and Surfing New Zealand.

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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