Dune Kennings - Image PhotoCPL

It was a short day of surfing at the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships today (Friday 20^th January) as New Zealand’s bestsurfers prepare for the final day of competition on Saturday.

With the waves dropping to the smallest they have been over the seven-day event at less than 1.0m and onshore westerly winds, only the essential divisions were contested in order for the event to be completed in a timely manner on Saturday.

The young grommets in the Under 16 and Under 14 Boys Divisions suited the conditions the most as they flew across the barely surfable waves.

Dune Kennings (WGM) and Korbin Hutchings (Gis/Australia) had the biggest tussle of the day with the lead in their semifinal swinging several times.  Kennings got off to an early start before Hutchings came back with a 6.60 and 5.97 to jump into the lead.  However it was Kennings that finished with a 7.73 point ride late in the semifinal that sealed the win, both surfers moving through to the finals after eliminating Harrison Whiteside (Chch) and Isaac Kettle (Tara).

The two surfers both have granddads that have won national titles and are part of a small group of third generation surfers in New Zealand.  They will want to follow in the footsteps of their families and secure more titles on Saturday. 

Standing in the way of Kennings and Hutchings are two surfers just as eager to write their own history.  Elliot Paerata – Reid (Piha) and McKenzie Bowden (WGM) progressed through the second semifinal, Paerata – Reid running away with the heat scoring 13.07 and Bowden getting a buzzer-beating 7.37 point ride to jump from third to second and advance over Mahorahora McLeod (Tara) and Matt McGreggor (Whangarei).

The youngest surfers of the event, the Under 14 Boys also contested their semifinals.  It was once again the precision of Kehu Butler (Mount) that shone over his opponents winning his heat despite incurring an ‘interference’ after interfering with one of his opponents waves.  Butler will meet Isaac Kettle (Tara), Taine Craig – Ranga (Waihi Beach) and Manu Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) in the final.  Scott Arrieta is the defending champion of the division and a win tomorrow would equal six other surfers feats, all of whom have won double titles in the division.

The Under 18 Girls semifinals saw twin sisters Gabriela and Bianca Sansom (Albany) progress through to the finals as the more fancied Ella Williams (WGM) and Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis).  Martin – Fitzharris is the only finalist to have won the division (2010).

The senior divisions were also contested as the tide continued to drop. Jay Quinn (Gis) who yesterday lost his semifinal match up in the Open Men’s Division, progressed through to the final of the Over 28 Men’s Division in second place behind AJ Matthews (Auck).  Bachelor Tipene (Tara) eliminated two time defending champion Jarred Hancox (Tara).  Tipene advanced alongside Joshua Thickpenny (Dun), the South Island’s sole finalist at the event.

Two finals were contested in the afternoon being the Over 30 Women’s and the Under 18 Longboard.  Local surfer Anna Jolly walked away with the Over 30 Women’s Division ahead of Belinda Goodwin (Rag), Shelley Jones (Auck) and Janine Spiers (WGM).

In the Under 18 Longboard it was the older of the Poulter brothers, Ben, who claimed the title over his younger brother Sam in second place.  The two brothers defeated local Piha surfers Tane Wallis and Tunui Wano.  Ben Poulter takes the lead on the Hyundai Tour after two of five events but tomorrow he will switch his attention to his preferred shortboard division when he attempts to defend his Under 18 Boys Division title.

Conditions for day seven (Saturday 21^st January) are expected to improve with an increase in swell and more favourable southwest winds.

Elliot Paerata - Reid - Image PhotoCPL	Jayda Martin - Fitzharris - Image PhotoCPL
Bianca Sansom - Image PhotoCPL	Mac Bowden - Image PhotoCPL

Please see below for results from Day six of the 2012 Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Friday 20^th January).

Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 13.07, 1, McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 11.8, 2

Mahorahora McLeod (Waitara), 11.33, 3, Matt McGreggor (Whngrei), 5.7, 4


Under 14 Boys Finals
Heat 1
Isaac Kettle (Tara), 10, 1, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 9.5, 2, Tane Bowden (Whmata), 6.6, 3
Heat 2
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 12.5, 1, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 8.27, 2, Xavier Campbell (Dun), 5.5, 3


Over 28 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Bachelor Tipene (Tara), 12.13, 1, Josh Thickpenny (Dun), 11.77, 2, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 8.97, 3, Liam Joyce (Phia), 4.93, 4
Heat 2
AJ Matthews (Whmata), 14.5, 1, Jay Quinn (Gis), 13.33, 2, Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), 7.13, 3, Larry Fisher (Rag), 5.7, 4


Over 35 Men’s Semifinals
Heat 1
Ben Kennings (Wmata), 10.83, 1, Cale Tolley (Mnt), 10.63, 2, Nat Barron (Piha), 10, 3
Heat 2
Rick Lasch (Auck), 11.17, 1, Scott Casey (Auck), 7.87, 2, Larry Fisher (Rag), 6.1, 3


Over 55 Men’s Finals
Heat 1
Mike Trainer (H-Bay), 9.5, 1, David Storck (Auck), 6.4, 2, Ken Nicolson (Auck), 4.82, 3
Heat 2
John Gisby (Gis), 7.17, 1, Barry McCulloch (Tau), 6.4, 2, Gary Quinn (Gis), 3.8, 3


Over 30 Women’s Final
Anna Jolly (Piha), 9.6, 1, Belinda Goodwin (Mnt), 5.9, 2, Shelley Jones (Auck), 4.8, 3, Jenine Williams (Whmata), 4.47, 4

Under 18 Longboard Final
Ben Poulter (Rag), 9.63, 1, Sam Poulter (Rag), 8.93, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 8.6, 3, Tunui Wano (Piha), 3.53, 4

The Hyundai National Championships were first held in 1963 when they took place at Mount Maunganui.  In its infancy, the event comprised Open Men’s and Women’s as well as Under 18 Men’s divisions only.  Since then it has grown to comprise a colossal 25 divisions across all disciplines and the 2012 edition will crown New Zealand’s 500^th national champion.

Twenty five national titles will go up for grabs at the Hyundai National Championships.  As well as the premier Open Men’s and Open Women’s Divisions, there will be a further 23 divisions comprising of age groups from Under 14 through to Over 50s and also longboard, Stand Up Paddleboard, Bodyboard and Kneeboard disciplines.

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 New Zealand representative Emma Ryan on 0274785217 or email eryan@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 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.

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Generous support from Hyundai New Zealand and Lion Rock Boardriders has made this event possible.

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