2007 Hyundai National Surfing Championships

Corona Crown Series and Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour – event two
Oakura, Taranaki, NZ
13 - 20 January 2007

Christie’s Form Looks Ominous as One Quinn Departs  

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 January, 2007 : - - Richard Christie (Gis) continued to impress on day five of the Hyundai National Surfing Championships today as the youngest of the Quinn brothers Jay, fell apart and was eliminated from the event.  Christie scored the highest heat score of the Open Men’s division to date with 17.50 out of a possible 20. 

Attacking every wave like it was his last, Christie posted an excellent 9.0 and then an 8.5 which had the other three competitors requiring in excess of a perfect ten point ride to catch him.  Christie seems un-phased about the mounting pressure as he heads toward the final stages of the event “Yeah I am stoked on that heat score, the waves were good out there and I found the waves that ran down the point and allowed me to do the best turns” commented Christie.

Christie will now face defending national champion Maz Quinn (Gis) in the first semifinal after he progressed in second place today behind current Corona Crown Series ratings leader Zennor Wernham.  However, Quinn’s performance was no less impressive than previous days scoring 14.60 in his heat.  It was just the Wernham posted an amazing 9.0 point ride on his first wave and dominated the heat from the outset.

While not winning his heat Maz did considerably better than bother Jay who was unable to find anything close to his opponents and to the contrary of Christie required an impossible 10.11 ride to progress when the final hooter sounded.  Jay will have to wait another year for a title but Maz maintains his focus on the job.  The change in venue to ‘Graveyards’, a left hand point break, proved to be anything but for Quinn’s campaign for a fifth New Zealand title.

Daniel Kereopa (Rag) found some form on the lefts today and like fellow Raglan surfers Wernham, Billy Stairmand and Leon Santorik, relished the chance to surf a break more like the famous lefthand points of Raglan. 

Kereopa scored the highest wave of the day – a 9.75 and only surfed two waves in his twenty minute heat to post a total of 16.75 and progress in first place ahead of local surfer, 1992 national champion Motu Mataa.  Mataa was one of two surfers to make the final eight with the other surfer being the in form Simon Deken who again won his heat today scoring 14.25 to progress in first place ahead of Stairmand in quarterfinal number three.

Earlier the Hyundai Open Women’s Division got underway for the first time at the event and it was not without upsets.  The four heats were the last to be completed at Stent Road before the wind played too much havoc with the surface conditions making it near impossible to surf.  Number one seed Jessica Santorik (Rag) played out a two horse race with Daisy Thomas (Chch) to progress. 

Thomas surfed brilliantly stringing several great turns together down the point and scored 7.75 on her best wave.  Local girl Paige Hareb top scored in the first round with 16.75 showing everyone how it is done on her home turf but fellow Australasian Pro Junior competitor Mischa Davis (Piha) did not enjoy the same luck placing fourth in her heat and being eliminated from the event. 

Davis only required a small score (2.61) to progress as did Gisborne’s Jessica Welch (1.86) but the elements worked against them both with Angie Koops (Kaik) and Thandi Durham (Tara) moving through to the finals.

The Breakers Under 18 boys were surfed to the final four today and Mount Maunganui’s Tim O’Conner emerged as the favourite to win the division after scoring 16.75 in his semifinal.  O’Conner’s toughest competition appears to be coming from Billy Stairmand who along with his semifinals berth in the Hyundai Open Men’s is punching above his weight heat upon heat. 

Stairmand posted 14.0 to win his heat and continue a successful day for Raglan surfers.  The two surfers will meet Paco Divers (Sandy Bay) and Sean Peggs (Tairua) in the final.  

The forecast for Thursday is still looking good with a slight decrease in swell and the strong offshore winds abating.  An official decision on venue and divisions to be contested on day five of the Hyundai National Championships will be made at 7.00am in the morning.  Details will be posted at the Oakura Boardriders on Messenger Terrace and also broadcast over The Most FM on 92.3.

Hyundai Open Men Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Richard Christie (Mahia), 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 2, Gauranga Ormond (Whmata), 3, Jamie Andrews (Tara), 4
Heat 2 Zennor Wernham (Rag), 1, Maz Quinn (Gis), 2, Keone Campbell (Tara), 3, Jason Lellman (Tara), 4
Heat 3 Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 1, Motu Mataa (Tara), 2, Dean Amess (Whmata) 3 Jay Quinn (Gis), 4
Heat 4 Simon Deken (Tara), 1, Billy Stairmand (Rag), 2, Nathan Welch (Gis), 3, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 4 

Hyundai Open Men Semifinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Richard Christie (Mahia), Leon Santorik (Rag), Zennor Wernham (Rag), Maz Quinn (Gis)
Heat 3 Daniel Kereopa (Rag), Motu Mataa (Tara), Simon Deken (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag)

Breakers Under 18 Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Keone Campbell (Tara), 1, Bodhi Whitaker (Gis), 2, Buck Woods (Gis), 3, Nick Moses (Tara), 4
Heat 2 Billy Stairmand (Rag), 1, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 2, Travis McCoy (Tau), 3, Adam Cranston (Gis), 4
Heat 3 Sean Peggs (Tairua), 1, Jay Paddock (Gis), 2, Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay), 3, Ryan Heath (Whmata), 4
Heat 4 Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 1, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 2, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 3, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 4

Breakers Under 18 Semifinals
Heat 1 Billy Stairmand (Rag), 1, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 2, Keone Campbell (Tara), 3, Bodhi Whitaker (Gis), 4
Heat 2 Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 1, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 2, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 3, Jay Paddock (Gis), 4

Breakers Under 18 Finals (To be surfed)
Billy Stairmand (Rag), Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), Tim O'Connor (Mnt), Sean Peggs (Tairua)

Quiksilver Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals – King of the Groms
Heat 1 Jay Paddock (Gis), 1, Tyler Anderson (Tara), 2, Kieran Pullman (Sandy Bay), 3, Dahnu Graham (Auck), 4
Heat 2 Braedon Williams (Whmata), 1, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 2, Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 3, Adam Cranston (Gis), 4
Heat 3 Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 1, Johnny Hicks (Gis), 2, Mathis Smith (Tara), 3, Tane Wallis (Piha), 4
Heat 4 Buck Woods (Gis), 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 2, Michael Mallalieu (Tara), 3, Stefan White (Whmata), 4 

Quiksilver Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals – King of the Groms (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Jay Paddock (Gis), Tyler Anderson (Tara), Braedon Williams (Whmata), Ryan Hawker (Piha)
Heat 2 Matt Hewitt (Mnt), Johnny Hicks (Gis), Buck Woods (Gis), Zen Wallis (Piha) 

Breakers Under 14 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, Joe Moretti (Nthland), 2, Damien Tafu (Piha), 3, Cody Hale (Kaitaia), 4
Heat 2 Tane Wallis (Piha), 1, Fintan Cram (Whmata), 2, Tyler Barry (Raglan), 3, Nat Hughes (Rag), 4
Heat 3 Patxi Scott-Arrieta (Whngrei), 1, James Tume (Wgtn), 2, Brad Pitcher (Whmata), 3, Subarn Linklater (Piha), 4 

Breakers Under 14 Boys Semifinals
Heat 1 Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, Fintan Cram (Whmata), 2, James Tume (Wgtn), 3
Heat 2 Tane Wallis (Piha), 1, Patxi Scott-Arrieta (Whngrei), 2, Joe Moretti (Nthland), 3 

Breakers Under 14 Boys Final (To be surfed)
Dune Kennings (Whmata), Fintan Cram (Whmata), Tane Wallis (Piha), Patxi Scott-Arrieta (Whngrei)

Hyundai Over 40s Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Dano Waiwiri (Tara), 1, Pete Shafer (Tara), 2, Phil Wallis (Piha), 3, Clinton Ashill (Whan), 4
Heat 2 Seth Matthews (Tara), 1, Glen Shuker (ChCh), 2, John Lovell (Tara), 3
Heat 3 Jason Matthews (Tara), 1, Billy Hale (Kait), 2, Robert Montgomery (Tara), 3 

Hyundai Over 40s Semifinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Dano Waiwiri (Waitara), Glen Shuker (ChCh), Billy Hale (Kait)
Heat 2 Seth Matthews (Tara), Pete Shafer (Tara), Jason Matthews (Tara)

Hyundai Over 45s Semifinals
Heat 1 John Gisby (Gis), Bendan Young (HBay), David Stork (Piha)
Heat 2 Rod Welch (Gis), John Lovell (Tara), Mike Trainer (Hbay) 

Hyundai Over 50s Quarterfinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1 David Stork (Piha), Rod Welch (Gis), Frank Harris (Tara), Greg Page (Tara)
Heat 2 John Gisby (Gis), Ruepert Newbold (Whan), Barry MacColloch (Tai), Eddie Rare (Gis)
Heat 3 Paul Atkin (Kaitaia), Ross Moodie (Gis), Ray Hawthorne (Gis), Chris Davies (Oakura)

Hyundai Open Women Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), 1, Kara Stephenson (Rag), 2, Lana Yearbury (Tara), 3, Bryony Barlow, n/s
Heat 2 Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 1, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 2, Laura Rishworth (Mnt), 3, Sophie Moore (Muri), 4
Heat 3 Angie Koops (Kaik), 1, Thandi Durham (Tara), 2, Jessica Welch (Gis), 3, Mischa Davis (Auck), 4
Heat 4 Paige Hareb (Tara), 1, Claire Thomson (Gis), 2, Bronte Mannix, 3, Natasha Civil (Dun), 4 

Hyundai Open Women Semifinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), Jessica Santorik (Rag), Angie Koops (Kaik), Claire Thomson (Gis)
Heat 2 Daisy Thomas (ChCh), Kara Stephenson (Rag), Thandi Durham (Tara), Paige Hareb (Tara) 

Breakers Under 18 Women Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), 1, Laura Rishworth (Whtane), 2, Anita Crawford (Tara), 3
Heat 2 Paige Hareb (Tara), 1, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), 3, Maddy Phillips (Auck), 2
Heat 3 Jessica Welch (Gis), 2, Grace Spiers (Whmata), 1, Annie Stuart (Auck), 3 

Breakers Under 18 Women Semifinals
Heat 1 Wini Paul (Sandy Bay), Maddy Phillips (Auck), Jessica Welch (Gis)
Heat 2 Paige Hareb (Tara), Laura Rishworth (Whtane), Grace Spiers (Whmata) 

Sirocco Surfboards Under 16 Girls Quarterfinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), Annie Stuart (Auck), Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), Lucy Brankin
Heat 2 Grace Spiers (WGM), Maddy Phillips (Auck), Demi Poynter (Auck), Ariana Roberts (Gis)
Heat 3 India Wray Murane (Muriwai), Mikayla Zandstra (Tauranga), Yjosina Barry (Rag), Crystal Hale (Kaitaia) 

Hyundai Over 30 Women Finals (To be surfed)
Monique Taylor (Wgtn), Gina Kennings (Rag), Liz Hughes (Rag), Cherie Wallis (Piha) 

Hyundai Open Longboard Quarterfinals
Heat 1 Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Jason Matthews (Waitara), 2, Aidan Comrie (Waihi Bch), 3, Blair Lambert (H Bay), 4
Heat 2 Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 1, Trent Lillis (Auck), 2, Glen Shuker (ChCh), 3, Daniel Proctor (Gis), 4
Heat 3 Jay Quinn (Gis), 1, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 2, Sam Johnson (Gis), 3, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 4
Heat 4 Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 1, Ant McColl, (Mnt), 2, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 3, Jamie Andrews (Waitara), 4  

Hyundai Open Longboard Semifinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), Jason Matthews (Waitara), Michael Fitzharris (Gis), Trent Lillis (Auck)
Heat 2 Jay Quinn (Gis), Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Daniel Kereopa (Rag), Ant McColl (Mnt)

Hyundai Women Longboard Semifinals
Heat 1 Josephine Moore (Muriwai), 1, Sophia Moore (Muriwai), 2, Rea Ansin (Auck), 3
Heat 2 Anna Jolly (Piha), 1, Hilary East (Auck), 2, Anita Crawford (Tara), 3, Bronte Barlow (Auck), 4

Hyundai Women Longboard Finals (To be surfed)
Josephine Moore (Muriwai), Sophia Moore (Muriwai), Anna Jolly (Piha), Hilary East (Auck)

Hyundai Junior Longboard Final (To be surfed)
Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), Tyler Anderson (Tara), Sam Guthrie (Mnt), Leroy Rust (Dun)  

NMD/Vertigo Open Bodyboard Quarterfinals (To be surfed)
Heat 1Richard McKenna, Jeff King (Auck), Shane Peterson, Harlem Kirton (Piha)
Heat 2Jarad Ferris (Gis), Vanja Spiric, Steve Abraham (Opotiki)
Heat 3Floyd Smith (Piha), Ahipene Newby (Gis), Ben Mckinnon, Andrew Lowe (Dun) 

Ocean and Earth Women Bodyboard Final (To be surfed)
Sarena Ball, Melanie McElwee, Andrea Willets (Tara), Erica Cussack, Poppy Chapman 

NMD/ Vertigo Dropknee Bodyboard Final (To be surfed)
Sam Peters, Paul Adams (Tara), Jarad Ferris (Gis), Shane Petersen 

Hot Buttered Under 18 Bodyboard (To be surfed)
Heat 1 Steve Abraham, Luke Elliot (Mnt), Daniel Willets (Tara)
Heat 2 Harlem Kirton (Piha), Max Clifford, Nick Hollings (Auck), Piri Kirton (Piha)

The Surfing New Zealand website has a behind the scenes look at the event in the official Hyundai Nationals event blog at surfingnz.co.nz.  Be sure to check it out. 

The 2007 Hyundai National Surfing Championships are principally sponsored by Hyundai.  Further associate sponsors include Quiksilver, Breakers Bar and Café, Sirocco Surfboards, Opunake Surf Inn, NMD/Vertigo, Ocean and Earth and Hot Buttered. The event would not be possible without the support of the above sponsors as well as host club Oakura Boardriders and Surfing New Zealand.

Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by Corona, Vodafone, Hyundai, SPARC, Smokefree

Previous reports:
# 1 : Hyundai National Surfing Championships going strong
# 2 : Hyundai National Champs: Juniors start off in small surf
# 3 : Longboarders style at Hyundai National Surfing Champs
# 4 : Men's division fires at Hyundai National Championships 
# 5 : Quinn Brothers rock Hyundai National Surfing Champs

www.surfingnz.co.nz.

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Ben Kennings
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