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Gisborne Boardriders on fire
27th October 2022 The Gisborne Herald Fraser Ruru
Photo: Open Men's Victor: Gisborne Boardriders Club member Jay Quinn.
More than 50 surfers descended on Makorori Beach over Labour Weekend for Gisborne Boardriders' fifth interclub regional competition.
Surfers from Wellington, Hawke's Bay, Mahia and Bay of Plenty were among those taking part.
Event organiser Flo Bub said the competition began five years ago as a collaboration between Gisborne Boardriders Club and Mahia Boardriders.
It grew as other clubs jumped on board.
“Hawke's Bay Boardriders and Wellington Boardriders were next, followed by Bay and Papamoa Boardriders,” Bub said.
“The event is always held on Labour Weekend to allow people to travel and make best use of the public holiday.
“We had 50 competitors across nine divisions surfing at Red Bus/Makorori Beach.
“They came along with their friends and family. It was a beautiful day on the beach with mostly offshore conditions and some very contestable surf throughout the event.”
He said the under-12 boys' division was the most popular, followed by the open men's, with a good turnout across the junior girls' categories.
Nine divisions ranged from mini juniors (12 and under) to open — three for female and six for male surfers.
Gisborne Boardriders Club won the overall club competition. Its surfers won eight divisions and filled the top four spots in four divisions and the top three in another.
Gisborne's Harry McFarlane won the boys' 12-and-under division, followed by fellow club members Jaxon Pardoe, Archie Alder and Oska Gunness.
Asia Braithwaite won the open women's section and clubmate Lucy McDiarmid was third. Hawke's Bay Boardriders' Isla Prins was second.
Jay Quinn led a Gisborne Boardriders whitewash in the open men's competition. Damon Gunness, Georg Busby and Adam Grimson were second, third and fourth respectively.
Bub said that Quinn — with his smooth style and flawless surfing — was amazing to watch.
Another highlight was the men's 60-plus division, won by John Gisby. Two competitors were over 70 and one was close to 70.
“Their level of surfing was fantastic,” Bub said.
“I hope I can surf like that when I am their age.”
Other Gisborne winners were Bonnie Lynch (girls' 16-and-under division), Charlotte McDiarmid (girls' 12-and-under), Max Phillips (boys' 16-and-under) and Malcolm McGregor (men's 50-plus).
Bay Boardriders' Jaxon Willows won the boys' 12-and-under division.
To allow more people to see the event, Gisborne Boardriders trialled streaming it, through Rangai, with commentary by club president Dan Croskery.
Coverage was difficult at Red Bus — “always tricky” at that location — but Bub said the club would share the recorded finals on its social media platforms.
The commentating was great, Bub said. It gave insights into the competitors and the “ins and outs of the competition”.
Open women: Asia Braithwaite (Gisborne Boardriders) 1; Isla Prins (Hawke's Bay Boardriders) 2; Lucy McDiarmid (Gisborne) 3.
Junior girls (16 and under): Bonnie Lynch (Gisborne) 1; Lucy McDiarmid (Gisborne) 2; Mika Gordon (Mahia Boardriders) 3; Lola Williams (Mahia) 4.
Mini junior girls (12 and under): Charlotte McDiarmid (Gisborne) 1; Adele McFarlane (Gisborne) 2; Neil Alder (Gisborne) 3; Maddie Smith (Gisborne) 4.
Open men: Jay Quinn (Gisborne) 1; Damon Gunness (Gisborne) 2; Georg Busby (Gisborne) 3; Adam Grimson (Gisborne) 4.
Junior boys (16 and under): Max Phillips (Gisborne) 1; Harry Prins (Hawke's Bay) 2; Lockie Sainsbury (Wellington Boardriders) 3; William Matthews (Gisborne) 4.
Mid junior boys (14 and under): Jaxon Willows (Bay Boardriders) 1; Shea Ferguson (Gisborne) 2; Nikau Anderson (Gisborne) 3; Beck Allen (Hawke's Bay) 4; Stan Brough (Wellington) 5.
Mini junior boys (12 and under): Harry McFarlane (Gisborne) 1; Jaxon Pardoe (Gisborne) 2; Archie Alder (Gisborne) 3; Oska Gunness (Gisborne) 4.
Men's 60-plus: John Gisby (Gisborne) 1; Mike Yukich (Gisborne) 2; Ben Hutchings (Gisborne) and Ross Moodie (Gisborne) equal 3.
Men's 50-plus: Malcolm McGregor (Gisborne) 1; Sam Phillips (Gisborne) 2; Andrew McCulloch (Gisborne) 3.
