Rip Curl GromSearch Gisborne Results

Piha surfers Ryan Hawker, Alexis Poulter and Ben Poulter were standouts at event two of the 2006 Rip Curl GromSearch Series held in Gisborne during the weekend at Pines break, Okitu.

(Rip Curl are the company behind (Rip Curl Wetsuits) 

Hawker top scored with a 13.5 on day one and a 15.25 on day two to win the U16 boys division.
Alexis Poulter managed to hold out her peers to win the U14 and U16 girls divisions while brother Ben after entering all three boys divisions finally claimed victory in the U12’s.

Karne Pitcher (Whangamata) took out the U14 boys and Gabrielle Marriot (Gisborne) won the U12 girls.

Rain, cold southerlies, and shifty onshore conditions on day one was a challenge for the majority of surfers who had travelled from as far south as Dunedin in Otago and as far north as Whangarei. Day two saw a small increase in swell size and a wind shift to the west-south-westerly quarter, which provided slightly cleaner conditions. However competitors still had to contend with the strong rip, shifting peaks and relentless white water that consistently hindered progress to get out the back.

The introduction of the Rip Curl GromSearch Series six years ago has contributed to the development of age group surfers across the country. The grommets are now surfing with more maturity, doing full turns and manoeuvres and consistently getting out the back to search for the bigger waves, an aspect that was apparent during the weekend.

Overall the grommets were more than amped to be back in contest mode to test their skills against the elements and one another.

Missing from the weekends line up due to international events were Keone Campbell (Taranaki), Johnny Hicks (Gisborne) Mathis Smith (Taranaki), Grace Spiers (Whangamata) and Paige Hareb (Taranaki) to name a few. Their absence however may cost them a GromSearch Series title but they will still be in the running to win or place highly in the overall Surfing New Zealand Grommet Series.

Once back in the country they will have their minds set on event three of the Rip Curl GromSearch Series scheduled for 30 September – 1st October in Muriwai.

Background information

The Rip Curl GromSearch is the longest running grommet series in New Zealand. The series comprises four events in 2006. Events are scheduled for each of the school holidays and are dotted around New Zealand. Rip Curl GromSearch events focus on participation in the sport of surfing and are held worldwide. The events offer an excellent opportunity for youngsters to meet other surfers and compete against each other many for the first time in their lives.

The 2006 Rip Curl GromSearch is sponsored by Rip Curl and New Zealand Surfing Magazine.

Event two would not be possible without the support of Gisborne Boardriders Club and Surfing New Zealand.

Event Two Results

U16 BOYS Round 1
Heat one

Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 1, Dylan Pigeon (Auck), 2, Geordi Dearns (Dunedin), 3

Heat two

Buck Woods (Gis), 1, Stefan White (Whmata), 2, Zack Anderson (Northland),3, Zane Rous (Mangawhai) n/s

Heat three

Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay), 1, Sammy Love (Auck), 2, Tim Thompson (Auck), 3

Heat four

Alex Dive (Tauranga), 1, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 2,Christo Gilbert (Hbay), 3

Heat five

Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 1, Mark Parthemore (Tara), 2, Ben Poulter (Piha), 3

Heat six

Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 1, Travis McCoy (Tauranga), 2, Sam Smith (Mangawhai), 3

Heat seven

Sean Peggs (Tairua), 1, Adam Cranston (Gis), 2, Storm Carroll (Auck), 3

Heat eight

Ryan Hawker (Piha), 1, Jay Paddock (Gis), 2, Haami Martin (Taharoa), 3

U16 BOYS 1/4's

Heat one

Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 1, Buck Woods (Gis), 2, Stefan White (Whmata), 3, Dylan Pigeon (Auck)4

Heat two

Braedon Williams (Whmata), 1, Alex Dive (Tauranga), 2, Oliver Bone (Sandy Bay), 3, Sammy Love (Auck), 4

Heat three

Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 1, Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 2, Travis McCoy (Tauranga), 3, Mark Parthemore (Tara) n/s

Heat four

Ryan Hawker (Piha),1, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 2, Jay Paddock (Gis), 3, Adam Cranston (Gis), 4

U16 BOYS Semi's
Heat one
Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 1, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 2, Buck Woods (Gis), 3, Alex Dive (Tauranga), 4

Heat two
Ryan Hawker (Piha), 1, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 2, Sean Peggs (Tairua), 3, Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 4

U16 BOYS Grand final
Ryan Hawker (Piha), 1, Braedon Williams (Whmata), 2, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay), 3, Matt Hewitt (Mnt), 4

U16 GIRLS Round 1
Heat one
Anna Hadfield (Mnt), 1, Ariana Roberts (Gis), 2, Mikayla Zandstra (Tauranga), 3

Heat two
Alexis Poulter (Piha), 1, Rosa Thompson (Auck), 2, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck), 3, Yjosina Barry (Rag), 4

Heat three
Sharnae Van Der Helder (Rag), 1, Erin Rush (Mnt), 2, India Wray Murane, (Muriwai), 3, Georgia Cooper (Piha), 4

U16 GIRLS Semi's
Heat one
Rosa Thompson (Auck), 1,Ariana Roberts (Gis), 2, Anna Hadfield (Mnt), 3

Heat two
Alexis Poulter (Piha), 1, Sharnae Van Der Helder (Rag), 2, Erin Rush (Mnt), 3

U16 GIRLS Grand Final
Alexis Poulter (Piha), 1, Ariana Roberts (Gis), 2, Rosa Thompson (Auck), 3, Sharnae Van Der Helder (Rag), 4

U14 BOYS Round 1

Heat one

Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 1, Haami Martin (Taharoa), 2, Peri Matenga (Mnt), 3

Heat two
Ben Poulter (Piha), 1, Mitchell Osullivan (Auck), 2, Louis Smith (Mangawhai), 3

Heat three
Mark Parthemore (Tara), 1, Reno Marriott (Gis), 2, Tyler Barry (Raglan), 3

Heat four
Alex Dive, (Tauranga), 1, Kahu Craig Te Ranga, (Waihi Bch), 2, Geordi Dearns (Dunedin), 3

Heat five
Damien Tafu (Piha), 1, Brad Pitcher (Whmata), 2, Cram (Whmata), 3

Heat six
Land'em Collier, (Gis), 1, Dylan Pidgeon (Auck), 2, Ben Bennett (Dun), 3

U14 BOYS 1/4's
Heat one
Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 1, Ben Poulter (Piha),2, Mitchell Osullivan (Auck), 3, Haami Martin (Taharoa), 4

Heat two
Alex Dive, (Tauranga) ,1, Reno Marriott (Gis), 2, Kahu Craig Te Ranga, (Waihi Bch), 3, Mark Parthemore (Tara), 4

Heat three
Land'em Collier, (Gis), 1, Brad Pitcher (Whmata), 2, Dylan Pidgeon (Auck), 3, Damien Tafu (Piha), 4

U14 BOYS Semi's
Heat one
Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 1, Reno Marriott (Gis), 2, Ben Poulter (Piha), 3

Heat two
Alex Dive, (Tauranga), 1, Land'em Collier, (Gis), 2, Brad Pitcher (Whmata), 3

U14 BOYS Grand Final
Karne Pitcher (Whmata), 1, Alex Dive, (Tauranga), 2, Land'em Collier (Gis), 3, Reno Marriott (Gis), 4

U14 Girls Semi's

Heat one

Alexis Poulter (Waihi Beach), 1, Georgia Cooper (Auck), 2, Ella Williams (Whmata), 3

Heat two

Rosa Thompson (Auck), 1, Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), 2, Renee Pearson, (Gis), 3

U14 Girls Grand Final
Alexis Poulter (Waihi Beach), 1, Georgia Cooper (Auck), 2, Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), 3, Rosa Thompson (Auck), 4

U12 BOYS Round 1

Heat one
Ben Poulter (Piha), 1, Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), 2, Fintan Cram (Whmata), 3

Heat two
Waretini Wano (Piha), 1, Brad Pitcher (Whmta), 2, Tunui Wano (Piha), 3, Samuel Poulter (Piha), 4

Heat three
Peri Matenga (Mnt), 1, Tom Shicker (Whmata), 2, Damien Tafu (Piha), 3, Joel Birt (Gis), 4

U12 BOYS Semi's
Heat one
Ben Poulter (Piha), 1, Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), 2, Brad Pitcher (Whmta), 3

Heat two
Peri Matenga (Mnt), 1, Waretini Wano (Piha), 2, Tom Shicker (Whmata), 3

U12 BOYS Grand Final
Ben Poulter (Piha), 1, Waretini Wano (Piha), 2, Kahu Craig Te Ranga (Waihi Bch), 3, Peri Matenga (Mnt), 4

U12 GIRLS Grand Final
Gabe Marriott (Wainui Bch), 1, Jayda Fitzharris (Gis), 2, Ella Williams (Whmata), 3

Surfing New Zealand are proudly partnered by

Lion Red
Vodafone
Hyundai
SPARC
Smokefree

Source: Surfing New Zealand

>> SURF NEWS INDEX <<