Hot Clark second in Portugal
26 May 2003
South African surfing star Heather Clark notched up another exceptional result at the weekend, finishing runner-up to Hawaiian Melanie Bartels in the Magnolia Girls Pro six-star ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) women’s event. The only other South African entrant was Sarah Johnston who placed equal 33rd in the US$30 000 contest, which was held at Ericeira in Portugal.
Clark, who is currently rated third in the world, breezed her way into the final where she also faced Hawaii’s Rochelle Ballard and Pauline Menczer of Australia, who finished third and fourth respectively. The Port Shepstone surfer pocketed $3 000 and earned 2 150 valuable WQS points when she finished second for the first time ever in a 6 star WQS event.
Johnston had a tough time against Frenchwoman Emmanuelle Joly-Thomas and local surfer Teresa Abracos, who ousted her out of the event in the second round with 600 points, while Mariana Canelas had to settle for fourth.
Both South Africans will be jetting back in time to surf the Rip Curl Girls Challenge at Cave Rock reef in Durban which kicks off next Wednesday (28 May) and has a window period running through to the 8th of June.
(Source: ASP Africa)
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