|
Quinn and Mason Double Up National Titles |
|
Written by Ben Kennings
|
|
Sunday, 16 January 2011 |
 |
|
Jay Quinn - Image PhotoCPL
|
Jay Quinn (Gis) surfed to his second national title in four years at the Hyundai National Surfing Championships at St Clair Beach today (Sunday 16th January). He defeated his brother Maz in the process, stopping his run for a record five titles.
Jay Quinn was unstoppable in the final posting a near perfect 18.0 point heat score out of a possible 20 points in a dramatic final filled with world class surfing.
Quinn has now won the first two events on the SOL Series and takes a big ratings lead over his Kiwi counterparts.
“I guess it was kind of an unknown mid way through the heat because we had no scores, everyone had waves but no one knew where they were sitting” said Quinn of the sitiation in the final. “I knew I had one goo wave, I just had to wait for scores and then get another good one.”
Quinn’s run of form has been exceptional of late after winning a SOL Surf Series event at home in November and now the nationals to remain undefeated.
“Umm, I can’t put my form down to anything, I guess I am older and more relaxed. I am just feeling good, I have my weight down to a good level and I am trying to focus on competing well and getting higher ratings than I first started more competitive career.”
Such is the rivalry between the two brothers, not too many words were spoken after the final however Maz was on hand to have a drink out of the prestigious trophy, an annual ritual not to be missed.
Quinn opened the final with a 9.17 point ride and held the lead for the 25 minute duration before scoring an 8.83 on his last good wave to extend his lead further.
New Zealand’s highest ranked surfer at 65th in the world, Richard Christie (Mahia) took to the air on several waves to match Quinn but came up short with a 16.53 point heat total finishing in second place. Maz Quinn finished with a 14.07 point heat total needing a near perfect 9.94 point ride that was always going to be challenging in the fickle wind blown 0.5m waves.
“Yeah, pretty much sucks being first loser. I tried my best, but I couldn’t get the best waves, stoked for Jay though” said Christie who was quick to praise his buddy further “His confidence is showing through in the domestic events so hopefully he comes back on tour with us and we all get good international results this year.”
Morehu Roberts (Gis) placed fourth in the final after incurring an interference on the first wave of the heat.
“That was a big call. I don’t think he interfered with me at all” said Christie. “I called him off the wave but he kept paddling for it, it is the worst thing that can happen to anyone at the start of a final.”
Airini Mason (Gis) had a sweet return to the competitive scene in New Zealand winning her second national title.
Mason last won as a young 13 year old in 2004. Today she found her self trailing another up and coming star in Whangamata’s Ella Williams. However Mason’s competitive knowledge pulled her through when she surfed to an 8.60 on her second to last wave to jump into the lead. 16 year old Williams ultimately placed second with Jessica Santorik (Rag) in third and local surfer Hayley Coakes in fourth.
“It was definitely a big one, winning the title this time around” said Mason. “I was an overwhelmed 13 year old last time, it was good to show that I can win it again.”
Mason has returned from Australia to New Zealand to study at Canterbury University this year and she hopes to focus her attention on some of the domestic events around the country.
One of the most celebrated wins of the day came with Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck) finally winning an event at national level. Kibblewhite has been one of the most consistent longboarders in New Zealand however, the two times New Zealand representative has been unable to win an event over the last five years.
“You wouldn’t believe it, it’s been three years of bridesmaid finishes for me, I am absolutely stoked, the last five years has been tough not being able to win an event, I am so stoked” said Kibblewhite who considered the conditions to be much like his home break of Red Beach in Auckland.
“That last five minutes felt like an eternity, I have lost 3 titles the last three years and I have lost them all in the last five minutes of the final” said Kibblewhite adding “This win has boosted me back up there on the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings and I am looking forward to the LQS at Sandy Bay in February” in reference to the third leg of the tour which is sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP).
Kibblewhite defeated first time finalist Matt Cockayne (Auck) who won a tight three way battle for the minor placings ahead of Kelly Ryan (Gis) and Cale Tolley (Mnt).
Ben Poulter (Rag) stole the show in the Under 18 Boys Division after finding himself so far behind in the final that many surfers would have given up. Such is the nature of the battler, Poulter fired back with some mid range scores in the last five minutes of the heat. Requiring an excellent score in the dying stages of the final, Poulter blasted several big backhand turns to score an 8.5 point ride and claim the victory. Placing second was Tane Wallis (Piha) who had previously been engaged in a seesaw battle with Gisborne’s Jacob Kohn, the two surfers exchanging the lead on several occasions. Kohn ended up placing third ahead of Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata) in fourth.
Grace Spiers (WGM) claimed one of three titles that went to Whangamata surfers when she took out the Under 18 Girls Division. Spiers scored 12.73 points in the final and left her opponents struggling to match her. Triple finalist Ella Williams placed second in the final unable to match her earlier win in the Under 16 Girls Division. Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis) placed third ahead of Alethea Lock (Chch) in fourth.
Dune Kennings (WGM) won his first national title in the Under 16 Boys Division. Posting 13.50 points in the final, he stormed away with the lead and was not challenged in the later stages of the final. The happy young surfer was pleased with the win referring to when his Dad won his first title in 1990, coincidentally also in Dunedin. Kennings becomes the first third-generation national champion in New Zealand. Northland surfer Paul Moretti placed second in the final ahead of Adam Grimson (Gis) in third and Waretini Wano (Piha) in fourth.
Ella Williams (WGM) looked the goods after claiming her first national title in the Under 16 Girls Division with the potential of two more later in the day. In a close race for the title Williams got the nod ahead of Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis) with a score line of 9.0 to 8.70. Hannah Kohn (Gis) placed third in the final.
Manu Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) won the youngest division of the event – the Under 14 Boys Division. Scott Arrieta’s final was highlighted by a long righthander which added to his total heat score of 14.0 to pip Korbin Hutchings (Gis) for the win. A dejected Hutchings finished in second place ahead of Harrison Whiteside (Chch) in third and Jack Wilson (Chch) in fourth.
The Hyundai National Surfing Championships are the second of six events on the 2010/11 SOL Series.
Please below for final results from the Hyundai National Surfing Championships completed at St Clair Beach Dunedin today (Sunday 16th January).
Open Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Maz Quinn (Gis), 15.37, 1, Jay Quinn (Gis), 13.53, 2, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 10.3, 3, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 9.63, 4
Heat 2
Richard Christie (Mahia), 17.5, 1, Morehu Roberts (Rag), 14.6, 2, Billy Stairmand (Rag) , 14.57, 3, Blair Stewart (Gis), 9.67, 4
Open Men’s Final
Jay Quinn (Gis), 18, 1, Richard Christie (Mahia), 16.5, 2, Maz Quinn (Gis), 14.1, 3, Morehu Roberts (Rag), 11.6, 4
Under 18 Men’s Final
Ben Poulter (Rag), 13.87, 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 12.17, 2, Jacob Kohn (Gis), 10.93, 3, Joe Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 7.47, 4
Under 16 Boys Final
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 13.5, 1, Paul Moreiti (Mimiwhangata), 8.63, 2, Adam Grimson (Gis), 8.63, 3, Waretini Wano (Piha), 6.3, 4
Under 14 Boys Final
Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 13.6, 1, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 13.3, 2, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 8.3, 3, Jack Wilson (ChCh), 3.8, 4
Men’s Longboard Final
Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 14.83, 1, Matt Cockayne (Mngwhai), 11.07, 2, Kelly Ryan (Gis), 10.6, 3, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 10.3, 4
Under 18 Longboard Final
Luke O’Neill (ChCh), 13, 1, Blake Barnfield (Ohope), 9.27, 2, Joseph Stewart (Whtane), 6.13, 3, Hone Douglas (Whtane)*, 5.43, 4
Women’s Longboard
Hannah Joynt (Dun), 11.17, 1, Daisy Thomas (ChCh), 8.1, 2, Hannah Howard (Auck), 4.97, 3, Shelly Jones (Auck), 4.27, 4
Over 28 Men’s Final
Jarred Hancox (Tara), 14.3, 1, Hayden Brain (ChCh), 11.9, 2, Lyndon Fairbairn Dun), 8.73, 3, Luke Murphy (Dun), 7.5, 4
Over 35 Men’s Final
Ben Kennings (WGM), 11.8, 1, Lyndon Fairbairn (Dun), 7.9, 2, Mike Christensen (Chch), 7.27, 3, Kelly Ryan (Gis) , 5.58, 4
Over 40 Men’s Final
Neill Robb (ChCh), 11.8, 1, Richard Ayson (Dun), 7.67, 2, Mike Willman (ChCh, 7.3, 3, Mike Fitzharris (Gis), 7.17, 4
Over 45 Men’s Final
Brendan Young (H-Bay), 10.8, 1, Neill Robb (ChCh), 10.7, 2, Mark Stevenson (Dun), 5.23, 3, John Roussey (ChCh), 4.63, 4
Over 50 Men’s Final
Mark Perana (Westport), 11.67, 1, Brendan Young (H-Bay), 11.37, 2, Kerry McNally (Dun), 9.67, 3, Shane Murrell (Auck), , N/S
Over 55 Men’s Final
Graham Carse (Dun), 10.5, 1, Greg Page (Dun), 8.87, 2, Michael Gray (Auck), 2.68, 3
Open Women’s Final
Airini Mason (Gis), 15.4, 1, Ella Williams (Whmata), 14.9, 2, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 12.7, 3, Hayley Coakes (Dun), 8, 4
Under 18 Girls Final
Grace Spiers (Whmata), 12.73, 1, Ella Williams (Whmata), 9.97, 2, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 8.29, 3, Alethea Lock (ChCh), 3.7, 4
Over 28 Women’s Final
Leilani Morgan (ChCh), 5.87, 1, Nicola Warren (ChCh), 5.73, 2, Francois Lewis (Dun)* , 4.4, 3, Marguerite Vujich (Napier), 1.4, 4
Under 16 Girls Final
Ella Williams (Whmata), 9, 1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 8.7, 2, Hannah Kohn (Gis), 3.67, 3, Phil Miller (Auck), 5.23, 4
Kneeboard Final
Maicom Diack (Dun), 8.27, 1, Kelvin Weir (Opunake), 7.63, 2, Murray Weir (Opunake), 7.13, 3, Phil Miller (Auck), 5.23, 4
Stand Up Paddleboard
Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 15.3, 1, Sean Hovell (Gis), 13.9, 2, Shayne Baxter (ChCh), 12.3, 3, Arnie Armstrong (Rag), 10.3, 4
Stand Up Paddleboard Race
Jeremy Stephenson (Auck), 1, Mike Stewart (Qtown), 2, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 3, Sean Hovell (Gis), 4
Complete lists of all National Champions are located on the Surfing New Zealand website under History.
Please see below for the remaining five events that make up the 20010/11 SOL Surf Series.
Sol Series Event 3 - 29-31 January - Billabong Pro presented by Sony, Whangamata (6-star)
Sol Series Event 4 - 12-13 February - Power Balance Pro, Mount Maunganui (4-star)
Sol Series Event 5 - 11-13 March - Rip Curl Pro, Raglan (6-star)
Sol Series Event 6 - 2-3 April SOL Super 16, Mobile (6-star)
The remaining events on the 2011 Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour follow:
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 3, 4-6 February, Sandy Bay (SNZ 6-star / ASP LQS 1-star)
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 4, 19-20 February, Mount Maunganui (4-star)
Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Event 5, 4-5 March, Port Waikato (6-star)
Entry into the events can be completed at Surfing New Zealand under events. Complete the entry process online or download entry forms and send them in. The 2011 SOL Surf Series is expected to receive high entry levels so entrants will need to be in well before the cut off dates to assure themselves a slice of the action.
Further Information
For further information on the 2011 Hyundai National Championships please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Hyundai Brand Manager Devyn Cantley on 0275541548 or email dcantley@hyundai.co.nz.
Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from each event. Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
High resolution action images of the surfing at all events on the SOL Surf Series will be available to media free of charge upon request.
Event Hotline
The Surfing New Zealand event hotline is 0211134506. This will be updated daily at approximately 7am with venue, divisions contested and conditions.
Partners
Generous support from Hyundai, SOL and South Coast Boardriders has made this event possible.
Surfing New Zealand Newsletter
If you want to keep updated with surfing information delivered right to your inbox then sign up to the SNZ Newsletter.
Follow Surfing New Zealand and the Hyundai National Championships
Live results will be feed live to the SNZ website via twitter so stay tuned with up to date results. Alternatively follow the action via the SNZ Facebook and SNZ Twitter.
Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by
SOL
Hyundai
SPARC
Smokefree
Ends
|
|
