Gisborne Surfers Victorious At Piha

Gisborne surfers stormed to victory at the final event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge completed at Piha today (Sunday 27th February) taking three of the six divisions contested.

Adam Grimson and Jayda Martin - Fitzharris won their respective under 16 divisions in 1.5m waves on the Piha Bar. The two were also joined by Dayna Story who won the Under 14 Girls Division.

Despite the Gisborne wins from Grimson and Martin - Fitzharris, the series was won by Whangamata surfers Dune Kennings and Ella Williams, Kennings making it through to the semifinals before being eliminated by Grimson and runner up Sean Kettle (Tara). Williams placed runner up to Martin - Fitzharris in the Under 16 Girls Final.

The two Whangamata surfers were joined by Dayna Story, Quinn Matenga (Mnt) and Kehu Butler (Mnt) who all claimed series titles and now head to Billabong Occy Grom Comp in Australia in July as their prizes.

For Grimson it was a sweet victory that could not have come at a better time, the New Zealand Junior Surfing Team being named on Tuesday 1st March.

It was Grimson's first win at a national level. "I am real happy, that is the best I have done in a long time, ever in fact" said Grimson who found the waves much to his liking with the light onshore winds making perfect conditions for the goofy foot surfer to attack the lefthanders.

Grimson was pushed all the way by Sean Kettle who finished second to secure his best result of the year. The two surfers challenged each other three times at the event with Grimson coming out on top twice and most importantly in the final where everything was on the line.

Form surfer Mackenzie Christie (Mnt) made another final and placed third today ahead of fellow Mount Maunganui surfer Josh Taylor who also contested his second final of the year.

Jayda Martin - Fitzharris was equally as stoked to clinch her first win of the year over Ella Williams.

"Yeah, um… I can't really believe it. This is pretty much the best day ever" said Martin - Fitzharris. "I haven't had a good start to the year and yesterday I busted a fin out of my board but everything came together today" added Martin - Fitzharris who flies out to Australia tonight to witness the first ASP World Tour event of the year being held at Snapper Rocks in Queensland.

Placing third in the final was Milly Crewe (Mur) with double finalist Dayna Story in fourth.

Quin Matenga (Mnt) won the Under 14 Boys Division and in doing so took an unexpected come-from-behind series win. Matenga stole the low scoring final with an 8.5 point total heat score. Matenga defeated Kehu Butler (Mnt), Isaac Kettle (Tara) and Harrison Whiteside (Chch) in the final.

Dayna Story again dominated the Under 14 Girls Division winning her third straight event. This time Story was challenged by Milly Crewe (Mur) in the final but did enough for the win, Crewe placing second with Jenny Rockwell (Auck) in third and Britt Kindred (Mur) in fourth.

In the Under 12 Divisions it was Kehu Butler (Mnt) who took out the boys division and local first timer Asha Skidmore (Piha) winning the girls division.

Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge Results

Under 16 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1
Sean Kettle (Tara), 13.6, 1, Adam Grimson (Gis), 13.1, 2, Kahu Craig-Ranga (Waihi Bch), 9.85, 3, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 6.85, 4
Heat 2
Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 9.95, 1, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 9.4, 2, Waretini Wano (Piha), 8.9, 3, Matt Hansen (Mnt), 6.5, 4

Under 16 Boys Division Final

Adam Grimson (Gis), 12.85, 1, Sean Kettle (Tara), 10.6, 2, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 8.9, 3, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 7.1, 4

Under 14 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1
Quinn Matenga (Mnt), 11.5, 1, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 7.75, 2, Campbell Ivory (Hikuai), 4.85, 3, Taylor Hutchison (Rag), 4.85, 4
Heat 2
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 9.25, 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 8.75, 2, Blake Haven (Muri), 6.35, 3, Jack Wilson (ChCh), 3.05, 4

Under 14 Boys Final

Quinn Matenga (Mnt), 8.5, 1, Kehu Butler (Arataki), 6.5, 2, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 5.7, 3, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh), 5.55, 4

Under 12 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 15.8, 1, Kelly Haven (Mur), 2, 2, Braedyn Louie (Piha), 1.5, 3, Matt Newdick (Auck), N/S
Heat 2
Tane Bowden (Whmata), 12, 1, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 7.75, 2, Samuel Sands (ChCh), 6.3, 3, Toby Dobson Smith, 3.75, 4

Under 12 Boys Final

Kehu Butler (Arataki), 11.3, 1, Tane Bowden (Whmata), 8.15, 2, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 5.25, 3, Kelly Haven, 2.25, 4

Under 16 Girls Semifinals

Heat 1
Ella Williams (Whmata), 10.25, 1, Milly Crew (Mur), 4.4, 2, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 3.05, 3, Ella Spiers (Whmata), 2.5, 4
Heat 2
Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 10.25, 1, Dayna Story (Gis), 5.35, 2, Gabriella Sansom (Auck), 3.15, 3, Hannah Kohn (Gis), 2.65, 4

Under 16 Girls Final

Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 8.35, 1, Ella Williams (Whmata), 6, 2, Milly Crew (Mur), 3.95, 3, Dayna Story (Gis), 3.3, 4

Under 14 Girls Final

Dayna Story (Gis), 9.15, 1, Milly Crewe (Muri), 7.75, 2, Jenny Rockwell (Auck), 4.15, 3, Britt Kindred (Muri), 3.5, 4, Claudia Fraser (Auck), 2.65, 5

Under 12 Girls Semifinals

Heat 1
Asha Skidmore (Piha), 11, 1, Iritana Butler (Arataki), 6.25, 2, Maaia Bennett (Arataki), 4.45, 3, Teina Smith (Tau), 4.3, 4
Heat 2
Ella Jungwirth (Mnt), 11.5, 1, Kristen Fraser (Auck), 8.75, 2, Kea Smith (Tau), 6.6, 3, Treyarn Barbarich (Mt), 5.35, 4

Under 12 Girls Final

Asha Skidmore (Piha), 9.4, 1, Ella Jungwirth (Mnt), 8.25, 2, Iritana Butler (Arataki), 7.15, 3, Kristen Fraser (Auck), 5.55, 4

Under 16 Boys Division Top 5

1, Dune Kennings (Whmata)
2, Adam Grimson (Gis)
3, Sean Kettle (Tara)
4, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha)
5, Josh Taylor (Mnt)

Under 14 Boys Division Top 5

1, Quinn Matenga (Mnt)
2, Isaac Kettle (Tara)
3, Harrison Whiteside (ChCh)
4, Kehu Butler (Arataki)
5, Taylor Hutchison (Rag)

Under 12 Boys Top 5

1, Kehu Butler (Mnt)
2, Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch)
3, Tane Bowden (Whmata)
4, Luke Griffin (Mt)
5, Kelly Haven (Mur)

Under 16 Girls Top 5

1, Ella Williams (Whmata)
2, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis)
3, Hannah Kohn (Gis)
4, Bianca Sansom (Auck)
5, Gabriella Sansom (Auck)

Under 14 Girls Top 5

1, Dayna Story (Gis)
2, Milly Crewe (Muri)
3, Claudia Fraser (Auck)**
4, Britt Kindred (Muri)
5, Jasmine Smith (Gis)

Under 12 Girls Top 5

1, Gabrielle Paul (Auck)
2, Ella Jungwirth (Mnt)
3, Kristen Fraser (Auck)
4, Kea Smith (Tau)
5, Maia Bennett (Mnt)