Barnfield Snatches Tour After Unexpected Win By Johnson An unexpected event victory by unheralded Gisborne surfer Sam Johnson handed Dylan Barnfield (Ohope) the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour title on an action packed final day of the fifth and final event held at Port Waikato this weekend (26-27 March). The surf ranged between 1.5m 2.0m on the final day with onshore winds persisting making conditions challenging but highly surfable with long lefthanders up for grabs. Johnson answered all of Barnfields prayers on the final day after Barnfield was ousted in the quarterfinals leaving the door slightly ajar for his three closest rivals Thomas Kibblewhite (Auck), Daniel Procter (Gis) and Owen Barnes (Mnt). The door quickly shut on Procter who fell in the semifinals leaving Kibblewhite and Barnes the tough task of winning the event to claim the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour. Barnes looked to have risen to the task racing out to a big lead in the 20 minute final with two rides of 8.00 and 6.40 early on. His three opponents also had at least one good scoring ride, Kibblewhite an 8.0, Johnson a 6.85 and Jackso! n Winter (Aus) a 4.75. However, it was Johnson with a series of big turns and a wave that almost finished on the beach that netted an 8.15. The score was good enough to elevate him to first equal ! with Barnes but as Johnson had the highest single scoring ride (8.15 compared with Barnes 8.0), that was enough for the victory on a count back. The tight nature of the final had pressure written all over the finalists faces at the prize giving. As the winner was announced the despair on Barnes face was evident as he stood beside a shell shocked Johnson who was speechless. To cap it off the huge crowd erupted around Barnfield once they realised that the seemingly distant chance of holding down his ratings lead was now a reality. Daisy Thomas (Chch) won her third event of the year in the Open Womens Division to retain her Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour title which she has held since 2008. In a l! ow scoring affair, Thomas outpointed her closest rival Mischa Davis (Piha) who finished second ahead of Cheryl Lowe (Mnt) in third and Kirstie Thomsen in fourth. The lone Australian stole the show in the Junior Mens Division with the highest heat score of the final day 17.0 out of a possible 20. Jackson Winter (Noose Heads) was stylish in his approach to the waves with big forehand carves and slick traditional elements. Winter netted a 9.50 on his first scoring ride and backed that up with a 7.50. Hone Douglas (Ohope) left his run late finishing second but scoring 8.25 on his last wave to come within a one wave total of Winter. Dunedin surfer Jae Kilgour finished in third place ahead of Gisbornes Charlie Browne in fourth. Winters win saw him convincingly take out the Hyundai Pro Longboard Tour ratings. The finalists in the Over 40 Mens Division ran out of puff in their season climax heat. It was David Storck (Auck) with the lone good scoring ride of 7.50 points that nudged him in front of his opponents. Storck finished with a low 8.25 point heat total which was enough to secure his first win in the division this year and elevate him to second on the ratings behind Grant Cochrane (Chch). Cochrane placed second in the Port Waikato final ahead of his Christchurch counterparts Gavin Neal in third and Stephen Tyro in fourth. Lynden Kennings (WGM) took his second Starboard Stand Up Paddleboard win in a row but it was not enough to topple Tour winner Shayne Baxter (Chch) who placed third in todays final. Kennings sat in second place throughout the final lacking a good scoring wave. Late in the heat he caught a wave the length of the break t! o post a 7.0 point ride for the win. Second place went to Damon Mark (Auck) who was in the same position as Kennings with a 6.75 and nothing substantial for his second ride only requiring a 5.51 for the win. Shayne Baxter finished in third place ahead of Shane Murrell (A
