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FESTIVAL STATUS
EVENT: Event is over for 2008. Congratulations winner of the Mark Richards Pro, Brazilian Adriano de Souza and winner of Midori Pro, Stephanie Gilmore.
Organisers wish to thank all the event sponsors and look forward to seeing everyone again in 2009!
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| LOCAL DATE | 10 Sep 2010 |
| LOCAL TIME | 07:49 pm |
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WORLD CHAMP GILMORE TOPS SCORE SHEET IN MORNING ROUNDS AT MIDORI PRO
WORLD CHAMP GILMORE TOPS SCORE SHEET IN MORNING ROUNDS AT MIDORI PRO
REIGNING world champion Stephanie Gilmore showed onlookers at the Midori Pro at Merewether beach in Newcastle today exactly why many see her as a stand-out favourite to regain the women's crown in 2008.
Gilmore racked up the morning's top score in the Midori Pro and easily accounted for her opposition in the round of 48.
In clean one metre conditions fanned by a north-westerly breeze, Gilmore showed a backhand attack that she said had been in hibernation while surfing the first two World Championship Tour (WCT) events held on the right-handers at Snapper Rocks in Queensland and at Bells Beach in Victoria.
"I haven't gone left for awhile. I was a little bit wobbly . . . but I guess it's another challenge I like to bring myself to.
"It's always good to gain some experience in left-handers, especially in competition," a relaxed champion told gathered media.
Gilmore will surf again tomorrow in the second heat of the round of 24, which commences at 1.20pm local time.
Local Philippa Anderson, who was dealt a wild card into this event, was bundled out of competition by less than two points by former world grommet champion and fellow Aussie Laurina McGrath.
In the same heat, Kiwi Paige Hareb progressed, while Hawaiian Beth Hamilton, currently sitting in the number two spot on the WQS ratings, was eliminated from competition.
Hamilton has never had any luck in Newcastle, having always been bundled out of competition here in early rounds.
The young Hawaiian said that she was now looking forward to surfing in what she hoped would be bigger conditions at Margaret River.
Sixteen-year-old Australian Laura Enever, who hails from North Narrabeen on Sydney's northern beaches, continued the winning form that saw her defeat WQS ratings leader Sally Fitzgibbons in the Motorola Pro Junior at the same beach last Sunday.
Meanwhile Fitzgibbons continued her devastating form to easily take out her heat and continue her seemingly unstoppable charge towards not only qualifying - but being a contender - for the 2009 World Womens Tour crown.
Lee Ann Curren, daughter of three-time world champion Tom, was eliminated from competition after a convincing display of solid surfing yesterday.
Other internationals to progress today in the Midori Pro included Meagan Abubo (HAW), Karina Petroni (USA), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Mizuli Hagiwara (JPN) and Rosanne Hodge (Sth AFR).
Aussies still in contention include the only woman to have won the Newcastle event three times, Rebecca Woods from Copacabana.
Also progressing were Bronte powerhouse Nicola Atherton and Jessica Grimwood from Bateau Bay.
In the remaining heats in the men's round of 128 in the Mark Richards Pro, local pairing Jesse Adam and Craig Anderson both progressed.
Anderson, the brother of eliminated wild card entrant Philippa, said he felt he was surfing well at the beach he calls home.
"There was definitely a bit more of a pulse out there this morning and I just hope it keeps on building," said 19-year-old Anderson.
Only one tenth of a point separated the morning's top scoring Aussie duo Matt Bemrose from Curl Curl and Blake Wilson from Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Internationals to progress in the Mark Richards Pro include Rudy Palmboom Jnr (Sth AFR), Brazilian Jefferson Duarte, Portugal's Miguel Ximenez and Jose Maria Cabrera from Canary Islands.
Tomorrow's action gets underway at 7.30am with the men's round of 96 in the Mark Richards Pro.
Local surfer Drew McPherson from Nords Wharf, who won the Pro Junior at this beach in 2007, will surf in that round after winning the wild card in the Maitland Toyota trials held here last week.
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