BOTCHER, SMITH & SMITH WIN HUTCHISON HANDCRAFTED PRO. WARWICK WRIGHT WINS PST.

Durban's Lyle Botcher claimed the Open Men's division title at the Hutchison Handcrafted Pro held at Surfer's Point Ballito. Botcher, who lay in second place behind Gavin Roberts (Scott) for most of the final, snuck into first place in the dying minutes when he caught a shore break wave that allowed him to cram a handful of lightening fast manoeuvres before the wave rolled onto the sand.

I was kind of lucky at the end there because I still needed a good wave, said Botcher after the prize giving ceremony, Luckily I caught that small wave with less than two minutes to go and did as much as I could right onto the sand.

Botcher pocketed R4000 for his efforts as well as a hand-carved trophy for his victory. Finishing in second was Scottburghs Gavin Roberts with Shane Warren (Bluff) and Warwick Wright (DBN) finishing in third and fourth respectively.

Wright's fourth place finish sealed an emphatic victory in the 2006 ASP Africa Professional Surf Tour rankings. The victory, his first, was a hard fought one and a just reward after an exceptional 2006 season.

I'm stoked to be the ASP Africa champ, said Wright, it'll give me a lot of confidence for next year as well as giving me a wildcard into the two biggest events.

Wrights victory was a major leap for him on the Professional Surf Tour as he has struggled in the past few years to make any headway in the highly competitive circuit.

Before this year, I've never even made the top 14 on the PST before, and its great to have your name up there with all the other South African surfing legends.

Wright, who had the title all but sealed at the halfway stage of the tour, was made to work hard for his win after a strong late charge from the likes of Frankie Oberholzer (Warner Beach) Ricky Basnett (Bluff) and Jordy Smith (DBN).

Smith, who was on fire throughout the event, finished in the top spot of the highly competitive Pro Junior Division after he demolished his opposition in the final. Smith's mixture of style and power saw him record one of the highest heat scores of the event to leave his competitors needing a combination of scores to topple him from the top spot.

Smith, who has had a breakthrough year on both the local and international surf scenes, added to his impressive list of accomplishments, which include a victory at the ISA World Surfing Games, by comfortably winning the PST Pro Junior ratings race.

Smith's closest competitor, Klee Strachan (Warner Beach), finished in second place ahead of the winner of Zigzag's Blowing Up Award, Shawn Dennis (DBN).

Dennis was awarded the prestigious hand grenade trophy and a thousand bucks for his excellent performance throughout the event, which saw him reach the quarter finals of the Open Men's Division as well as a well earned third spot in the Pro Juniors.

In the Women's Division, local girl Tammy-Lee Smith (Salt Rock), used her knowledge of her home break to take the top honours. Smith, who lives in Salt Rock, looked at home in her back garden as she managed to link up some high scoring rides from the backline through to the shore break.

Finishing in second place was East London's Nikita Robb, followed by Nicole Annells (DBN) and Danielle LeRoux (DBN) in fourth position.

The winner of the Retro Expression Session was Lee Bisset (DBN) who displayed style and grace on his Hutchison Handcrafted twin-fin rocket. Bisset was rewarded R1000 voucher from Groundswell Surf shop for his efforts as well as a weekend away for four at the Cane Cutters Resort.

Final Results:

Men's Open.
1. Lyle Botcher. (DBN)
2. Gavin Roberts. (Scott)
3. Shane Warren. (Bluff)
4. Warwick Wright. (DBN)

Pro Junior.
1. Jordan Smith. (DBN)
2. Klee Strachan. (WNR)
3. Shawn Dennis. (DBN)
4. Brandon Roberts. (CT) 

Women's.
1. Tammy-Lee Smith. (Salt Rock)
2. Nikita Robb. (EL)
3. Nicole Annells. (DBN)
4. Danielle LeRoux. (DBN)

A big thank you to everyone who made the event possible and to Nando's for supplying lunches to judges and officials.

The Hutchison Handcrafted Pro is the final stop of the 2006 Professional Surf Tour (PST) and is a Surfing South Africa (SSA) sanctioned event.

The Hutchison Handcrafted Pro is proudly supported by: Groundswell Surf Shop, Bedboys Ballito, Furnishings by Conrad, Friendly Supermarket, Sailors Bottle Store, Dream Nails, U Investing in Health, Secret Spot.

The revamped SubZero nightclub is the official party host for the event.

All event related queries should be directed to Bernice Hutchison at Hutchison Handcrafted Surfboards.

Please direct all media enquiries to Brendon Thomas on the contact details provided.

Distributed on Behalf of Hutchison Handcrafted Surfboards.
Bernice Hutchison
Tel: (083) 4096286
Mail: bernice@hh-surfboards.com
Web: www.hh-surfboards.com

Distributed By: Brendon Thomas.
Hutchison Handcrafted Pro Media.
Tel: 076 778 7507
Mail: hutchisonpro@gmail.com

Ballito, KZN North Coast (Dolphin Coast) – South Africa 14 - 15 May, 2005

Basnett Wins Explosive Final in Ballito

Ricky Basnett (Bluff) surfed exceptionally well to win the Pro Men’s title in the explosive Hutchison Handcrafted Pro final at Ballito on KZN’s north coast at the weekend. Sarah Johnston (Warner Beach) and Rudy Palmboom (Bluff) outclassed their opponents to claim the Pro Women and Pro Junior Men titles respectively. Surf conditions remained in the 1 to 1.5-metre range with peculiar variable winds providing tricky, unpredictable waves. The 1A rated Pro Men’s final was billed as one of the most exciting seen all year on the PST. 4 star ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) event winner David Weare (Dbn) was quick off the mark executing a fluid cutback into 360 combination and looked set to dominate. Luke Patterson (Dbn) who is better known for his free surfing was the next to shine with some progressive manoeuvres like tail slides on smaller waves. Midway through the showdown, following some less than remarkable rides, Basnett came alive boosting the event’s biggest aerial which earned him 9 out of a possible 10 points. The Bluff surfer came into his own raising the bar even higher with another air scoring 8.5 out of a possible 10 which set the tone for the remainder. Weare took the bait replying with 8.6-points for a stylish aerial to place second. Currently lying second on the 2005 PST ratings, Matt Kruger (Queensburgh), packed in as many turns as possible to finish fourth with Patterson in third.

Johnston who has been knocking on the door as runner up a couple of times in 2005 surfed to a well earned victory with calculated, clean moves and excellent wave selection. Former U20 SA Champ Rosanne Hodge (EL) was on Johnston’s heels finishing in second place. Recently crowned South African Champion Tamarys de Maroussem (Westbrook) placed third ahead of local star Tammy Smith (Ballito) who enjoyed being in her maiden PST final.

“I’m really stoked about my win; I found the waves here to be similar to my home break Warner Beach. I think I felt the pressure because my sponsor Lizzy warned me that if I didn’t win I would have to buy them a big cake so I guess it shows that I really like cake,” joked Johnston who was thrilled to notch up the second PST victory of her career.

Palmboom took a firm grasp of the lead from the outset of the Pro Junior Men’s final to finish streaks ahead of his peers with his trademark style. U20 Boys SA Champion Rory Beach (Queensburgh) took the runner up slot ahead of Brandon Jackson (Dbn North) who sneaked in a tube ride to take third away from talented East Londoner Keegan Nel.

The “PG Glass Expression Session” turned into a serious affair which boiled down to a tussle between Shane Warren (Bluff) and Antonio Bortoletto (Dbn). The pair had a run in with each other during the Pro Men’s semi-final earlier in the afternoon which saw Warren penalised with an interference call. Warren’s aerial outscored Bortoletto’s and he walked off with a voucher for a brand new custom shaped Hutchison Handcrafted surfboard.

Brandon Jackson (Dbn North) clinched victory in the “Flying Fish” Retro contest to scoop a brand new front loader CD Player from Unreal Audio and Security. Luke Patterson (Dbn) was thrilled to win a set of Jensen speakers from the same sponsor for second place.

David Weare (Dbn) was singled out by the Atoll Media crew as the most deserving of the Zig Zag Blowing Up Award (R1000) for laying claim to some of the highest scores of the contest en route to the final.

Deputy Mayor of the KwaDukuza Municipality Veli Luthuli attended the prize giving as well as Saturday’s Surfing South Africa (SSA) surfing clinic which was hosted by the Zululand Surfing Association. Surfers were fuelled by Mad Buzz energy drink, the official sponsors of the athletes’ refreshments.

Hutchison Handcrafted would like to thank the north coast community for their support of the event, in particular Groundswell Surf Shop, PG Glass Ballito, Unreal Audio & Security, Coastal Tool & Hire, Al Pescatore Restaurant, Dolphin Coast Aqua, Thome Guards, Timber Trends, SAB Millers, Canon North Coast, Franki Bananaz, Nandos Ballito, Spar Lifestyle, Pick ‘n Pay Ballito, Friendly Grocer Boulevard Centre and DJ Marc.

Hutchison Handcrafted Pro 2005 Final Results:

Pro Men:

1. Ricky Basnett (Bluff)
2. David Weare (Dbn)
3. Luke Patterson (Dbn)
4. Matthew Kruger (Queensburgh)

Pro Women:

1. Sarah Johnston (Warner Beach)
2. Rosanne Hodge (EL)
3. Tamarys de Maroussem (Westbrook)
4. Tammy Smith (Ballito)

Pro Junior Men:

1. Rudy Palmboom (Bluff)
2. Rory Beach (Queensburgh)
3. Brandon Jackson (Dbn North)
4. Keegan Nel (EL)

PG Glass Expression Session:

1. Shane Warren (Bluff)
2. Antonio Bortoletto (Dbn)
3. Luke Patterson (Dbn)

“Flying Fish” Retro Event:

1. Brandon Jackson (Dbn North)

2. Luke Patterson (Dbn)

Zig Zag Blowing Up Award (R1 000):

David Weare (Dbn)