Happenings

Hawker Makes it a Threepeat at NZ Nationals U/16s
 
The amazing run of excellent waves at the Hyundai National Surfing Championships being held at Taranaki ended today (Friday) with small conditions firstly causing a change in venue before the event was put on hold and subsequently moved back to Stent Road.  The constant changing of venue didn�t hinder the performance of Ryan Hawker (Piha) who took out the Quiksilver Under 16�s division.  The event has doubled as the New Zealand leg of the King of the Groms and as such Hawker gets the chance to represent his country at the international final which will be held in France during August.

Hawker has almost been unstoppable in the Under 16s for the past twelve months and today was no different when he scored 14.25 in the final.  While the final was talent filled, Hawker used his worldly competition knowledge to out smart and out surf his opponents with Matt Hewitt (Mnt) playing bridesmaid for the second year in a row scoring 12.50 ahead of Gisborne surfers Buck Woods (11.90) and Jay Paddock (5.50).
 
I'm pretty happy, it has been a long week and I have been pretty tired.  A few of the days we surfed have been small but I got a lot of practice in those type of conditions when I was in Australia recently so it was all good� commented Hawker. It means everything to be able to represent New Zealand in the King of the Groms.  The last two years I have been to the international event I have seen the best guys in the world, seen how they surf and brought everything back to work in to my surfing�.  Hawker placed 33rd at the event in 2005 and 17th in 2006 but this year he has his sights set higher �Definitely a finals berth this year that is what I am aiming for commented Hawker.
 
The Under 16 boys division was one of six finals contested today.  The Breakers Under 18 Girls was won by Taranaki's Paige Hareb.  Hareb was sitting in second place with ten seconds remaining when she caught her last wave and jumped into the lead.  The wave which comprised of three critical backhand turns over the shallow rock bottom scored 9.75 and edged out Whangarei�s Wini Paul who scored 12.05 ahead of Jessica Welch (Gis) and Laura Rishworth (Mnt) in fourth.
 
The Breakers Under 14 Boys got back in the water after four days off.  Tane Wallis (Piha) had the final stitched up against his younger counterparts.  Wallis has won a number of junior events around the country but this was his first national title and will be one of many for the talented young guy.  Dune Kennings (WGM) dodged rocks and got some brilliant little waves to hold on to second place throughout the final.  Patxi Scott-Areitta (Whangarei) placed third unable to find the longer rides and Fintan Cram placed fourth.
 
In other finals contested late in the day, Grace Spiers (WGM) won the Sirocco Surfboards Under 16s in a dominant fashion.  Anna Jolly took out the Hyundai open Women Longboards and Dylan Barnfield continued his winning streak in the Hyundai Junior longboards scoring 18.00 to win the final.