Kiwi surfer second in Europe

Jay Quinn surfing at Piha. File photo / Glenn Jeffrey

New Zealand surfer Jay Quinn has finished second in a world surfing tour five-star event in England.

It was his career best finish on the tour but Gisborne's Quinn was left rueing Marc Larcomare's win in the final after the Frenchman snuck home with a high-scoring ride in the last minute of their contest at Fistral beach, Newquay.

Lacomare, 18, scored 8.2, just 0.23 more than he needed to pip Quinn's total.

Quinn felt himself unlucky as he tried to catch the same wave that eventually gave Lacomare his victory.

"I was just paddling out again and that right (wave) popped up and... I just didn't get it on that last wave which didn't hold up and closed out...," Quinn said.

" I'm happy because it's a career best result for myself and hopefully it will get me on a roll heading into the next five events."

Fellow New Zealander Billy Stairmand finished 17th.

- NZPA