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Briton helps himself to opening heat victory
by George Mojo
27/04/2007:// Gutsy determination helped Briton Russell Winter to a superb opening heat victory at the O'Neill Highland Pro in Scotland.
The defending champion relished the 6ft surf at Brimms Ness scoring an 8 point plus wave in his winning total.
Brazilian Jean Da Silva aslo progressed at the expense of Cornwall's Oli Adams, who finished in fourth place.
The "British bull dog" found his way out of a tricky heat, with his knowledge of the spot and his determination to get on the elite tour.
Coming back from an injury that kept out of water for the winter, Winter had high priority on making this starter a success, and he just controlled the 25-minute decider.
"I'm glad to be through," said Winter. "It all started well for me when I caught this 8+ pointer just after the heat had started, and it made me relax a lot, knowing I would only need a back up score.
"The waves were bigger than they seemed from the shore and it was a pleasure to paddle out. Hope I'll stay on this good track in round 3," he added.
Johnny Fryer from the Isle of Wight kept up his charge at the 6star World Qualifying Series event - Scotland's richest surf competition - finishing a tough heat behind American Dane Reynolds.
Fryer was less than half a point ahead of third placed Tiago Pires, from Portugal. Scotland's only representative at the contest Chris Noble was fourh.
The British champion Sam Lamiroy failed to recapture his form of the previous round bowing out to Brazilian Hizonume Bettero and South African Damien Fahrenfort.
The Perranporth and former Plymouth University surf club captain was more than four points off the pace by the final hooter.
There was less than half a point separating second and fourth in Newquay Alan Stokes heat. Unfortunately for the Cornishman he was the lowest scorer.
American's Asher Nolan and Shea Lopez fillled the top two places, although Stokes failed to qualify for the next round by just 0.3 points
Reubyn Pearce, who holds both a British and South African passport surfed strongly to finish second in the last heat of the round behind Australian former WCT star Toby Martin.
Frenchman Tim Boal was third and will leave Scotland sooner than expected
Winner of the first 6 Star Prime WQS event of the year in Margaret River in March, Australian Kierren Perrow has been on fire for the last month, and managed again to reach the third round of a major event, while basque surfer Hodei Collazo was following the experienced former WCT member for the next rounds battle.
"Everything is pretty nice here, the event has improved on its mobile facilities and I think all the boys are glad to be in Scotland for such a big event," confessed Perrow, the representative of the World Professional Surfers on this event.
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
[The number of high-rated Australian surf competitions are set to increase]
[Pablo Gutierrez winner of the Superbock Pro]
Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Junior surfing in her first ever contest in France
ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final
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