Posted on: Friday, June 13, 2003

RECREATION BRIEFS
All-female ocean event this week

Advertiser Staff

About 250 female wave riders, ranging from under 10 years old to over 50, will showcase their skills in China Uemura's 7th annual Wahine Classic at Queens Beach tomorrow and Sunday.

It is the largest girls surfing event staged in the United States, according to Rip Curl USA, a clothing company that sponsors surfing events.

Among those expected to compete are Maui's Elise Garrigue, Kaua'i's Bethany Hamilton, California's Julia Christian and France's Marie Pierre Abregall.

The event supports sexually abused women and children with all proceeds going to Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children.

The competition includes shortboarding, longboarding and bodyboarding in 14 divisions. The age groups range from pee-wee at 10 and under, junior girls 11-16, girls 17-29, women 30 and older, and the "Battle of the Kupunas" for those 50 and older.

POLO

• High-goal match set: Hawai'i will take on Mexico in a "high-goal" international polo match Sunday at Mokule'ia.

In polo, players are ranked by ability and a high-goal match is considered a high-caliber match, according to Lloyd Kandell, who has been associated with polo in Hawai'i since 1987.

The event features father-son players Ruben and Weston Gracida of the Mexico team, and Michael and Devon Dailey of the Hawai'i team.

Gates open at 11 a.m. and the game begins at 2 p.m. Admission is $5, with children under 12 admitted free.

SOFTBALL / BASEBALL

• City to dedicate softball, baseball complex tomorrow: The City of Honolulu will hold a variety of events to mark the dedication of the softball and baseball fields at Central O'ahu Regional Park tomorrow.

The dedication ceremony will start at 11 a.m.

A softball game between local media and the mayor's team will be held, as will games between the Honolulu Police Department and the Honolulu Fire Department.

There will also be Senior League games as well as Okinawan League games.

The second phase of the park, which started in November, 2001, included the construction of four softball fields, two baseball fields, a two-story announcer's booth and parking for 343 cars.

TENNIS

• Kapalua tops in Hawai'i: Tennis Resorts Online readers voted Kapalua Resort on Maui as No. 1 in the state and No. 34 in the world for 2003.

The rankings were determined by the readers who evaluated resorts and camps in 15 different categories, including game matching, teaching staff as well as the quality of lodging and restaurants.