Blue Revolution Longboard Classic

Surfing New Zealand Longboard Circuit
Sandy Bay, Whangarei
5 -6 February 2005

Fitzharris wins second event of SNZ Longboard Circuit.

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 07 February 2005: - - 2005 Open Men's New Zealand National Longboard Champion Michael Fitzharris from Gisborne strengthened his #1 position on the SNZ longboard circuit when he won the Blue Revolution Longboard Classic held at Sandy Bay during the weekend. The 4 star rated Blue Revolution Longboard Classic is the second event of the SNZ Longboard Circuit.

In the Open Men's final Fitzharris reveled in the shifty 1.5 metre onshore conditions and picked off the set waves which allowed him to string together a combination of power surfing, vertical re entries and controlled floaters to take the win. Fitzharris won the final with a total heat score of 15.50 leaving the other 3 finalist needing a combination of scores to catch him.

A tight battle for second place emerged between Daniel Proctor (Gisborne) and Dylan Barnfield (Ohope). However it was Proctor's 5.25 on his 3rd scoring wave that gave him the edge and enabled him to hold out Barnfield who fought back in the final stages of the heat but was unable to improve on his score and had to settle for third.

2003 circuit champion Kelly Ryan (Gisborne) who had been a standout during the earlier rounds couldn't find the higher scoring waves and inevitably finished fourth.

Fitzharris extends his Open Men's lead on the circuit ratings with a total of 3500 points and is ahead of his nearest rival Daniel Proctor (Gisborne) by 780 points. Proctor has 2750 points and moves from 3rd into 2nd position whilst Ryan moves up one placing from 4th to 3rd with 2345 points.

Sandy Bays Pauline Pullman used local knowledge and experience to win the Women's division. Pullman who is a 5 times New Zealand National Open Women's short board champion is no stranger to longboarding. Pullman set the pace on her 1st wave in the final taking a late drop on a set wave and then proceeded to drive hard off the bottom and top before walking the board through the inside for a score of 6.00. She then backed it up with a 4.50 on her second scoring wave to secure the win.

Anna Jolly (Piha) was another that was impressive and only needed a 5.76 for the win. Unfortunately the waves didn't come her way and she finished a creditable second. Shelly Jones who finished 5th on the circuit last year was also in good form and was content with third place while Belinda Goodwin (Mount) had to settle for 4th.

Pullman's win catapults her to the top of the Women's Longboard Circuit ratings, while Jolly moves into 5th, Jones into 6th and Goodwin into 7th position.

The junior final was a an exciting showdown which saw the lead change several times between the four finalists. However it was Anthony McColl (Mount) who emerged victorious when he picked up a set wave in the final minute and scored a 5.00 to move ahead of Daniel Proctor (Gisborne) by a slim margin of 0.65 to take the win. With 30 seconds remaining Proctor managed to catch a smaller set wave but could only manage a 4.75 which wasn't enough to move back into the lead and therefore finished second. Third place getter Matt Cockayne (Mangawhai Heads) who won the 1st event of the series at the SNZ Nationals in Opunake in January was hoping to continue his winning form but the higher scoring waves eluded him. Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) was consistent during the weekend and the higher scoring waves eluded him as well in the finals and he had to settle for fourth.

Cockayne remains at the top of the ratings with 3095 points with Daniel Proctor on 3010 points in second. Ants McColl jumps from 7th into 3rd place with 2610 points and Barnfield maintains his 4th position.

The Over 40's was a very tight encounter as all surfers went wave for wave which saw the lead change several times. Mickey Thompson (Raglan) managed to secure the win on his last 2 scoring waves of a 6.00 and a 5.50. Thompson consistently surfed the set waves but was challenged for the lead on several occasions by John Ayton (Victoria) who finished second just 0.50points behind Thompson.

The 2004 Over 40's circuit champion Brendon Young (Hawkes Bay) made a strong comeback in the dying stages but was unable to improve his scores and came in third. Local surfer Rupert Newbold (Ocean Beach) was a consistent performer finishing second in all his prior heats. However he was unable to find the higher scoring waves and was happy with making the finals and his 4th placing.

Thompson takes the lead on the ratings with 1500 points. Ayton lies in 2nd place with 1290, Young in 3rd with 1095 and Newbold in 4th position with 1005.

The Over 50's final was just as thrilling and saw another group of finalist pushing each other in search for the lead. This division of stalwarts and pioneers of surfing held nothing back and challenged the shifty conditions taking late drops on the set waves and surfing them with combinations of manoeuvres all the way to the beach. By the end of the heat John Ayton (Victoria) managed to hold the lead with his top two scores of 6.20 and 3.25 to take the win ahead of Wayne Glover (Piha). Glover fought back in the later stages but his 5.00 and 4.30 wasn't enough and he had to settle for second only 0.15 points behind Ayton. Richard Guthrie (Mount) and Nick Matich were solid performers and finished third and fourth respectively.

Ayton leads the Over 50's ratings with 1500 points. Glover is in 2nd with 1290, Guthrie in 3rd position with 1095 and Newbold has 1005 points and currently holds 4th.

The complete ratings points can be viewed through the longboard link on the SNZ website;
www.surfingnz.co.nz/ratings.htm

The event would not have been possible without the assistance of the following sponsors, Pete from Blue Revolution, North Coast Boardriders Club, Malibu Mals Lodge at Tutukaka, DreamStay Sandy Bay, Export Meat Warehouse, Cult, Rusty, Surfline, Lion Red and Surfing New Zealand.

The 3rd contest of the longboard circuit is the South Island Longboard Pro at Kaikoura which is scheduled for March 10 -13.

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