NEW KIWI SURF CHAMP

8 March 2000

Ainsley Gunness won the Sunsmart Pulsate Women's Surfing Champs at Mt Maunganui last Sunday, taking her first NZ circuit title.  In clean 1-metre waves, much improved from Saturday, finals of four divisions were held at Tay Street, Mt Maunganui, in the 3A-rated Surfing NZ Pro Series event.

In a final dominated by Gisborne surfers, Gunness started strongly and led throughout the 25-minute heat. Ainsley has been on the NZ Junior team for more than five years, but had not won a Pro Series event before, despite numerous national junior titles. After her win, Ainsley commented on the great atmosphere of the sole women's-only event on the New Zealand calendar

Placing second behind Gunness was Holly Quinn , who now takes the lead in the Surfing NZ Pro Series ratings. Holly was in fourth place for much of the final but two strong waves in the dying stages of the heat propelled her into second. Amber Dunn started well but was later pushed into third by Quinn.  Kylie Milek was the only finalist not from Gisborne, the Raglan surfer placing fourth.

The Surfing NZ Pro Series continues in two weeks with the Hot Tuna/O&E/Highway 45 Surfing NZ Pro in Taranaki. The Zespri Lifestyles Festival of Tauranga continues throughout the month of March.  Follow all the action with http://www.boarderzone.com