A top female surfer who hails from Whangamata took top spot in the finals at the Rip Curl Pro represented by Gailbraiths at Manu Bay, Raglan.

It was expected to be a tough battle between Paige Hareb (Tara) and Ella Williams, but the ‘Whanga' star took an early lead in the final, keeping her on track for the win with a 16.30 total at took away $1000 cash prize as well as being the Open Women's Division champion.

Ella Williams, right, took out the top spot. Photo: Cory/NZ Surfing Magazine.

'I am really happy, it's cool because I won the event last year and this year the girls are surfing so much better so it was no easy feat, I am happy to take the win again,” says Williams.

'Paige is such an amazing surfer, I have looked up to her all of my life so it was great to have her back here competing and I hope she goes on to requalify for the world tour this year,” she says.

The Rip Curl Pro represented by Gailbraiths is New Zealand's richest surfing event. This time round the surfers were faced with challenging conditions with waves standing less than 1.0 metres and challenging offshore winds around the Bay.

Hareb was unluckily defeated by the bad conditions and finished fourth.

However, she ended with a respectable 10.7 points.

Mount Maunganui surfers and surfing friends, Raiha Ensor (2^nd) and Elin Tawharu (3^rd) both finished as runner ups with Ensor finishing with a 13.2 point total and Tawharu finishing with a 10.87 point total.

In the Men's division, Gisborne surfer Maz Quinn defended his title and claimed another victory. His final posting scoring 13.77 point total, equalling double-finalist Elliot Paerata-Reid (Piha).

However, Quinn scored the highest overall ride of 6.93 and took the title over the young Pihan surfer.

'They were not the ideal conditions for me today with waves being that small,” says Quinn. 'I was disheartened at the forecast but it goes to show that if you keep at your game, you can win anything.”

After an agonising defeat for Parata-Reid in the Open Men's Division, he was victorious in the Under 20 Boys Division posting 14.93 points.

Paerata – Reid defeated Dune Kennings (WGM) in final, Kennings finishing runner up ahead of Taylor Hutchison (Rag) in third and Jonas Tawharu (Mnt) in fourth place.