Local Raglan surfers dominated the final event of the SOL Surf Series for 2010/11 held at Raglan today but it was Maz Quinn (Gis) that did enough to claim the overall series with a third placing at the final event to clinch his fourth series win in a row.

Hughes was the form surfer of the day notching up several big heat scores throughout the round robin to qualify for the semifinals in third place.

The final was a game of patience as Hughes waited 20 minutes before getting a decent ride. In the last five minutes, a fairy tale win seemingly slipping away, Hughes blew up on a wave scoring 7.67 points out of a possible 10 points before racing back out the back and getting the last wave of the final to score 8.17 to jump from fourth to first in a matter of minutes.

"Without a doubt this is so special" said an emotional Hughes.

"I guess I had a form of self confidence going into the event with the conditions on offer. Being inconsistent it was going to be who caught the best waves. I knew if I got that right wave my ability would give me the scores needed to win" added Hughes.

Hughes grew up surfing the points at Raglan and like many that learnt to surf on the points, his backhand surfing is impeccable. The decision to run at Raglan was always going to work in his favour. "It was a fun 2-3ft today, that's what I have been surfing the majority of my life."

"As soon as I got the whisper that is was going to be here, I checked reports, I knew there would be swell, it was just a matter of what the conditions were going to be like."

Funnily enough Hughes warmed up in a local boardriders competition on Saturday and could only muster a second placing.

Hughes has always impressed at the SOL Super 16, a factor he puts down to the different format with no immediate knockouts where you can relax with your surfing

"You kinda get a roll on and consistency is a big thing, maybe it suits my style of surfing. I enjoy these events, hanging with the boys and mixing it up" said Hughes.

Placing second was Nick White (Mnt) who posted a career best result and in doing so climbed to seventh on the SOL Surf Series ratings. White came from nowhere to place second after getting a good ride at the start of the heat before getting a 6.27 point ride in the dying seconds to jump to the runner up position.

White eclipsed Maz Quinn in the final who placed third after controlling much of the heat with an 11.87 point heat total. The third placing means that despite Quinn winning the SOL Surf Series, he went the entire season without an event win, the first time he has done so in four years.

Placing fourth in the final was Gisborne surfer Blair Stewart who was sitting in second for much of the heat before everything changed with the final exchange of the final.

Earlier in the day Stewart and White defeated Chris Malone (Gis) and Leon Santorik (Rag) in the first semifinal while Hughes and Quinn defeated Jarred Hancox (Tara) and Ben Kennings (WGM) in the second semifinal.

Jessica Santorik kept the local roll in tact by winning the Women's Division - her second win of the year after a win at the first event back in November. The unstoppable goofy footer proved too much for her younger opponents today as she gave them a lesson in surfing her local break.

"It was so good to be able to surf three heats and a final and win then all today" said Santorik.

"It was good to be able to surf in surfable waves instead of knee high waves which we have been unluckily dealt with at some events this season... in good waves you can let the surfing do the talking."

Santorik scored 13.93 points out of 20 in the final, a win she calls 'a consolation'. However, despite her win, she was unable to lift herself past third overall for the year - only her second SOL Surf Series defeat in seven years.

Placing second today was Grace Spiers (WGM), the result enough to see her clinch the Women's Division of the SOL Surf Series by a mere 38 points over fellow Whangamata surfer Ella Williams who led the series from the second event of the year.

"I was extremely shocked to be called out as the winner, I was so happy. I didn't think I would take it out after coming second in the final today, so it is an extra bonus for sure" said Spiers.

"The whole ratings race was so close, it came down to the wire in this comp and it is good to see all us young girls mixing it up and winning over the more experienced girls."

In the final Spiers scored 10.33 for second place, Santorik and Spiers eliminating Ella Williams and Alexis Poulter (Rag) earlier in the day.

Please see below for final placings for the 2010/11 SOL Surf Series.

Open Men's Top 16
1, Maz Quinn (Gis)
2, Luke Hughes (Rag)
3, Tim O'Connor (Mnt)
4, Blair Stewart (Gis)
5, Jay Quinn (Gis)
6, Leon Santorik (Rag)
7, Nick White (Mnt)
8, Jarred Hancox (Tara)
9, Keone Campbell (Tara)
10, Tane Wallis (Piha)
11, Ben Kennings (Whmata)
12, Chris Malone (Gis)
13, Richard Christie (Mahia)
14, Billy Stairmand (Rag)
15, Ryan Hawker (Piha)
16, Zen Wallis (Piha)

Open Women's Top 5
1, Ella Williams (Whmata)
2, Grace Spiers (Whmata)
3, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
4, Alexis Poulter (Rag)
5, Rosa Thompson (Auck)

Please see below for full results from the SOL Super 16 held at Manu Bay, Raglan today (Sunday 3rd April).

Open Men's Round 1
Heat one
Nick White (Mnt), 14.33, 1, Hayden Brain (Chch), 12.33, 2, Tane Wallis (Piha), 11.7, 3, Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 10.63, 4
Heat two
Luke Hughes (Rag), 13.6, 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 9.73, 2, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 7.97, 3, Chris Malone (Gis), 7.8, 4
Heat three
Blair Stewart (Gis), 13.33, 1, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 10.8, 2, Zen Wallis (Piha), 10.53, 3, Keone Campbell (Tara), 9.83, 4
Heat four
Maz Quinn (Gis), 15.17, 1, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 9.97, 2, Adam Grimson (Gis), 9.03, 3, Matt Scorringe (Whgmata), 7.63, 4
Heat five
Chris Malone (Gis), 11.77, 1, Nick White (Mnt), 11.17, 2, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 10.8, 3, Zen Wallis (Piha), 10.03, 4
Heat six
Luke Hughes (Rag), 14.83, 1, Hayden Brain (Chch), 8.93, 2, Keone Campbell (Tara), 7.37, 3, Adam Grimson (Gis), 6.37, 4
Heat seven
Blair Stewart (Gis), 11.73, 1, Leon Santorik (Rag), 11.57, 2, Matt Scorring (Whgmata), 11.4, 3, Tane Wallis (Piha), 6.9, 4
Heat eight
Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 13.93, 1, Maz Quinn (Gis), 13.4, 2, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 10.87, 3, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 9.7, 4
Heat nine
Leon Santorik (Rag), 13, 1, Matt Scorringe (Whgmata), 12.07, 2, Chris Malone (Gis), 11.8, 3, Adam Grimson (Gis), 5.83, 4
Heat ten
Jarred Hancox (Tara), 13.23, 1, Nick White (Mnt), 9.83, 2, Luke Hughes (Rag), 8.77, 3, Tane Wallis (Piha), 6.1, 4
Heat eleven
Blair Stewart (Gis), 15.17, 1, Ryan Hawker (Piha), 11.43, 2, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 9.93, 3, Hayden Brain (Chch), 7.37, 4
Heat twelve
Maz Quinn (Gis), 15.1, 1, Zen Wallis (Piha), 9.57, 2, Keone Campbell (Tara), 9.53, 3, Tim O'Connor (Mnt), 9.37, 4

Open Men's Semifinals
Heat 1
Blair Stewart (Gis), 15.4, 1, Nick White (Mnt), 15.33, 2, Chris Malone (Gis), 12.33, 3, Leon Santorik (Rag), 10.37, 4
Heat 2
Luke Hughes (Rag), 16.93, 1, Maz Quinn (Gis), 11.17, 2, Jarred Hancox (Tara), 8.83, 3, Ben Kennings (Whmata), 1.57, 4

Open Men's Final
Luke Hughes (Rag), 15.83, 1, Nick White (Mnt), 13.10, 2, Maz Quinn (Gis), 11.87, 3, Blair Stewart (Gis), 10.23, 4

Open Women's Heat 1Ella Williams (WGM), 12.9, 1, Grace Spiers (WGM), 10.87, 2, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 10.13, 3, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 7.57, 4
Open Women's Heat 2
Ella Williams (WGM), 13.4, 1, Grace Spiers (WGM), 11.37, 2, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 11, 3, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 10.03, 4
Open Women's Heat 3
Ella Williams (WGM), 15.23, 1, Grace Spiers (WGM), 11.83, 2, Alexis Poulter (Rag), 10.67, 3, Jessica Santorik (Rag), 7.63, 4

Open Women's Final
Jessica Santorik (Rag), 13.93, 1, Grace Spiers (WGM), 10.33, 2