Titahi Bay wrapped up the second round of the national surf boat series, as well as a spot in the New Zealand team, with a dominant performance in Whangamata today.
The national champions cruised home in the final, beating arch-rivals Mount Maunganui and Piha in the minor placings to win the right to represent their country at the upcoming International Surf Challenge in Mount Maunganui.
Such was comfortable nature of their win, sweep Paul McVicar was even allowed the hint of a broach on the final wave in, before he righted the boat’s course and won by several lengths.
"It was a disappointing note to finish on considering how well the boys rowed,” McVicar said. "They’re a good bunch and when they’re on their game, they’re hard to beat.”
After winning the first round of the series on their home beach, Titahi Bay only needed to emulate that result to win the New Zealand nomination.
Piha needed a dominant win to force a row-off, but hit a large wave on their way out in the final and that was all the break Titahi Bay needed.
The fast-rising Mount Maunganui crew had a flawless race to finish second, suggesting they’ll be a major factor in the final two rounds of the series, in Piha and Waihi Beach.
Mount’s top women crew completed a good day out for the Bay of Plenty club with a comfortable win in the female final, edging first-round winners Mairangi Bay when the North Shore crew broached coming in.
Piha Pirates forced a row-off in the under-23 grade with clubmates Piha Pirates, after both shared wins in the first two rounds, and the Shane O’Halloran-swept crew then won the decider. They will now row for the New Zealand development team at the International Challenge.
Whakatane won the under-21 women’s final from Rarangi and Piha, while Titahi Bay’s under-19 crew completed a dream day for the club by winning the under-19 men’s final.
Results from the second round of the national surf boat series in Whangamata today:
Men:
Open: Titahi Bay (Ben Ashby
Jamie Fitzgerald/Tim Marsden/Dean Ellis/Paul McVicar) 1, Mt Maunganui (Steve Rush/Richard Saunders/David Schumacher/Martin Wouters/Daniel Matuschka) 2, Piha (Matt Kirk/Craig Knox/Bruce O’Brien/Ben Scott/Mark Bourneville) 3.
Under-23: Piha Pirates (Logan Flutey
NicholasMacKenzie/Shamus O’Halloran/Jed Wright/Shane O’Halloran) 1, New Brighton Black (Ryan Bombay/Luke Hoddinott/Ian Jeffreys/Michael Lamb/Michael Kindred) 2, Paekakariki (Jono Boyd, Nick Boyd, Matt King, Steven Dickson) 3.
Under-19: Titahi Bay (Isaac Cleland
Jamie Devitt/Shane Ellis/Arwyn Evans/Wil McDowell) 1, Waihi (David Grant, Jack Kingsford, Luke Kingsford, Josh Williamson, Dan Harris) 2, Red Beach (Nik Lovick, Jayson Hogson, Liam Cunningham, Nic Teesdale, Mark Readman) 3.
Women:
Open: Mt Maunganui (Jessica Niederer, Isabella Obermiller
Megan Scott/Hannah Taylor/Chelan Graham/Daniel Matuschka) 1, Mairangi Bay (Rochelle Haden/Simone Johnson/Sarah Woolley/Rob Jones) 2, Titahi Bay (Zoe Canvin/Jessica Limbrick/Laura Travers-Jones/Lizzie Campbell/ Byron Malcolmson) 3.
Under-21: Whakatane (Christina Douglas
Carla Linton/Tara McAllister/Hannah McComb/Warren McGougan) 1, Rarangi (Brigit Hart/Taylor Rogers/Ellen Taylor-Byrne/Danielle Sutherland/Neil Watts) 2, Piha Coladas (Audrey-Lisa Bourneville/Claudia Goff/Alice Rasmussen/Phil Mason) 3.
