Surfing: Cherry wins waveskiing nationals

Christchurch surfer Tony Cherry cleaned up the New Zealand Open waveski surfing championships at Makorori Beach in Gisborne over the weekend, taking out both the senior and open finals.

Cherry had picked up his new board only two weeks ago but the former world top four finalist, and now eight-times national open champion, made the most of every wave in a slow, languid south swell.

The swell did not suit many surfers, including world No 1 Neil Decker, who struggled for the speed required for scoring manoeuvres .

After his victory, Cherry said his win came from keeping his wave count high and his scoring consistent, in case the decision needed a countback.

His return to the top ranks began last year after six years out of competition, finishing a narrow second on countback to Cronin in the 2004 championships.

At his best in the mid-1990s when he was second, third and fourth at the world titles, Cherry will look to continue his comeback at the invitational Waveski World Cup in Australia later this year.

Australian Decker admitted the ski he used to win his world crown was not suited to the smaller conditions and was beaten into third place behind elated Aucklander Brian Howard, who produced his best contest result.

Gisborne-based Australian Brett Cronin failed to defend his 2004 title, settling for fourth place.

Decker failed to make the senior division final , which Cherry took from Australian Darren Kearns, with Cronin third and Auckland's Brent Edwards fourth.

Contest director Steve Gibbs picked up his seventh title when he again won the masters division, ahead of Australian women's champion and world top-three surfer Jackie Dillon, with Michael Symons of Australia third and Gisborne's Mike Kapua fourth.

Australia's Graham Roberts won the veterans' title ahead of Gisborne's Denis McLean, Dave Conway and Ziggy Gorczynski.

- NZPA