Port Waikato

Results:

Burling Steals the Show Yet Again

Tongan Michael Burling now residing in Gisborne has again won the final event of the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour repeating his feat at the last event in 2006. Burling’s victory came at the expense of Daniel Kereopa (Rag) and Michel Fitzharris (Gis) who were vying for the tour title however, Kereopa, by making the final of the Port Waikato event did enough to hold on to his ratings lead and win the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour for 2007.

The clean 1.5m punchy beach break waves suited Burling who grew up riding the powerful waves of the Tongan reef breaks. All surfers on the final day needed to be on top of their game to make the most of the fast lefthanders and maximise their scoring potential. Throughout the final, Burling went wave for wave with the youngest surfer in the final, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), the lead switching several times throughout the 25 minutes. With about ten minutes remaining Burling rode his best wave – a 7.0 point ride to jump into the lead once again. He then backed it up on the following wave with a 6.60 point ride to extend his lead. Barnfield fought back with what looked to be a great ride but fell on a big closeout floater which sealed his fate and his second placing only scoring 3.85, well short of the required 6.36 for the win. Burling was left running back down the beach in a last ditch effort to get another wave but it was to no avail, the final hooter sounding before he managed to get back out the back and catch another wave. It was a great win that had the Tongan smiling to the gods. His family who are in New Zealand on holiday cheered from the beach enjoying the spectacle.

With the series title out of Fitzharris’ reach he appeared somewhat lacklustre and out of sync with the sets in the final only scoring 8.15 points out of a possible 20. However this was better than Kereopa who also went awol scoring 7.50 points on a borrowed board after he snapped his favourite board clean in two during the semifinals. Both surfers would no doubt have wanted to finish on a high but it was not to be and Kereopa went home without his third win of the tour and Fitzharris returned back to Gisborne in an unfamiliar position of second place overall having not won an event all year.

For Kereopa the triumphs continue to flow with this tour win. It comes on the back of winning the Corona Crown Surfing Series on his shortboard and earlier in the year winning three divisions in the Hyundai National Champs being the coveted Open Men’s, Over 28s and Longboard Divisions as well as three other wins throughout the year.

Caroline Ryan (Gis) won her first event of the year in the Women’s Division after opting to surf the longer righthanders further down the beach. Her strategy paid off brilliantly as she posted 7.75 to win the final. It was definitely her weekend to shine after husband Kelly Ryan was eliminated from the event in the semifinals and being ousted from the title race early on day two. Rea Ansin (Auck) placed second in the final scoring 6.55 out of a possible 20 ahead of local girl Shereen Lobb with Whangarei’s Kirstie Thomson in fourth.

Shane Grimes (Auck) who entered his first event of the series pulled off a great win in the Over 40s. A late entry, Grimes could not bare to just sit and watch the event all weekend so threw his hat in the ring and came out on top of everyone. Grimes scored 12.50 in the final with an excellent display of big forehand re-entries on the fast lefthanders. Ratings leader going into the last event, Mike Thomson (Rag), placed second in the final and took out the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour for 2007. Thomson could not quite cap off the year with a win but will be happy to walk away with second place at this event. Form surfer Brendon Young (HBay) couldn’t find any waves in the final after posting a total heat score of 17.25 in the semifinal and had to settle for third ahead of David Storck (Piha) in fourth.

While finishing fourth in the Over 40’s David Storck surfed a far superior heat in the over 50s to easily win the last event of the year. Storck scored 11.00 in the final stamping his aurthority all over the heat. The win pushed Storck closer to ratings leader and today’s second placegetter Mike Thomson (Rag) who had already won the tour prior to the last event. The 2006 event winner Viv Tracey (Sandy Bay) had to settle for third place this year ahead of Rupert Newbold (Whangarei).

The Barnfield brothers made it a one-two for the Ohope family in the Junior Men’s. Oldest brother Dylan ran away with his fourth victory of the year and further extended his points advantage over the other surfers. Dylan posted a total heat score of 10.25 to beat his brother Eli into second. Eli scored 6.50 in the final to outscore Sam Guthrie (Mnt) and Auckland surfer Sean Aitken who exited the water just after the start of the heat after taking a knock to the head. Aitken later won the Hyundai longboard that was raffled off throughout the event with all proceeds going to the local surf life saving club.

Please see complete results from the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour event being held at Port Waikato as well as final top five placings for each division.

Hyundai Open Men Finals

Michael Burling (Gis), 1, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Michael Fitzharris (Gis), 3, Daniel Kereopa (Rag), 4

Hyundai Open Women Final

Carolyn Ryan (Gis), 1, Rea Ansin (Auck), 2, Shereen Lobb (Port Wai), 3, Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei), 4

Hyundai Junior Men Finals

Dylan Barnfield (Ohope), 1, Eli Barnfield (Ohope), 2, Sam Guthrie (Mnt), 3, Sean Aitken (Auck), 4

Hyundai Over 40s Finals

Shane Grimes (Auck), 1, Mike Thomson (Rag), 2, Brendon Young (HBay), 3, David Storck (Auck), 4

Hyundai Over 50s Finals

David Storck (Auck), 1, Viv Tracey (Ocean Beach), 2, Rupert Newbold (Auck), 3, Mike Thomson (Rag), 4

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Open Mens Top 5

1, Daniel Kereopa (Rag)

2, Michael Fitzharris (Gis)

3, Kelly Ryan (Gis)

4, Daniel Proctor (Gis)

5, Michael Burling (Gis)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Open Women Top 5

1, Anna Jolly (Piha)

2, Rea Ansin (Auck)

3, Caroline Ryan Gis

4, Kirstie Thomsen (Whangarei)

5, Daisy Thomas (Chch)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Junior Men Top 5

1, Dylan Barnfield (Ohope)

2, Sam Guthrie (Mnt)

3, Eli Barnfield (Ohope)

4, Nick Sarjeant (Chch)

5, Sam Hawke (ChCh)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Over 40s Top 5

1, Mike Thomson (Rag)

2, David Storck (Auck)

3, Glen Shuker (ChCh)

4, Grant Cochrane (ChCh)

5, Scotty Riach (Stanmore Bay)

Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour Over 50s Top 5

1, Mike Thomson (Rag)

2, David Storck (Auck)

3, Viv Treacy (Ocean Beach)

4, Paul Bennett (Chch)

5, Paul Browne (Orewa)

 

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