Poulter Claims Series After Opponents Falter
For Immediate Release
4th December 2010
From: Surfing New Zealand
Sport: Junior Surfing
Event: Rip Curl GromSearch
Divisions: Boys and Girls Under 16, 14 and 12
Date: 4 - 5 December 2010
Location: Piha Beach, Auckland
Websites: Surfing New Zealand and Rip Curl
Poulter Claims Series After Opponents Falter
Ben Poulter (Raglan) took an unassailable ratings lead on day one of the Rip Curl GromSearch after moving through to the semifinals of the Under 16 Boys Division in pumping 1.5m waves on the bar at Piha Beach.
The swell pumped for much of the day with only light winds which allowed those who went for the big moves to score big results.
Poulter, in his last Rip Curl GromSearch event of his career, relished the chance to let loose in the big waves posting high scores in both his heats of 14.0 and 15.5 respectively. He now secures a minimum result of seventh equal which is enough to secure the year-end number one ranking after his two closest rivals, Patxi Scott – Arrieta (Sandy Bay) and Adam Grimson (Gis) lost their quarterfinal match ups.
“I didn’t know that, that is pretty cool” commented a shocked Poulter after exiting the water in regard to his ratings win. “It will be a little more relaxing going into semi tomorrow that’s for sure” added the burly natural footer.
“I want to try and win this comp because there is a trip to Aussie up for grabs and it is my last grom comp ever so yeah, I just want to win.”
Poulter was joined by Tane Wallis (Piha), Jules Craft (Gis) and Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata) as heat winners in the Under 16 Boys Division quarterfinals.
Moretti looked particularly impressive posting 12.20 out of a possible 20 points in his heat after tearing up his waves on his backhand with big powerful hooks in the pocket.
Craft was another surfer to enjoy the bigger waves on offer during day one of the Rip Curl GromSearch and surfed to an 11.0 point heat total on his forehand.
Despite some top seeds being eliminated, there were some exceptional performances by those surfers throughout the day. Noted barrel hunter Adam Grimson got a near perfect long barrel across the bar in his quarterfinal match up that netted him an 8.0 point ride. Waretini Wano (Piha) also pulled into some big barrels but unfortunately got clipped at the end of each wave and was unable to capitalise on his waves points-wise.
Earlier in the day the Under 16 Girls Division surfers got the chance to test the waters over the full tide. Top seeds Ella Williams (WGM) and Jayda Martin – Fitzharris (Gis) won their respective heats scoring 14.0 and 8.0 respectively with the other stand out being Gabriela Sansom (Auck) scoring an 11.0 point heat total to move through to the semifinals.
The Under 12 Boys also enjoyed the full tide conditions early in the morning with Waihi Beach surfer Taine Craig – Ranga dominating his opponents scoring 11.0 to win his heat and move through to the semifinals.
Late in the day the Under 14 Boys Division had to confront solid conditions on the bar which tested the boundaries of most with low scores prevailing throughout the heats. Local surfer Elliot Paerata – Reid performed the best winning his heat and scoring single wave scores of 7.75 and 3.25.
“I surfed three heats today and I am so tired now, I am going home to sleep” said a tuckered out Paerata - Reid. “I am really stoked to make the semis, the waves are really good, in fact they are pumping” he added.
Paerata – Reid knows the wave like the back of his hand so knew exactly how to surf through the different tides and what the judges were looking for when rewarding the big scores. “There were a few barrels out there but it was just the guys who went to bottom on the big waves that got the good scores, hopefully the waves are the same tomorrow.”
Dune Kennings (WGM) and Jordan Griffin (Mnt) also won their Under 14 Boys Division heats moving through to the final day of competition.
While not competing during the day the grommets were kept entertained playing the Shaun White gaming consoles, testing Power Balance wrist bands and sneaking all the giveaways from the Edge FM tent.
Please see below for results from day one of the Rip Curl GromSearch held at Piha Beach, Auckland today (Saturday 4th December).
Under 16 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Waretini Wano (Piha), 1, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 2, Joe Palmer (Kerikeri), 3, George Busby (Gis), 4
Heat 2
Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 1, Fintan Cram (Whmata), 2, Taylor Louie (Auck), 3, Gerard Needham (Coro), 4
Heat 3
Peri Matenga (Mnt), 1, Tane Wallis (Piha), 2, Eli MacDonald (Waitara), 3, Wade Kindred (Auck), 4
Heat 4
Ben Poulter (Rag), 1, Josh Kettle (Tara), 2, Toa Macdonald (Waitara), 3, Kahu Craig-Ranga (Waihi Bch), 4
Heat 5
Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 1, Adam Grimson (Gis), 2, Josh Taylor (Mnt), 3, Sam Aldrich (Tairua), 4
Heat 6
Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 1, Paul Moretti (Mimiwhangata), 2, Caleb Braithwaite (Whtane), 3, Blake Dovey (Mnt), 4
Heat 7
Patxi Scott-Arietta (Sandy Bay), 1, Jules Craft (Gis), 2, Sean Kettle (Tara), 3, Mahorahora McLeod (Waitara), 4
Heat 8
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 2, Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 3, Dillon Tarrant (Ham), N/S
Under 16 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Tane Wallis (Piha), 1, Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), 2, Waretini Wano (Piha), 3, Josh Kettle (Tara), 4
Heat 2
Ben Poulter (Rag), 1, Peri Matenga (Mnt), 2, Fintan Cram (Whmata), 3, Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 4
Heat 3
Jules Craft (Gis), 1, McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), 2, Levi Stewart (Waihi Bch), 3, Mackenzie Christie (Tau), 4
Heat 4
Paul Moreiti (Mimiwhangata), 1, Dune Kennings (Whmata), 2, Adam Grimson (Gis), 3, Patxi Scott-Arietta (Sandy Bay), 4
Under 16 Boys Semifinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Tane Wallis (Piha), Elliot Paerata - Reid (Piha), Ben Poulter (Rag), Peri Matenga (Mnt),
Heat 2
Jules Craft (Gis), McKenzie Bowden (Whmata), Paul Moreiti (Mimiwhangata), Dune Kennings (Whmata)
Under 14 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Mahorahora McLeod (Waitara), 1, Kehu Butler (Arataki), 2, Campbell Ivory, 3
Heat 2
Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Waitara), 1, Tane Bowden (Whmata), 2, Matt McGregor (Sandy Bay), 3
Heat 3
Mackenzie Bowden (Whmata), 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 2, Travis Morton (Waihi Bch), 3
Under 14 Boys Quarterfinals
Heat 1
Dune Kennings (Whmata), 1, Mahorahora McLeod (Waitara), 2, Caleb Braithwaite (Whtane), 3, George Busby (Gis), 4
Heat 2
Jordan Griffin (Mnt), 1, Kehu Butler (Arataki), 2, Toa MacDonald (Waitara), 3, Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 4
Heat 3
Korbin Hutchings (Gis), 1, Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Waitara), 2, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 3, Joe Palmer (Kerikeri), 4
Heat 4
Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha), 1, Mackenzie Bowden (Whmata), 2, Tane Bowden (Whmata), 3, Quinn Matenga (Mnt), 4
Under 14 Boys Semifinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Dune Kennings (Whmata), Mahorahora McLeod (Waitara), Jordan Griffin (Mnt), Kehu Butler (Arataki),
Heat 2
Korbin Hutchings (Gis), Te Rapai Barbarich Love (Waitara), Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha), Mackenzie Bowden (Whmata)
Under 12 Boys Round 1
Heat 1
Kehu Butler (Arataki), 1, Isaac Kettle (Tara), 2, Shane Kraus (Piha), 3, Toby Dobson – Smith (Piha), 4
Heat 2
Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), 1, Tane Bowden (Whmata), 2, Braedyn Louie (Piha), 3
Heat 3
Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), 1, Travis Morton (Waihi Bch), 2, Alex Shields, 3
Under 12 Boys Semifinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Manu Scott-Arrieta (Sandy Bay), Isaac Kettle (Tara), Tane Bowden (Whmata)
Heat 2
Taine Craig Ranga (Waihi Bch), Kehu Butler (Arataki), Travis Morton (Waihi Bch)
Under 16 Girls Round 1
Heat 1
Gabriela Sansom (Auck), 1, Britt Kindred (Muri), 2, Jasmine Smith (Gis), 3, Bianca Sansom (Auck), 4
Heat 2
Ella Williams (Whmata), 1, Milly Crew (Muri), 2, Dayna Story (Gis), 3
Heat 3
Hannah Kohn (Gis), 1, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), 2, Claudia Fraser (Auck), 3
Under 16 Girls Semifinals (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Ella Williams (Whmata), Britt Kindred (Muri), Milly Crew (Muri)
Heat 2
Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis), Gabriela Sansom (Auck), Claudia Fraser (Piha)
Under 14 Girls Round 1 (To be surfed on Sunday)
Heat 1
Gabriela Sansom (Auck), Bianca Sansom (Auck), Milly Crewe (Muri), Jasmine Smith (Gis)
Heat 2
Dayna Story (Gis), Hannah Kohn (Gis), Claudia Fraser (Auck), Britt Kindred (Muri)
Complete event write ups, results, surfer ratings, images and audio interviews from the event can be viewed at Surfing New Zealand.
Information
For more information on the Rip Curl GromSearch please contact Ben Kennings at Surfing New Zealand on 021 2278732 or email benkennings@surfingnz.co.nz. Alternatively contact Leon Parkin at Rip Curl on 021386473 or email lparkin@ripcurl.co.nz
Imagery
Web clips and newsfeeds will be distributed free of charge from the event. Please contact Ben Kennings for further details.
High resolution images will be available to media upon request. Images will be distributed free of charge courtesy of Kiwi Surf Magazine.
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