Reigning QCC champion Lincoln Taylor fires on day one of MP Classic at Kirra

Reigning Queensland Championship Circuit champion Lincoln Taylor has started his campaign to defend his crown in style by dominating day one of the MP Classic.

REIGNING Queensland Championship Circuit champion Lincoln Taylor has started his campaign to defend his crown in style by dominating day one of the MP Classic.

The North Stradbroke Island surfer didn’t disappoint spectators with one of the highest heat scores of the day – a 16.23 (out of a possible 20.00).

Taylor opened his heat with an 8.0 (out of a possible 10.00) in three to four foot conditions, which he then backed up with an 8.23 – flying down a Kirra point right-hander with style and flare.

“It was a pretty fun heat today, it was a bit slow out there. But it’s awesome to surf anywhere on the Gold Coast with only a couple of other people,” Taylor said.

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“I love the MP classic. It’s definitely got a special vibe to it, being a memorial event.

“I’m looking forward to the rest of the event, we’ll see how I go with this one first.”

The MP Classic is the first of three events in the circuit, with the Sunshine Coast Pro and Alley Classic to be held in June.

Rounds one and two have been completed by the men in the MP Classic while the women have progressed through Round 1.

Other standout males progressing include Callum Robson (Doonbah, NSW), Thomas Woods (Elanora, QLD), Nick Vasicek (Gold Coast, QLD), Sheldon Simkus (Tweed Heads, NSW) and Talon Guest (Gold Coast, QLD).

2018 MP Classic and QCC champion Lincoln Taylor (North Stradbroke Island, QLD) is set to defend his title when the event wraps up tomorrow. Picture credit: Ben Stagg/Surfing Queensland.

Standout females progressing through to Round 2 include Sienna Hanna (Mudjimba, QLD), Phoebe King (Mudjimba, QLD), Raya Campbell (Coolangatta, QLD), Piper Harrison (Coolangatta, QLD) and Hinako Kurokawa (Japan).

Skye Faddy (Wurtulla, QLD) wasted no time taking first place in her heat, in her first-ever QCC series event.

“I’m pretty happy, the waves are actually really good out there,” Faddy said.

“I’m looking forward to possibly surfing Kirra with only a couple of other people out tomorrow, that’s for sure. This is my first time surfing the QCC series, I’m definitely enjoying it so far.”