SURF'S UP: Redhead under-19s during the first of the semi-finals, which they won.
REDHEAD'S under-19 crew was the best of the Hunter entrants at last weekend's Australian Surf Rowers League Australian Open, with the team taking out fourth spot.
After tough competition from the 24 qualifiers, the Redhead men scraped through, confirming their spot as one of the six finalists, and battled it out in the quarter and semi-finals.
However, it was the Corrimal Black rowers who proved to be the winners on the day, defeating the Avoca Beach Grease Monkeys, who placed second.
For the second year running, Stockton Beach hosted the Australian Open, with the Australian Surf Rowers League president Bert Hunt confirming the 2013 contest was one of the best in the annual event's history.
"It was extremely successful thanks to a wonderful job by the Stockton Surf Club and the Stockton community, which got right behind the event," Hunt said.
Hunt said the titles may return to Stockton next year but the league had not yet made a decision.
In the best conditions of the three-day carnival, Sunday saw one-metre swell, a 15-knot easterly breeze and bright sunshine for competitors.
The open mens final was dominated by the Bulli Gold men's squad.
The open women's event was taken out by the Tugun Hunters, who defeated the Jan Juc Black Mumbas.