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| Ella Williams - Image PhotoCPL |
Eighteen year old Ella Williams (WGM) returned to the Open Women’s Division and dominated the days surfing on day two of the 2013 Hyundai National Surfing Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (14th January).
Williams spent the first day of the event competing against the best surfers in
the country in the Open and Under 18 Men’s Divisions making it through to the Under
18 Boys Quarterfinals.
Today, in less than desirable 1.0m waves with onshore northwest winds, Williams
breezed through her heat scoring 11.0 points out of a possible 20 – the highest
of the first round.
“It was really hard out there today” commented Williams of the day two
conditions.
“There was lots of water moving and the waves went fat real quick. It was the same
old though, keep busy and pick off the right wave and you could get a good one
and that is what I managed in my heat.”
After surfing with the guys on day one Williams enjoyed surfing back in the Open
Women’s Division but noted the extra competition is good for her overall performances. “Everyone
needs more competition” she exclaimed.
Tomorrow Williams is likely to be back in the water contesting one of the three
divisions she remains alive in with the swell size expected to build. “You have to be prepared for all conditions, you
never know what the conditions are like until the day you compete, so be
prepared for whatever comes” said Williams.
Williams was joined by defending champion Thandi Durham – Tipene (Tara) who won
her matchup thanks to one sharply surfed lefthander scoring 6.17. Grace Spiers (WGM) won her heat along with the
youngest surfer remaining in the division, 15-year-old Dayna Story (Gis), who completed
the winners circle progressing alongside Alexis Poulter (Rag).
Story was also in action in the Under 16 Girls Division securing her second win
of the day to move through to the semifinals.
Story was joined by fellow New Zealand Development Squad surfers Abby
Falwasser – Logan (Gis) and Claudia Fraser (Piha) who both won their heats.
The youngest of the men’s divisions were contested this afternoon. Australian based Korbin Hutchings, formerly
of Gisborne, continues to impress with his performances, today, posting a 15.2
point heat total in a well-rounded performance.
“I was just trying to get a feel for everything out there today as I was a bit ‘iffy’
on my boards and what one to use - my fish or my normal board but the board I ended
up riding went real good, I found some good runners so I am happy” said
Hutchings.
Hutchings was scheduled to surf in the Under 18 Boys Division at the end of the
day before conditions deteriorated to a point that officials called the event
off for the day. The decision was not to
Hutchings liking. “I was a bit bummed
when they canned the comp this afternoon. I was confident and ready for my heat.”
Hutchings time in Australia has clearly benefited his surfing and he will continue
in both the Under 16 Boys and Under 18 Boys Divisions in the coming days. “I really want to take out my first national
title this week” ended Hutchings.
Christchurch surfer Harrison Whiteside surfed a strong heat to move through to
the semifinals. The New Zealand
representative won his heat to progress to the semifinals alongside Riccardo
Lucibella (Tara) who placed second.
Other heat winners included Kehu Butler (Mnt) and Isaac Kettle (Tara).
In the youngest division at the event, the Under 14 Boys, Kehu Butler (Mnt), Daniel
Farr (Tara), Taine Craig – Ranga (Waihi Beach) and Tane Bowden (WGM) all
secured heat wins to move through to the semifinals.
The surf is expected to increase for day three (Tuesday 15th
January). Winds will swing back to the west
and then southwest late in the day. Competition will commence at 8:00am on
Tuesday 15th January.
See below for results from day two of the Hyundai National Surfing
Championships held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Monday 14th January).
Open Women’s Division Round 1
Heat 1
Dayna
Story (Gis), 7.37, 1, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 7.2, 2, Rachel von Zalinski (Auck),
2.07, 3, Marguerite Vujich (Napier), 1.77, 4
Heat
2
Ella
Williams (Whmata), 11.1, 1, Mischa Davis (Auck), 9, 2, Jasmine Smith (Gis), 7.83,
3, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 6.97, 4
Heat
3
Thandi
Tipene (Tara), 9.27, 1, Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 7.67, 2, Nicola Colson-Koster
(Auck), 5.23, 3, Abby Falwasser-Logan, 3.93, 4
Heat 4
Grace
Spiers (Whmata), 9.73, 1, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 7.73, 2, Jayda
Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 2.7, 3, Nam Northcott, 2.53, 4
Under 16 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Riccardo
Lucibella (Tara), 6.5, 1, Adam Clegg (Tara), 6.2, 2, Taine Ranga (Waihi Beach),
5.77, 3,
Heat 2
Korbin
Hutchings (Gis), 10.5, 1, Campbell Ivory (Tairua), 4.93, 2, Harry Macintosh
(ChCh), 4.87, 3, Max Dicken (Auck), 4.73, 4
Heat 3
Kehu
Butler (Arataki), 13.57, 1, Tane Bowden (Whmata), 10.6, 2, Samuel Sands (ChCh),
5.13, 3
Heat 4
Jack
Wilson (ChCh), 7.13, 1, Max Marshall (Chch), 6.43, 2, Ben McCulloch (Gis), 3.1,
3, Joel Clegg (Tara), 2.8, 4
Under 14 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Kehu
Butler (Arataki), 15.7, 1, Jonas Tawharu (Mnt), 9.27, 2, Henry Copley (Auck), 4.7,
3, Ollie Meadows (Waiheke), 2.27, 4
Heat 2
Daniel
Farr (Tara), 10.7, 1, Samuel Sands, 7.8, 2, Jared Gebert (Ohope), 6.57, 3
Heat 3
Taine
Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 9.93, 1, Thomas Dixon-Smith (Gis), 4.1, 2, Jai Wallis
(Auck), 0.27, 3
Heat 4
Tane
Bowden (Whmata), 13.1, 1, Joel Clegg (Tara), 5.6, 2, Sam Copley (Auck), 1.2, 3
Under 16 Girls Round 1
Heat 1
Dayna
Story (Gis), 9.4, 1, Kea Smith (Mnt), 4.53, 2, Indica Ratima (Rag), 3.77, 3, Raiha
Ensor (Mnt), 3.43, 4
Heat 2
Abby
Falwasser - Logan (Gis), 7.07, 1, Britt Kindred (Muri), 5.03, 2, Jasmine Smith
(Gis), 3.5, 3
Heat 3
Claudia
Fraser (Auck), 6.73, 1, Jennifer Rockwell (Auck), 4.23, 2, Elin Tawharu (Mnt), 3.9,
3
A complete lists of all National Champions are located on the Surfing New Zealand website under History.
Further
Information
For further information on the 2013 Hyundai National
Championships please contact Surfing New Zealand’s Ben Kennings on 021 2278732
or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz.
Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from the event. Please contact Ben Kennings for further
details.
High resolution action images of the surfing 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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made this event possible.
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