Roxy Womens Surf Festival 2006

ASP Australasia 5 star WQS
Phillip Island, Victoria,
24  - 29 January 2006

Results/Heatdraws

Heather Clark surfs into semi-finals in Roxy Pro

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 28 January, 2006 : - - Heather Clark, the ‘queen of South African surfing’, has started her 2006 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world tour campaign on a strong note by winning four consecutive heats to reach the semi-finals of the 5 Star rated R150 000 Roxy Women’s Surf Festival on Phillip Island off the coast of Victoria, Australia. 

Clark disposed of defending event champion and her travelling partner of eight years, good friend Melanie Redman-Carr (Western Australia) in their quarter-final match-up on Saturday. With both surfers tied on identical scores at the end of their clash, Clark got the nod over Redman-Carr when scores were counted-back to the next highest wave. 

“It’s horrible coming up against your travelling buddy in an event, but at least we knew one of us was going to make the semis. After Mel’s result last year in the event and considering she finished third in the world last year, I was so stoked to get through, but it was a bit close for comfort,” said Clark. 

In tomorrow’s (Sunday) semi-final, the 34 year-old from Port Shepstone meets rising Australian star Stephanie Gilmore, the two-time ISA world junior champ, who will be celebrating her 18th birthday. The victor progresses to the final against the winner of the other semi between Aussies Jessie Miley-Dyer, the recently crowned ASP world junior champion and World Championship Tour (WCT) rookie, and experienced WCT campaigner in Rebecca Woods. 

Clark is South Africa’s sole female representative on the WCT and has qualified to compete amongst the highest echelons of women’s surfing each year since 2000. Fergie, as she is known to her peers, was awarded an injury wildcard into the 2006 women’s WCT after suffering from broken ribs for the first third of her 2005 campaign, an injury sustained when a surfer rode into her at Margaret River in February. 

She has started 2006 in the best shape of her life having shed five kilograms though a rigorous training schedule and is more determined than ever to achieve a top five world ranking that will ensure her of another year in the top flight and prove to doubters that she deserves her place amongst the world’s best. 

Other South African girls in the event enjoyed mixed fortunes with teenaged rookie traveling companions Rosanne Hodge (East London) and Tammy-Lee Smith (Salt Rock, KZN) earning AUD 200 (approx R1 000) and 610 ratings points each for equal 37th spot while 16 year-old  red hot prospect Nikita Robb (EL) pocketed UD 400 for a highly creditable 13th place overall.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Roxy Women's Surfing Festival a giant women's event
# 2 : Georgeson heads field of Aussie champs at Roxy Pro
# 3 : Roxy Pro attracts over 200 surfers from 3 generations
# 4 : Airini Mason leads charge at Roxy Pro WQS Phillip Is.., 
# 5 : Georgeson and champions reign supreme at Roxy Pro 
# 6 : World Champions battle royale looms at Phillip Island
#7 : Miley Dyer eliminates Chelsea Georgeson at Roxy Pro

www.roxy.com/festival

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