Crew bounce back on short course

Henderson Demolition driver Zane Randle and co-driver David Hamilton made up for a dismal national endurance race to come back and win overall at the fifth round of the Thundercats Surf Cross Racing at Waipu Cove.

Randle started dominantly in Saturday's endurance race - the second round of the endurance series - which began at Takapuna Beach in Auckland and travelled 100km north, finishing at Waipu Cove. "Saturday was a bone of contention for me ... I didn't finish the race as I struck problems with my 'prop' around Kawau," Randle said.

However, he put Saturday's experience well behind him yesterday, when he and Hamilton won the Surf Cross event which thrilled spectators lining Waipu Cove Beach.

It was the second victory in the series for the Auckland crew - they also won round one at Whangamata.

"It was really flat out there today ... we usually like it when the swell is bigger - but we have Piha coming up in two weeks, so that should be good," Randle said.

Henderson Demolition will be trying to repeat their win in round six, at Piha on February 11.

Randle added that because there was little surf, each craft had to get off the mark quickly to perform well in the heats. Their closest rival in the 15-strong field was Smuggler Marine, who had Chris Wells and Logan Pringle on board. They experienced mechanical problems during early heats, but struck back in the final.

"Smuggler actually beat us in the final. We both got off to a very good start and they pipped us at the end," Randle said.

Henderson Demolition were second in the final, with Incon Automation third. Incon Automation won Saturday's endurance race, with Smuggler Marine second and Quin Building (Ben Cross and Mike Harman) third.