Henderson second youngest Open Women's surfing winner

Ava Henderson. Image courtesy of Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine.

14-year-old Ava Henderson has become the second youngest winner of the Open Women’s Division of the New Zealand Surfing Championships.
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The Avonside Girls’ High School Christchurch surfer running away with the win posting a 14.03 point heat total to add to her earlier title in the Under 18 Girls Division.  Henderson built on her scores throughout the Open Women’s Division Final posting her best score, a 7.2 on her final wave.     

“I started to believe I could win when I got a five and I only needed another five to lead and I had already got that score and I hadn’t actually surfed to my potential.  I knew if I got a few good turns in, I could get a six or higher you know.  Then when I was leading toward the end, all I wanted was for the time to speed up because I had priority and I knew I could control the final” said Henderson.

“I am so stoked on the win, I can’t really believe but yeah.  I mean my goal was to win the 16s at this event and do well in the 18s, I wasn’t actually going to do the opens but I convinced mum to let me, and now I have won” said Henderson who also claimed the overall Standout Performance of the event for her efforts across the week.    

Henderson defeated Gabrielle Paul (Piha) in the final, Paul led the final early before being eclipsed by Henderson.  Defending Champion Aimee Brown (Grt Barrier) finished third in the final ahead of local surfer Hayley Pascoe (Dun).

Junior Divisions were won by local grom Alexis Owen and Amarnie Barber (Aus) in the Under 14s, Barber defending her title.  One of the form surfers of the week, Finn Vette (Gis), won the Under 16 Boys Division as did Liv Haysom (Piha) in the Girls Division.

The Under 18 Boys Division was won by Jack Lee (Whaka) who beat Tom Butland (Tara) in the final.  Ava Henderson claimed her first title of the day in the Under 18 Girls Division defeating Georgia Wederell (Mnt).

Final results from day six of the Health 2000 National Surfing Championships completed at St Clair Beach, Dunedin today (Saturday 11th January 2020):

Open Women’s Division Semifinals
Heat 1
Gabrielle Paul (Piha), 13.7, 1, Hayley Pascoe (Dun), 11.4, 2, Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara), 11.3, 3, Zhana Hutchieson (Tara), 10.1, 4
Heat 2
Ava Henderson (Chch), 13.7, 1, Aimee Brown (GB), 11, 2, Raiha Ensor (Mnt), 10.9, 3, Brie Bennett (Rag), N/S, 4

Open Women’s Division Final
Ava Henderson (Chch), 14.03, 1, Gabrielle Paul (Piha), 11.2, 2, Aimee Brown (GB), 8.4, 3, Hayley Pascoe (Dun), 7.83, 4

Under 18 Boys Division Final
Jack Lee (Whaka), 12.6, 1, Tom Butland (Tara), 11.44, 2, Taylor O'Leary (Mur), 11.14, 3, Josef Jungwirth (Rag), 8.54, 4

Under 16 Boys Division Final
Finn Vette (Gis), 15.5, 1, Kora Cooper (Rag), 11.03, 2, Jayden Willoughby (Rag), 10.8, 3, Navryn Malone (Rag), 10.44, 4

Under 14 Boys Division Final
Alexis Owen (Dun), 11.43, 1, Tao Mouldey (Mnt), 10.6, 2, Ryder Pennington (Tara), 10.04, 3, Karne Gabbot (Dun), 8.77, 4

Under 18 Girls Division Final
Ava Henderson (Chch), 13.9, 1, Georgia Wederell (Mnt), 8.9, 2, Leah Wilson (Chch), 8.03, 3, Amarnie Barber (Aus), 7.07, 4

Under 16 Girls Division Final
Liv Haysom (Piha), 11.47, 1, Natasha Gouldsbury (Tara), 11.33, 2, Ava Henderson (Chch), 11.3, 3, Anna Brock (Mnt), 10.93, 4

Under 14 Girls Division Final
Amarnie Barber (Aus), 11.66, 1, Misha Peyroux (Dun), 7.36, 2, Jess Haysom (Piha), 6.33, 3, Poppy Pennington (Tara), 3.47, 4

Under 14 Boyd Division Final
Alexis Owen (Dun), 11.43, 1, Tao Mouldey (Mnt), 10.6, 2, Ryder Pennington (Tara), 10.04, 3, Karne Gabbot (Dun), 8.77, 4

Under 14 Girls Division Final
Amarnie Barber (Aus), 11.66, 1, Misha Peyroux (Dun), 7.36, 2, Jess Haysom (Piha), 6.33, 3, Poppy Pennington (Tara), 3.47, 4