Top ten fi nish for Northland surfers

 

Matt McGregor, Kamo High School, and Rhiannon Fyfe, Whangarei Girls High, were the highest placed surfers in the recent 2014 Surfing NZ National Scholastic Championships held in New Plymouth at the beginning of the month.

McGregor surfed into a career best 5th place in the hotly contested under 18 boys division, taking down a few top surfers on the way.

The electric goofy footer dominated the early rounds, and came just short in the semi-finals requiring a decent back-up score that would have seen him make a finals appearance.

Fyfe also dominated her early ex-changes in the under 16 girls division but departed the event in the semi-finals. She placed 7th.

Rodney College student Joseph Critchfield placed 9th in the under 14 boys division.

The event also saw another stellar performance from the Hansen Brothers, with younger brother Kalani Hansen, Kaitaia College, placing 9th in the under 16 boys division.

“The team surfed with spirit and for many this was their first time compet-ing at a national event,” said Northland surfing team manager Tony Baker.

“Overall the coaching staff were very pleased with the result in Taranaki, and the future looks very bright with some strong up-and-coming surfers in Northland.”

The team placed 7th overall out of 9 teams that were competing at the event.

SURF TEAM: Front Kalani Hansen, Zane Hicks (co-captain), Matt McGregor (co-captain), Jamahl Moselen, Joseph Critchfi eld. MiddleBillie Scott, Rhiannon Fyfe, Emily Brunker, Tom Norton. Back Jason Ruddell (coach), Kohl Mase, Sergio Hansen, Matt Jensen, Tony Baker (manager) Luca Mase. –PHOTO/Jason Ruddell

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