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大象传媒
Cornwall Surfing Correspondent Simon Alexander reports from the line-up.
24-year-old Keala Kennelly lived up to her reputation as a fearless
competitor in powerful reef breaks defeating South Africa's Heather
Clark by five clear points in the final.
In 4-5ft waves at Tavarua, Kennelly clinched victory over the world
number four with a series of forehand snaps and floaters:
"I'm so stoked. It's unfortunate the conditions got worse as soon
as the final started, as when you win an event you hope it turns on
and is an awesome final. I was stoked it was an all goofy footer final,"
she added, since the two previous winners have been regular footers.
"I'm in a way better position than I was in this time last year. After
being on tour for six years, I'm definitely thinking about the world
title now" added Kennelly.
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| Roxy
Pro winners Keala Kennelly (left) and Heather Clark |
Equal third were WCT newcomer Sofia Mulanovich, from Peru and 2002
ASP 'Rookie of the Year' Chelsea Georgeson. Both 19-year-olds were
standouts during the contest, but had their runs stopped during the
semifinals.
Beachley was the event's biggest upset, losing in round three to place
equal ninth. Despite beating Caroline Sarran in the non-elimination
first round, her French opponent gained revenge when it counted, with
superior wave selection and great backhand surfing.
The world champion showed her fighting spirit during the final minutes
needing an 8.0 though, and even rode a wave onto dry reef, but achieved
more cuts and abrasions to her feet than points from the judges.
"I had a hell of a lot of bad luck out there today," said a disappointed
Beachley. "Caroline had great wave selection and surfed the waves
really strongly. She deserved to win the heat. On my last wave my
back foot slipped off and I ended up on dry reef."
"My leash got stuck around a coral head while I was still attached
and I couldn't get up, so I kept being dragged along dry reef. Some
days you win and some days you lose, but I'm not going to beat myself
up over it. It's just a bad day. I had a good start to the year and
I think I can maintain that," added Beachley.
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Current Women's WCT standings after two
event:
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| 1 |
Layne
Beachley (Aus)
Keala Kennelly (Haw) |
1560
points |
| 3 |
Trudy
Todd (Aus) |
1524 points |
| 4 |
Sofia
Mulanovich (Peru) |
1512 points |
| 5 |
Jacqueline
Silva (Brazil)
Chelsea Georgeson (Aus) |
1308
points
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RENNY GOOD AS GOULD AT WATERSPLASH
Renny
Gould started his Jersey Surf Club season in great style winning
the Rip Curl Surfabout at St Ouen's Beach. Goulds' power moves in
2 to 4 feet Watersplash waves were good enough to win the Open final.
Jersey's Sam George took the longboard title seeing off a strong
challenge from Dominic Boletta.
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Final results:
|
| Open
Division |
|
1
|
Renny
Gould |
|
2
|
Clayton
Lidster |
|
3
|
Scott
Eastwood
|
|
4
|
Sam
George |
| Ladies |
|
1
|
Grace
Davies |
|
2
|
Keelin
Begley |
| Bodyboard |
|
1
|
Scott
Harben |
|
2
|
Clint
Loake |
|
3
|
Colin
Crowther |
|
4
|
Colin
Laurent |
| Longboard |
|
1
|
Sam
George |
|
2
|
Dominic
Boletta |
|
3
|
Minky
Charlton |
|
4
|
Scott
Harben |
ROBIN HIGH IN PECKING ORDER AFTER VICTORY
Frenchman Frederic Robin has taken the opening World Qualifying
Series contest of the European season in Portugal. Robin, who put
out Newquay's Mark Harris in round two, won the Rip Curl Series
final to maintain a four-heat unbeaten run.
Euskadi's Aritz Aranburu finished in runners-up spot in Peniche
ahead of French pair Patrick Beven, Eric Rebiere. British hopes
faded in round four when Helston's Jake Boex finished last to Eneko
Acero.
Former Exeter University surf club captain Martin Black bowed out
in round two to Portugal's Jose Gregario. Cornwall's English champion
Alan Stokes also lost early on to Portugal's David Luis. Welshman
Nathan Phillips proved no match for Gonzalez Zubizareta in his second
round heat.
TRIALS WIN FOR VAUGHAN IN WALES
An on-form Mark Vaughan made no mistakes to take the Channel Coast
Welsh Trials Open title at Llantwit Major. In a hotly-contested
final Vaughan took top spot ahead of Steve Phillips, Colm Garrett
and Langland's Nick Swinnerton.
Vaughan's hopes for victory in the Seniors' final were dented by
Chris "Guts" Griffiths who took the title by the narrowest of margins.
Cat Thomson finished third with Jamie Bateman fourth. Matthew Harvey
won the bodyboard division.
NATIONAL
TITLES ATTRACT BRITAIN'S BEST
English champions Robyn Sunshine Davies and Alan Stokes are expected
to return to Cornwall to defend their titles.
The Cornish pair have been competing on on the world professional
surf circuit this year. In all nineteen titles are for grabs at
the Rip Curl English Nationals being held at Watergate Bay this
weekend.
At Freshwater West, thirteen titles are up for grabs at the Billabong
Welsh Championships. Surfers will also be competing for a place
in the two Welsh aquads due to compete in international competitions
later this year
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