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Yallingup’s Jay Davies and Claire Bevilacqua dominate WA Trials to progress into 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro main event
Davies and Bevilacqua dominated in testing conditions at Surfers Point today to each claim a wild card entry in the 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.
A field of 17 male and female Western Australian surfers was whittled down over a busy day of competition as the world’s best surfers continued to roll into Margaret River for the third event of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, which is set to kick off tomorrow morning.
Bevilacqua, a former world tour competitor, showed her experience to defeat up and coming talent Bronte Macaulay (Gracetown) in a slow and scrappy final. Bevilacqua picked off two good set waves to post a combined total of 10.00 (from a possible 20).
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” said Bevilacqua. “I knew Bronte was going to be tough to beat given her form this year, but I just stuck to my guns and it all paid off.”
Bevilacqua will face off with current WSL women’s ratings leader and defending Margaret River Pro winner Carissa Moore (HAW) and Coco Ho (HAW) in round one.
“I love a challenge and fingers crossed the waves are big and powerful for the event because that’s the surf I feel I really shine in,” said Bevilacqua.
The men’s final brought together three of WA’s most highly regarded talents, with Jay Davies (Margaret River) edging out a fast finishing Jack Robinson (Margaret River) and Shaun Howe (Kalbarri) to claim his place in the main draw.
In a seesawing final battle, Davies posted two scores that amassed him a 14.45 total (from a possible 20) leaving Robinson and Howe both chasing scores six point plus rides to snatch victory.
“I’ve never really won anything before so this is a rare but a totally satisfying feeling,” said Davies. “The forecast is looking so good with conditions and locations that really suit my style of surfing.”
Davies is set to face current WSL Men’s rating leader Mick Fanning (AUS), and NSW’s Matt Wilkinson when competition commences.
“I’m not daunted by my opposition, just excited by the forecast and the opportunity to compete in my maiden WCT event.”
Surfline, official forecaster for the WSL, are tracking a pair of significant SW groundswells for the opening few days of the Pro - click here for the latest forecast.
Very solid, back-to-back SW groundswells prevail on Wednesday and Thursday, easing a bit on Friday. Another very strong SSW groundswell looks possible for Saturday, and could be even larger than the surf for Wed/Thur. Morning wind conditions look favorable for the next few days, with some periods of side or onshore flow in the afternoons.
The Drug Aware Margaret River Pro is one of 11 events that make up the WSL Championship Tour, and will be held from April 15 until April 26. Over 12 days, surfers will compete on the days producing the best conditions. Watch the unparalleled adventure, competitive drama and athleticism of professional surfing live at WorldSurfLeague.com.
More than 30,000 spectators are expected and over 3.5 million people will view the event live via the online stream.
WA Trials entrants
| Male WA Trialists |
| Name |
Suburb |
| Jack Robinson |
Margaret River |
| Jake Paterson |
Dunsborough |
| Jay Davies |
Margaret River |
| Jerome Forrest |
Margaret River |
| Josh Burke |
Margaret River |
| Kael Walsh |
Yallingup |
| Luke Campbell |
Trigg Point |
| Shaun Howe |
Kalbarri |
| Shaun Manners |
Margaret River |
| Yaden Nicol |
Cowaramup |
| Female WA Trialists |
| Name |
Suburb |
| Bailee Hastie |
Gracetown |
| Bronte Macaulay |
Gracetown |
| Claire Bevilacqua |
Yallingup |
| Eliza Greene |
Yallingup |
| Emi Campbell |
Denmark |
| Felicity Palmateer |
Margaret River |
| Laura Macaulay |
Gracetown |
| Mikaela Greene |
Yallingup |
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Winner of WA Trials Women's, Yallingup's Claire Bevilacqua. Photo credit: Surfing WA / Woolacott
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Media contact:
Dianne Bortoletto, Pronto PR, dianne@prontopr.com.au, 0439 997 075
Notes to Editors
The Drug Aware Margaret River Pro is proudly supported by the WA State Government through Tourism WA and Royalties for Regions.
High res photos available for media use - download from Dropbox here. Please credit: Joli Photos, WSL or Surfing WA as identified
Official website: http://www.worldsurfleague.com/events
A Fact Sheet with statistics is available on request.
Interviews with surfers require WSL approval - please send requests to dianne@prontopr.com.au
Surfline.com is the official forecaster of the WSL. The swell expected in Margaret River is fluctuating - click here for the latest forecast.
The World Surf League Championship Tour was formerly the ASP World Championship Tour
The World Surf League Championship Tour will bring the top 34 ranked male (plus two wild card entries) and top 17 ranked female (plus one wild card entry) surfers to the extraordinary waves of Western Australia. Over 12 days, surfers will compete on the days producing the best conditions.
Media Accreditation:
Local media planning to attend the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro are required to apply for WSL Media Accreditation - click on the Credentials link on the right for the form.
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Past media releases
The Drug Aware Margaret River Pro by numbers - stats and fun facts of the 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro
Snapshot: 30 years of the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro - summary highlights of each event held over the past 30 years.
Tips to win the Pro - Past champions, surfing legends, sports identities, politicians and media give their tips on who will win the 2015 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro
Surfers: What I love about Margaret River - Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Stephanie Gilmore and Laura Enever and more share what it is about Margaret River that they like, besides the waves.
Joel Parkinson talks all things Margaret River - Joel Parkinson, winner of 2002 Margaret River Pro and 2012 WSL Champion chats with Chris Binns at Bells Beach about Margaret River.
Celebrating 30 years of world-class surfing in WA (note: caption correction: World Surf League reining World Champion Gabriel Medina (Brazil)
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