After much deliberating to find the best contestable wave, the 13th Annual Canterbury Women’s Surf Champs remained at New Brighton Beach yesterday. A hot sunny day with a packed beach, the comp ran its course over approximately 6 hours. 2ft clean surf in light winds, the girls all enjoyed their heats and semis, and finals.

Order of events had the Under 12 division – Teenie Wahines up first, then Juniors, Seniors, Longboard followed by Open divisions. With several girls in multiple divisions, the finalists began to emerge.

There were plenty of standout performances. The crowd watched as 10 year old Ava Henderson surfed her way to winning the Teenie Wahines, and finalist in Junior divisions. As Tegen Bishop also surfed back to back semis and finals to win the Junior division, and finalist in Open divisions. And as Sumner beauties Nina Young, Brittany Andrews and Lucy Johnson gracefully cross stepped through their heats and semis to the longboard final taking out 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Lucy Te Moananui (nee Hodgson) from Kaikoura Boardriders carved her way through to win Seniors division. And Estella Hungerford for being the first Open Women’s winner of the Canterbury Women’s Surf Champs in some years as the trophy has been tossed back and forth between our previous winners Alethea Lock and Kristi Zarifeh.

A great day had by all, huge thanks to all who made it possible.

Results below

Teenie Wahines

1st Ava Henderson

2nd Lily Robertson

3rd Sophia Cullen

4th Holly Campbell

Juniors

1st Tegen Bishop

2nd Ava Henderson

3rd Janee Armstrong

4th Ashley Cullen

Seniors

1st Lucy Te Moananui

2nd Sarah Armstrong-Park

3rd Brooke Frew

4th Julie Sparrow

Longboard

1st Nina Young

2nd Brittany Andrews

3rd Lucy Johnson

4th Katherine Edyvean

Open

1st Estella Hungerford

2nd Janee Armstrong

3rd Tegen Bishop

4th Fritha Davis