07/05/2026
This years Col McNeil Memorial was another special day bringing our community together with all funds going to the Cancer Rehab Foundation Pinc & Steel.
Cancer Rehab is not funded through ACC so this was a great cause for us to support.
We are super proud to say we raised $6,500 for the Pinc & Steel Cancer Rehab Foundation thanks to all of your generosity!
We would like to make a special mention thanking Jon Williamson from the Williamson Water & Land Advisory for their very generous $1000 donation..absolute legends!
Huge thanks to the following sponsors and those that donated towards our Silent Auctions & Ultimate Raffle Pack.
- Rip Curl
- New World Kumeu
- NJC Equipment Hire $500
- Niche Wines
- Thomson Whiskey
- Hallertau
- Eversion
- Williamson Water Advisory $1000
- Pet Patch Kumeu
- West Coast Surf & Street
- Sticky Johnson
- Muriwai Surf School
- Letitia Decan – Artist print
- KPLC – Planning Landscape Architect
- Scott Bell donation of Venison meat pack
- Rollercoaster Event Design & Build
- Fools Pools
- JLab Audio
- Muriwai Golf Links
- Western Building Supplies Ltd
- Northwest Physio Plus
- Tree Adventures
This years Col was dedicated to the families and in memory of two special blokes, local legends Derm Forde and Ant Nevison who passed away recently.
When we received the poster from Mathew Probert with Derm shredding a cutback we couldn’t have been more stoked!
It reminded me of the famous Michael Peterson cutback photo form the 1970’s.
The full moon was up early as we arrived to set up at 6am, no real wind to speak of and a slow looking clean 3-4 foot swell breaking far out on a dead low tide.
As we would find out later that slow looking swell had big energy and would pulse every 15-20 mins with bigger solid sets making for a challenging and great surfing day that both Derm and Ant would have appreciated.
The day began with a beautiful Karakia from Yana Mitchell “ Kia hora te marino”
Kia hora te Marino
Kia whakaapa pounamo te Moana
Hei huarahi ma tatou i te rangi nei
Aroha atu, aroha mai
Tatou i a tatou katoa
May peace be wide-spread
May the sea be like greenstone
A pathway for us this day
Give Love, receive love
Let us show respect for each other
The first heat kicked off with Tim Hodge snagging a couple of great barrels and easily winning his heat and the next two heats showed the day we were in for with some more barrels and big snaps from Sam Frazerhurst, Paul Moretti, Joesph Wales Earl, Just Stevens, Jai Wallis, Zen Wallis and Charlie Cheesman.
These fellas dominated the Open with Paul Moretti, Jai Wallis, Charlie Cheesman and Jude Stevens going thru to the final on sunset. Low tide drainers provided some great entertainment and young Piha shredder Jai Wallis used his youth and west coast experience to dominate the final. After all was said and done and we were packing up, Jai came up to me for a chat to say thanks for the day. It’s moments like this that make the effort all worth it and left me thinking there’s a good young man on a good path!
The open women’s final, like all the finals was in challenging low tide conditions.
The ladies got some great waves with Sonia (Mum) and Yana in their usual Family battle. Lou got the one wave that mattered to take it out!
Lou is one of NZs only female surfboard shapers and it’s awesome to have her involved in our club as a role model for the girls!
Piper Stubbs finished 4th but for someone so young (13) and small it’s amazing to see her confidently out the back in big west coast overhead low tide conditions… no problem at all! Piper also took out the U16s girls with Ayla Mitchell in 2nd.
The over 40s was missing Tom Kibblewhite (injured) and Ty Lynch (MIA), but this did not detract from the quality of this master class. Scotty Bell donated an amazing venison meant pack to the silent auctions which is also like a form of bribery and won the over 40s final. Defeating Sam “Cutback” Jackman, young Dan Jackman and Steve “Squeak” Hamlyn.
Over 50s is a division we add every year to the Col Comp to get a few more old dudes in the mix. Skindog controversially took out his 50s semi final on the longboard, snagging a bomb at Shags lol. But he couldn’t do bu**er all on his shortboard in the final. Campbell Pritchard proved too good in the low tide dredgers to take out Mr Eversion Mathew Probert and Lars Von Minden.
At 10am myself and Sam Jackman had a mild panic attack when we realised there was still 7 heats and 40 minutes of surfing to get thru! So that’s a 6.40pm finish in the dark! The troops rallied together and we set up another judging area and started another surfing arena at Shags! Massive thanks to Dylan Wallis and Jake Krauklis for sorting that out.
As usual a big turnout for the U16s Boys, when these fellas are not surfing they still pretty much surf all day. But this time many of them jumped into help with the judging of the girls, longboard and over 50s divisions which was a big help and its training up judges for the future! Kiedis Baskerville surfed so good all day and deservedly took out the final with locals Zach Griffin, Paulo Scott and Luca O’Brien 2nd, 3rd & 4th respectively.
Longboarders had their challenges with big sets washing thru the bay and plenty of Eskimo rolls required.
That didn’t bother Jai and Zen Wallis, they were out the back at Shags with no legropes like some surfers from the movie Big Wednesday at Sunset Beach in 1962. Some epic nose riding and performance riding from these guys and local longboard legends Jake Krauklis and Adam Stevens.
Jai Wallis took first place to add it to his Open Crown. Jake pushed him hard for 2nd, Zen 3rd and Adam 4th… but still the first over 50 longboarder!
The day went full circle to a beautiful pink orange sunset as our prize giving backdrop with some fantastic prizes from our awesome sponsors. We acknowledged Derm and Ant as new guardians of the bay and remember those that have gone before us.
It was another special Col McNeil Memorial.
Massive thanks to everyone who volunteered their time. Yana Mitchell for the Karakia and all her work behind the scenes, organising prizes, sorting payments, herding surfers to the right heat and generally being a star. Sonia (mum) Mitchell for organising the food & BBQ and the epic breakfast bacon & egg muffins! Jenni Fletcher for sorting all the admin and silent auctions and thanks to everyone in our club that does so much!
Nga Mihi Nui
Gregory Skinner & Team MBBR
OPEN MEN
1st. Jai Wallis
2nd. Paul Moretti
3rd. Jude Stevens
4th. Charlie Cheesman
OPEN WOMEN
1st. Lou Aitken
2nd. Sonia Mitchell
3rd. Yana Mitchell
4th. Piper Stubbs
U16s Girls
1st. Piper Stubbs
2nd. Ayal Mitchell
3rd. Zoe
U16s Boys
1st. Kiedis Baskerville
2nd. Zach Griffin
3rd. Paulo Scott
4th. Luca O’Brien
OVER 40’s
1st. Scott Bell
2nd. Sam Jackman
3rd. Dan Chilton
4th. Steve Hamlyn
OVER 50’S
1st. Campbell Pritchard
2nd. Lars Von Minden
3rd. Mathew Probert
4th. Gregory Skinner
LONGBOARD
1st. Jai Wallis
2nd. Jake Krauklis
3rd. Zen Wallis
4th. Adam Steven
