NAB Beachley Classic Goes Mobile in Search of Swell

MANLY, Sydney (Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007) – Due to a lack of swell at Sydney's Manly Beach this morning, organisers of the NAB Beachley Classic, Stop No. 5 of 8 of the ASP Women's World Tour, have opted to make the event mobile, moving it 4km North to the more open faced beach of Curl Curl.

With 1.5 metre left and right peaks on offer at this new location, the World's Top 17 Women will have the idyllic platform in which to contest the most critical of the remaining four rounds, at this year's NAB Beachley Classic.

"This predominantly South swell is hitting all the beaches up North, bar this one, so we'd like to utilise what is around," event namesake Layne Beachley said. "It's pumping at all the other beaches so we're moving just to keep it interesting."

Today's action kicks off with the first of the woman-on-woman heats in Round 3, which will see only the winner advancing into the next round.

ASP World Tour rookie Roseanne Hodge (ZAF) takes on World No. 2 Silvana Lima (BRA) in the first heat of the day. The action continues with a number of tough match-ups including the Layne Beachley (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) rematch in Heat 4; Sofia Mulanovich (PER) versus Leilani Gryde (HAW) in Heat 5 and defending NAB Beachley Classic champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) pitted against Melanie Bartels (HAW) in Heat 8.

The NAB Beachley Classic runs from 9- 14 October, 2007 and holds a prize money purse of US$ 100 000 as well as 20% bonus ASP ratings points.

The event is produced by Layne Beachley in collaboration with National Australia Bank and the Association of Surfing Professionals.

NAB Beachley Classic Round 3 Match-ups:
Heat 1: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs Rosy Hodge (ZAF)
Heat 2: Samantha Cornish (AUS) vs Jacqueline Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) vs Megan Abubo (HAW)
Heat 4: Layne Beachley (AUS) vs Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Heat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs Leilani Gryde (HAW)
Heat 6: Amee Donohoe (AUS) vs Claire Bevilaqua (AUS)
Heat 7: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Heat 8: Chelsea Hedges (AUS) vs Caroline Sarran (FAR)

NAB Beachley Classic Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Caroline Sarran (FRA)15.75; Megan Abubo (HAW)13.65; Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)
Heat 2: Amee Donohoe (AUS) 15.75; Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)8.82
Rebecca Woods (AUS)7.83

NAB Beachley Classic Round 1 Results
Heat 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) 12.50; Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 11.45 Rebecca Woods (AUS) 10.75; Heat 2: Roseanne Hodge (ZAF) 13.30; Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.25; Amee Donohoe (AUS) 11.70 Heat 3: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 15.65; Layne Beachley (AUS) 11.00; Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 10.15 Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER)15.00;Leilani Gryde (Haw)8.45; Megan Abubo (HAW)6.75; Heat 5: Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)10.85; Chelsea Hedges (AUS)9.40; Caroline Sarran (FRA)7.50 Heat 6: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 15.10;Melanie Bartels (HAW)13.10; Melanie Redman-Carr (AUS)6.10