Gilmore wins Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning and three-time ASP Women’s World Champion, remains on track for her fourth consecutive ASP Women’s World Title after defeating world no.2 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 19, to triumph in the Commonwealth Bank Beachley Classic in Sydney, Australia today.

In a thrilling climax to event no.4 of the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, Gilmore came from behind to win, showing experience and patience in building 4-6ft (1.5-metre waves) at the host venue of Dee Why.

Following four consecutive lay days, the world-class Dee Why point break delivered the ultimate finale, churning out high-scoring, quality waves and a massive 2000-plus crowd for the world’s top female surfers.

Gilmore has now won three of the four events she has contested this year after taking victory on the Gold Coast in early March before winning at Bells Beach in the same month.   

“It’s incredible how good this feels,” said Gilmore. “Competing in Australia is one of my favourite things to do. I feel comfortable in these waters and have won this event a few times. I guess I’m on a roll and I’m feeling good.”   

Queen Gilmore made a perfect start to the 35-minute decider, showing plenty of speed, power and flow to net a 7.00 before Fitzgibbons hit back to take the lead for the majority of the final.

With just under five minutes remaining and holding wave priority, Gilmore jagged a set wave, throwing out a mix of powerful, top-to-bottom manoeuvres with seamless transitions to take the win with a 7.20 and claim her third Beachley Classic title.

“The conditions were really deteriorating throughout the day so I’m glad we got the final finished relatively early,” said Gilmore. “I was pretty nervous throughout the final. Sally (Fitzgibbons) has been on fire all week and she really has a good local support base in Sydney. She’s so hungry for a win. But it was all about patience and I just had to sit there and wait for a wave of consequence.”

Gilmore, who won the Beachley Classic as a wildcard four years ago and then as a world tour rookie a year later, finished with a two-wave combined total of 14.20 (out of a possible 20) to Fitzgibbon’s 12.40 total.

Gilmore claimed 1200 ratings points and the richest prize cheque of the ASP Women’s World Tour РUS$20,000, as well as ensuring she maintains her stranglehold on the world no.1 ranking heading into the fifth event of the ASP Women’s World Tour season, which kicks off at Lobitos, Peru on June 5.

Fitzgibbon picked up 972 ratings points and US$10,000 for second place, her second runner-up finish in the past two events.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

CONGRAT ‘ STEPH !

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC FINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.20 def. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.40

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.33 def. Silvana Lima (BRA) 9.14
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 11.97 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 10.16

COMMONWEALTH BANK BEACHLEY CLASSIC QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) 9.97 def. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 8.13
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 16.77 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 8.17
Heat 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.50 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 10.50
Heat 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 16.84 def. Melanie Bartels (HAW) 11.23

ASP WOMEN’S WORLD TOUR RATINGS POINTS:
1. Stephanie Gilmore(AUS) 3960
2. Sally Fitzgibbons(AUS) 3252
3. Sofia Mulanovich(PER) 2832
4. Melanie Bartels(HAW) 2628
4. Chelsea Hedges(AUS) 2628
6. Carissa Moore(HAW) 2472
7. Silvana Lima(BRA) 2412
8. Coco Ho(HAW) 2220
9. Rebecca Woods(AUS)       1824
10. Paige Hareb(NZL) 1632
10. Jessi Miley-Dyer(AUS) 1632
12. Rosanne Hodge(ZAF) 1440
12. Lee Ann Curren(FRA) 1440
14. Amee Donohoe(AUS) 1260
15. Bruna Schmitz(BRA)       1080
15. Claire Bevilacqua(AUS) 1080
17. Nikita Robb(ZAF) 900