Kiwis down Aussies to retain Tasman Cup

A spirited Australian team’s valiant effort fell short in their bid to take the Tasman Cup from the New Zealanders at the Dreamtime Opunake Kneelo Surfing Classic, held over Labour Weekend.

Only eight points separated the sides at the end, which was enough for the Kiwis to keep their hands on the title for another year.

The Cup event, last contested 15 years ago, was held at Opunake’s Arawhata Road.

The two teams consisting of four surfers each revelled in the two-metre conditions.

Australia put up a great fight but with the withdrawal of top surfer Baden

Smith due to work commitments it was going to be tough against the in-form Kiwis.

Gary Sawyer, Weir Halswall and Lachy Stevens took on the peaks and though the Australian team surfed well, the home riders gained the points they needed.

❏ Kneelo surfers from Australia and Tahiti were in attendance, with kneeboarders coming from around New Zealand and Australia to compete in this popular annual event, with numbers being up on previous years.

This year’s Kneelo Classic was held in excellent conditions with day one being run in clean conditions just over a metre in size at Fitzroy Beach New Plymouth.

The women’s final included two on trial for inclusion in the New Zealand team to attend the World Titles in Somo, Spain, next year.

Casey Stevens took the women’s division from up and coming junior, 16-yearold Julia Phillips of Opunake. Both were later confirmed in the New Zealand team to compete in Spain.

❏ In the Search Ratahi Memorial Open, Kelvin Weir, Sawyer, Lachy Stevens and Chris Halswall pushed the pace over their fellow competitors.

Sawyer wasted no time in pushing the limits and showed the skills that took him to national honours previously.

The other surfers showed competitive skills but the finals came down to current national champion Weir, Sawyer, Lachy Stevens and Halswall.

All surfers scored high on the clean punchy waves on offer. Weir used his strength and powerful cut backs that gave him high sevens but could not find a decent second wave, it went to the wire and was close.

In the last two minutes, Sawyer ripped into a clean left that coupled with his first wave gave him the judge’s nod in a great final.