The 2004 NZ Air Guitar Champion is… 'The Tarkness'!!

Tarquin ‘The Tarkness’ Keys, Tauranga Champ, has taken out 3rd Annual NZ Air Guitar Championships (NZAGC) National Grand Final held on Saturday night 19/6/04 at ‘Poenamo Hotel’, Takapuna, Auckland. 

Broken strings, bones and dreams have been endured in a lead up to the National Grand Final in order to find the ‘greatest guitarist in New Zealand who never played’!

‘Tarkness’ went onto represent NZ at the 9th Annual Air Guitar World Championships (AGWC), Finland, 29/8/04 where he tied for first place, under less then desirable circumstances, with "Sonyk-Rok’s"  from the USA.    

After the recount of the total points Tarquin "The Tarkness" Keys (NZ) scored more points then 'Sonyk-Rok' in the first round.  In the second round the points were even between the two.  Total overall points for both rounds after recount: 'The Tarkenss' 34.9.  'Sonky-Rok' 34.5.

In light of this fact, the Air Guitar World Championships (AGWC) Jury has decided to share the title and announce both Champions.  The jury stated: "Sonyk-Rok" and "The Tarkness" were extremely even during the whole competition'. 

Now etched in air guitar history, ‘The Tarkness’ 2004 NZAGC win was sweet but not easy due to very stiff competition from fellow regional champions including: ‘Daizy Vicous’ (Sth AKL), ‘International Terrorist’ (Taranaki), ‘The Axe’ (C/CH) & ‘Ivor Biggun’ (WELL).

‘Tarkness’ played the classic track, ‘Eruption’, from ‘Van Halen’ in his free round, and, along with the other competitors played ‘MF from Hell’ by ‘The Datsuns’ in the Compulsory round.

‘Tarkness’s’ intricate display and pure technique gave him the slightest of edges over second place getter ‘Bradley Boy Holmes’ (HAM) & tied third place getter's ‘Furious Finger Smith’ (Invercargill) & ‘Young Davo’ (AKL).  Competitors put on an unforgettable show performing countless outrageous air antics to impress the judges and the large appreciative audience. 

Air Guitar Australia would like to take this opportunity to thank all competitors, supporters & participating venues for their support of the 04 NZAGC.   

The line up for the 04 NZAGC National Grand Final was:

TAURANGA Champ: ‘The Tarkness’ (Tarquin Keys) – 51.5 Points.

'The Tarkness' (Tauranga) #1 2004 NZAGC National Champion	'The Tarkness' (Tauranga) #2	'The Tarkness' (Tauranga) #3
'The Tarkness' (Tauranga) #4	'The Tarkness' (Tauranga) #5	'The Tarkness' (Tauranga) #6

HAMILTON Champ: ‘Bradley Boy Holmes’ (Brad Holmes) – 50.0 Points      

'Bradley Boy Holmes' (HAM) #1 2004 NZAGC - Second Place.	'Bradley Boy Holmes' (HAM) #2	'Bradley Boy Holmes' (HAM) #3
'Bradley Boy Holmes' (HAM) #4	'Bradley Boy Holmes' (HAM) #5	'Bradley Boy Holmes' (HAM) #6

AUCKLAND Champ: ‘Young Davo’ (Dave Warbrick) – 47.0 Points               

'Young Davo' (AKL) #1 2004 NZAGC - Tied Third Place	'Young Davo' (AKL) #2	'Young Davo' (AKL) #3
'Young Davo' (AKL) #4	'Young Davo' (AKL) #5	'Young Davo' (AKL) #6

INVERCARGILL Champ: ‘Furious Fingers Smith’ (Matthew Smith) – 47.0 Points

'Furious Fingers Smith' (Invercargill) #1 2004 NZAGC - Tied Third Place	'Furious Fingers Smith' (Invercargill) #2	'Furious Fingers Smith' (Invercargill) #3
'Furious Fingers Smith' (Invercargill) #4	'Furious Fingers Smith' (Invercargill) #5	'Furious Fingers Smith' (Invercargill) #6

SOUTH AUCKLAND Champ: ‘Daizy Vicious’ (Jeanna Sims)  

'Daizy Vicious' (Sth AKL) #1	'Daizy Vicious' (Sth AKL) #2	'Daizy Vicious' (Sth AKL) #3
'Daizy Vicious' (Sth AKL) #4	'Daizy Vicious' (Sth AKL) #5	'Daizy Vicious' (Sth AKL) #6

CHRISTCHURCH Champ: ‘The Axe’ (Andrew Gourdie)

'The Axe' (C/CH) #1	'The Axe' (C/CH) #2	'The Axe' (C/CH) #3
'The Axe' (C/CH) #4	'The Axe' (C/CH) #5	'The Axe' (C/CH) #6

WELLINGTON Champ: ‘Ivor Biggun’ (Tony Hanson)

'Ivor Biggun' (WELL) #1	'Ivor Biggun' (WELL) #2	'Ivor Biggun' (WELL) #3
'Ivor Biggun' (WELL) #4	'Ivor Biggun' (WELL) #5	'Ivor Biggun' (WELL) #6

TARANAKI Champ: ‘International Terrorist’ (Ben Sarter)

'International Terrorist' (Taranaki) #1	'International Terrorist' (Taranaki) #2	'International Terrorist' (Taranaki) #3
'International Terrorist' (Taranaki) #4	'International Terrorist' (Taranaki) #5	'International Terrorist' (Taranaki) #6

GROUP & PRESENTATION

2004 NZAGC National Finalists - Group #1 .	2004 NZAGC National Finalists with special guest MC's, Nick & Rog from The Rock FM - Group #2	2004 NZAGC National Finalists - Group #3
2004 NZAGC National Finalists - Group #4	2004 NZAGC National Finalists - Group #5	2004 NZAGC National Final Judges Riccardo (Rock FM), Verity Wells (Woodstock) & Roxanne Rolles (Journo)
2004 NZAGC National Final Tied 3rd Place 'Young Davo' & 'Furious Fingers Smith'	2004 NZAGC National Final 'Bradley Boy Holmes' - 2nd Place	2004 NZAGC National Champion 'The Tarkness' - 1st Place

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