Bleak conditions for surf event

HEATH MELVILLE

LOCAL TALENT: Sam Dunfoy boosts a huge aerial.

HEATH MELVILLE

STYLISH: Kaikoura's Nash Robertson impressed judges with stylish layback turns.

Relevant offers

Kaikoura

Appeal to aid widow and children Restricted test to move Get moving towards your gym goals Lions Club thank clock designer Voices will soon soar with Wilma Rainforest privations strengthen James eager for games Join watch group, help police Faster broadband; but only in town Golden guitar winner to play again

The O'Neill Coldwater Classic surf competition certainly lived up to its name this year with competitors braving snow, sleet, hail and bitterly cold winds to take part in the three day annual event.

Surfers and onlookers braved extreme wintry weather for Sunday's finals which saw a high of just 6 degrees Celcius all day and snow settling down to almost sea level.

Despite the polar blast, the event attracted a good crowd and surf conditions were ideal, with two metre waves at Meatworks for the first two days.

The final was held in slightly smaller waves at a freezing Mangamaunu on Sunday.

Kaikoura's local surfing talent did well to secure a number of placings, with the Hydro Surf/FCS Masters final almost entirely a Kaikoura event.

Dave Lyons took out the title with an impressive lead of seven points over Richard Baxter, and Matt McCrory came in fourth place, behind the only visitor, Sumner's Neil Robb, in third.

Alan Te Moananui won the O'Neill seniors' competition, with Aaron Surgenor coming in fourth.

In the Board Silly/Mt Lyford junior women's competition, Kaikoura's Haley Baxter was pipped at the post by Sumner's Alethea Lock. Sumner's Kristi Zarifeh placed third, less than one point behind Baxter.

The O'Neill open men's competition was also a tight race, local Levi O'Connor taking the title by just 0.03 points ahead of Westport's Anthony Hema, with Kaikoura's Dave Lyons coming in fourth.

WINNER: Dave Lyons with an early morning backhand gouge.

Full results of the O'Neill Coldwater Classic surf competition held at Kaikoura during Queen's Birthday Weekend:
The Whaler GRAND MASTERS: John Roussey North Wai 13.17 pts 1, Neil Robb Sumner 9.23 pts 2, Glenn Shuker New Brighton 9.13 pts 3.
Encounter Kaikoura CADETS: Tom Bracegirdle Dunedin 11.50pts 1, Sam Courtney Kaiapoi 11.17 pts 2, Cody Mccusker Kaiapoi 9.57 pts 3.
O'Neill SENIORS: Alan Te Moananui Kaikoura 12.97 pts 1, Hayden Brain New Brighton 11.97 pts 2, Tom Entwisle Sumner 11.47 pts 3.
Board Silly / Mt Lyford JUNIOR WOMENS: Alethea Lock Sumner 7.20 pts 1, Haley Baxter Kaikoura 5.33 pts 2, Kristi Zarifeh Sumner 4.43 pts 3.
O'Neill OPEN MENS: Levi O'Connor Kaikoura 12.70 pts 1, Anthony Hema Westport 12.67 pts 2, Tom Entwisle Sumner 9.83 pts 3.
McCrory Plumbing LONGBOARDING: Le Roy Rust Dunedin 12.7 pts 1, Shayne Baxter New Brighton 11.9 pts 2, Dan Warren New Brighton 10.33 pts 3.
R & R Sport Junior: Jimmy Crooks Dunedin 12.10 pts 1, Sam Courtney Kaiapoi 10.33 pts 2, Ben Bennett Dunedin 9.83 pts 3.
Hydro Surf / FCS MASTERS: Dave Lyons Kaikoura 16.83 pts 1, Richard Baxter Kaikoura 9.97 pts 2, Neil Robb Sumner 8.20 pts 3.
Southern Paua and Surge Surfboards WOMENS OPEN: Hayley Coakes Dunedin 8.67 pts 1, Alethea Lock Sumner 4.13 pts 2, Haley Baxter Kaikoura 2.10 pts 3.
O'Neill OPEN MENS: Levi O'Connor Kaikoura 12.70 pts 1, Anthony Hema Westport 12.67 pts 2, Tom Entwisle Sumner 9.83 pts 3.
McCrory Plumbing LONGBOARDING: Le Roy Rust Dunedin 12.7 pts 1, Shayne Baxter New Brighton 11.9 pts 2, Dan Warren New Brighton 10.33 pts 3.
R & R Sport Junior: Jimmy Crooks Dunedin 12.10 pts 1, Sam Courtney Kaiapoi 10.33 pts 2, Ben Bennett Dunedin 9.83 pts 3.
Hydro Surf / FCS MASTERS: Dave Lyons Kaikoura 16.83 pts 1, Richard Baxter Kaikoura 9.97 pts 2, Neil Robb Sumner 8.20 pts 3.
Southern Paua and Surge Surfboards WOMENS OPEN: Hayley Coakes Dunedin 8.67 pts 1, Alethea Lock Sumner 4.13 pts 2, Haley Baxter Kaikoura 2.10 pts 3.

- The Marlborough Express