Stairmand and Quinn to meet in quarterfinal

GISBORNE’S Jay Quinn and travelling buddy Billy Stairmand (Raglan) are to meet for the second time in the same contest — the Kangaroo Island Pro in South Australia — today.
Quinn, Stairmand and the third of the “suitcase surfers” — Mahia-Gisborne man Richard Christie — this morning moved into the quarterfinals of the ASP 6-star contest at Vivonne Bay.
Christie was the pick of the trio in this morning’s two-man round of 16 heats. He totalled 15.87 (8.17, 7.70) for his two best waves to oust Australian James Taipan Wood.
Quinn has been one of the contest’s form surfers, going through all his heats unbeaten including 17.00 heat wins in the rounds of 48 and 24.
He and Stairmand met in the round of 24, with Stairmand advancing in second place with 14.27.
Quinn moved into the last 16 by beating Australian Luke Campbell 13.77 to 11.17, while Stairmand progressed with a 13.17 to 12.80 victory over Charles Martin.
The Kiwi trio will all pick up valuable points towards their world rankings. Losing quarterfinalists get 1560 points and $NZ3700, losing semifinalists 2080 points and $6270.
The winner pockets $37,600 and 3500 points, the runner-up $15425 and 2640 points.
Christie went into the event ranked 44th in the world, Quinn 46th and Stairmand 85th.
All three will improve their rankings.