Dunedin competitors claim two titles

Two Dunedin surfers claimed titles on a blustery day at St Clair Beach yesterday.

Tash Civil and Richard Ayson both emerged victorious at the South Island Surfing Championships.

Civil claimed the senior women’s title with a score of 11.8, well ahead of second-placed Jane Schofield, who is also from Dunedin.

Ayson scored 14.3 to take victory in the men’s over-50 grade, beating second-placed Mac Wilson’s 11.3.

The championships attracted about 160 competitors from around the country and there was plenty of quality throughout the field.

Taranaki’s Jarred Hancox claimed the open men’s title with a score of 14.6.

He just edged Christchurch’s Max Marshall and Taranaki’s Daniel Farr, who finished second and third respectively.

Saffi Vette, of Gisborne, won the open women’s grade with a score of 11.4.

She beat Sarah Gouldsbury (Taranaki).

Other winners were James Millar (Christchurch) and Natasha Gouldsbury (Levin) in the under-18 men’s and women’s grades.

In the under-16 grades, Ava Henderson (Christchurch) and Tao Mouldey (Mount Maunganui) won the boys and girls grades.

Chloe Groube won the under-14 girls grade, while Benji Lowen and Lola Groube won the under-12 titles.

Zen Wallis and Gabi Paul won the men’s and women’s longboard titles, while Reuben Woods and Sean Peggs won the over-40 and over-30 grades.