Finalists of the Under 14 and Under 12 Boys Divisions were found at the Rip Curl GromSearch held at Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth, on Saturday.

Photo: file.

Clean little waves under the 1.0m mark rolled through the line up at Fitzroy Beach, only enough for the younger divisions to be contested leaving a big day ahead for the Under 17 Boys and Girls on Sunday.

Despite the small conditions the groms posted some big heat totals including Dylan Preston (WGM) who top scored for the day with 16.0 out of a possible 20 points to advance through to the final of the Under 14 Boys Division.

'It was real small today so it was hard but in my second heat I sat away from the pack, good some good waves and got that good heat total” said Preston.

'Heaps of the guys were surfing well today though like Luke Griffin (Mnt) and Caleb Cutmore (Ham) who I will surf against in the final tomorrow. Taylor O'Leary was surfing well too but he got knocked out of my heat” added Preston of his opponents.

William Van Der Beek (Mnt) will also contest the final of the Under 14 Boys Division tomorrow as he looks to climb up from his current ranking of eighth.

Several dominant performances highlighted the Under 12 Boys Division at the event with local Oakura surfer Tom Butland relishing the chance to surf at home and also in an age group lower than the usual Under 14 Boys Division that he contests.

Butland posted the highest heat score of the division, 15.0 out of 20 points to advance through to the finals. Butland will be joined by two surfers that he meets at most events around the country in Tom Robinson (Whangarei) and James Ririnui (Mnt) as well as Jai Oakley (Chch).

Oakley has made his way up to the event with a strong contingent of surfers from his local boardriders club. Oakley progressed through two rounds today and will hope to draw inspiration off the likes of Jack Wilson and Harrison Whiteside who have been securing great results throughout the summer of events.

While the surfers competing in the Under 17 Divisions did not surf today, they will be back in action early on Sunday and will be sure to come out swinging in a bid to claim the title and ticket to Brazil for the International Rip Curl GromSearch Final in less than two months time.

Action on Sunday will take place from 7:30am to 4pm at Fitzroy Beach.

*Entry into the international Rip Curl GromSearch final is for New Zealand citizens only.

See below for results from day one of the Rip Curl GromSearch held at Fitzroy Beach, New Plymouth today (Saturday 21^st March).

Under 14 Boys Round 1

Heat 1

Thomas Carter (Waihi Bch), 9.27, 1, William Van Der Beek (Mnt), 8.23, 2, Lucca Lind (Tara), 6.63, 3, Sam Dingle (Tara), 4.07, 4

Heat 2

Dylan Preston (Whmata), 11.7, 1, Taylor O'Leary (Mur), 10.7, 2, Max Brunker (Whangarei), 9.4, 3

Heat 3

Luke Griffin (Mnt), 10.3, 1, Caleb Cutmore (Ham), 7.13, 2, Rory Goodchap (TGA), 5.43, 3, Oscar Taylor (Tara), N/S

Under 14 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1

Dylan Preston (Whmata), 16.4, 1, William Van Der Beek (Mnt), 8.27, 2, Taylor O'Leary (Mur), 8.1, 3

Heat 2 Luke Griffin (Mnt), 11.7, 1, Caleb Cutmore (Ham), 11.7, 2, Thomas Carter (Waihi Bch), 7.4, 3

Under 12 Boys Round 1

Heat 1

Josef Jungwirth (Gis), 10.2, 1, Harry Clegg (Tara), 6.2, 2, Xavier White (Tara), 2.6, 3, Jai Wallis (Auck), N/S

Heat 2

James Ririnui (Mnt), 13.5, 1, Kava Matthews (Tara), 10.3, 2, Ryder Pennington (Tara), 8, 3

Heat 3

Tom Butland (Tara), 14.7, 1, Jai Oakley (Chch), 10.4, 2, Jayden Willoughby (Rag), 3.03, 3

Heat 4

Kora Cooper (Rag), 11.1, 1, Tom Robinson (Whngrei), 10.8, 2, Dean Power (Mnt), 2.53, 3

Under 12 Boys Semifinals

Heat 1

Tom Butland (Tara), 11, 1, Tom Robinson (Whngrei), 9.13, 2, Josef Jungwirth (Gis), 8.53, 3, Kava Matthews (Tara), 4.57, 4

Heat 2

James Ririnui (Mnt), 8.17, 1, Jai Oakley (Chch), 6.87, 2, Kora Cooper (Rag), 5.87, 3, Harry Clegg (Tara), 2.63, 4