Surfers aiming higher for future comps

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Local surfers have been busy on the school competition circuit as part of the Northland representative team. Mangawhai’s Cory Vercoe placed 7th in the NZ Primary School Championships held recently in Gisborne.

Cory is a Year 8 student at Mangawhai Beach School and has been competing regularly in national events. He narrowly missed out on making the finals in Gisborne this year. Cory was joined at the SNZ Primary Schools event by fellow Mangawhai surfers Jake Buckle, Taj Robinson and Luke Vercoe. Following the Primary School event, the Northland surfing team took part in the 2015 Surfing NZ National Scholastics Surfing Championships.

There were four lower north surfers in the team including Joseph Critchfield (Mangawhai) Jack Bennett (Mangawhai), Tom Norton (Langs Beach) and Matthew Jensen (One Tree Point).

All four surfers are part of the Surf Dojo training programme in Mangawhai, run by Northland team manager Tony Baker. Individual results for the locals were under-16 boys, Tom Norton 17th; Joseph Critchfield 17th; under-18 boys, Matthew Jensen 19th. Leading the overall team competition after the first two days, Northland dropped to 7th overall out of 12 regions with the highest placed surfer Billie Scott fourth in the under-16 girls finals.

The Maungaturoto Bowling Club recently held its annual Heatley memorial tournament. Both greens were full with 32 teams of fours taking part. Twelve neighboring clubs were represented. The main sponsor was Yovich and Co wealth manager and investment advisors, supported by Manukau Wools and I.C. Motor Group.

The overall winner was a Mangawhai team composed of D Robinson, J Wilson, S Epsom and G Muligan. The runner-ups were a composite team of W Wrack, D Lawrence, G Lawrence and K Robinson. The second leg of our big double, the Christmas Fours, will be held on December 17. We welcome all participants. - Ron McCallum, tournament manager

NORTHLAND TEAM: Back row: Tom Norton, Joseph Critchfield, Jack Bennet, Grace Pevats, Tony Baker (manager), Jason Ruddell (coach), Billie Scott, Tom Parker, Oscar Harper, Max Brunker. Front, Kalani Hansen, Jamahl Moselen, Sergio Hansen, Kohl Mase. (PHOTO/ Jason Ruddell)