Billabong Grom Series Event #3

Surfing New Zealand
Piha Beach, Auckland
19 - 20 March 2005

BILLABONG GROM SERIES DECIDED, SIX SERIES WINNERS NAMED

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 21 March 2005: - - Tim O’Connor (Mnt) has today (Sunday) won yet another title this time in the Billabong Grom Series at the third and final event held at Piha Beach on Auckland’s West Coast. O’Connor relished the chance to unleash his forehand attack in the increasing 1.0m – 1.5m waves. In a commanding performance O’Connor opened up his account with a 6.5 as he smashed the lip on a number of occasions connecting the wave to the inside reform. Holding the lead for the entire 25 minute final he left his best for last with a searing display of fins free re-entries to post a heat high 7.0 and secure the win.

In the late stages of the final O’Connor’s opponents required big scores but they could not find the waves that allowed high scoring potential. Ryan Hawker (Piha) managed a 5.0 point ride as his best score in his 10.45 total edging out Paco Divers of Sandy Bay for second. Divers scored 10.45 to finish third a mere 0.05 back. It was Divers best result in the Series this year after missing the second event while overseas at a training camp. A wave starved Karne Pitcher (WGM) finished in fourth also his best result of the year in the Under 16s Division.

O’Connor with his event win takes out the Under 16 Boys Division of the Billabong Grom Series held in association with Oceanbridge. He also wins one of six air tickets to Australia to compete in the Occy Grom Comp in late June where he will represent New Zealand along with a number of New Zealand’s best junior surfers.

Earlier in the day O’Connor and Pitcher eliminated Mathis Smith (Tara) and Johnny Hicks (Gis) while in Heat Two, Divers and Hawker eliminated Billy Stairmand (Rag) and Bohdi Whitaker (Ohope).

Ryan Hawker turned it up in the Under 14 Boys in front of his large hometown support crew. As they stood on the sand dunes cheering him on he ‘went to town’ out the back working waves through to the inside throwing spray in all directions. Hawker won the final after scoring a 6.0 on his first wave and backing it up toward the end of the heat with an excellent 8.0. His 14.0 point total left the other three surfers requiring a combination of scores to get close to him. Johnny Hicks (Gis) was the closest of the three surfers after catching his best wave seconds before the final hooter to jump to second place ahead of Ryan Pickett (WGM) in third and Mathis Smith (Tara) in fourth.

Local girl Maddy Phillips surfed her way to her best ever result in the Under 14 Girls winning the final. In the tightest heats during the while event, Phillips stopped Grace Spiers short of a double victory beating her by 0.10 points. Spiers was also only 0.10 ahead of Georgia Cooper (Piha) in third with Alexis Poulter finishing up in fourth place. In winning the final Phillips made sure everyone had the calculators out to see who had the most series points and of course who won the air ticket to Aussie. When the dust cleared it was Spiers who retained the number one position and secured her first of two Australian bound air tickets.

The Under 12 Boys and Girls Divisions were won by the two surfers that have dominated the series throughout this summer - Tane Wallis (Piha) and Grace Spiers (WGM). Wallis knew exactly where to sit and made the most of the inside right handers on his forehand. Wallis surfed his way to 12.5 and an air ticket to Australia to compete in the Occy Grom Comp. Spiers was in the same dominating form as she took on the big sets out the back and selectively surfed her way to first place with a score of 10.0 to secure her second air ticket to Australia. Filling the other finals spots in the boys were Ben Poulter (Waihi Beach), Peri Matenga (Mnt) and Brad Pitcher (WGM) in that order. For the girls Ben Poulter’s sister Alexis also placed second ahead of Rosa Thompson, Samantha Sanderson (Waihi Beach) and Ella Williams in that order.

Billabong Grom Series In Assocation with Oceanbridge Series winners are:

Under 16 Boys: Tim O’Connor – Mount Maunganui
Under 16 Girls: Wini Paul – Sandy Bay
Under 14 Boys: Ryan Hawker - Piha
Under 14 Girls: Grace Spiers - Whangamata
Under 12 Boys: Tane Wallis - Piha
Under 12 Girls: Grace Spiers - Piha

Below are the results of the final day of the Billabong Grom Series Event Three.

CADET BOYS U16 FINAL
Tim O'Connor, Mnt, 1, Ryan Hawker, Piha, 2, Paco Divers, Sandy Bay, 3, Karne Pitcher, Whmata, 4

GROMMET BOYS U14 FINAL
Ryan Hawker, Piha, 1, Johnny Hicks, Gis, 2, Ryan Pickett, Wmata, 3, Mathis Smith, Taranaki, 4

BOYS UNDER 12 FINAL
Tane Wallis, Piha, 1, Ben Poulter, Waihi Bch, 2, Peri Matenga, Mnt, 3, Brad Pitcher, Whmata, 4

GIRLS UNDER 16 FINAL
Wini Paul, Sandy Bay, 1, Paige Hareb, Tara, 2, Laura Rishworth, Mnt, 3, Pae Pou, Riverton, 4

GIRLS UNDER 14 FINAL
Maddy Phillips, Piha, 1, Georgia Cooper, Piha, 2, Grace Spiers, Whmata, 3, Alexis Poulter, Waihi Beach, 4

GIRLS UNDER 12 FINAL
Grace Spiers, WGM, 1, Alexis Poulter, Waihi Beach, 2, Rosa Thompson, Auck, 3, Samantha Sanderson, Waihi Beach, 4, Ella Williams, WGM, 5

The Billabong Grom Series is brought to you by Billabong, Oceanbridge, Coca Cola and Von Vipper.

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Ben Kennings
benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz

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