Cape Girls dominate weekend Roxy Surf Jam

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 26 July 2004: - - The Cape girls dominated the third round of the six-event Roxy Surf Jam series that was staged at ´Anne´s Avenue´ beach, St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape yesterday. (July 24.)

Cape Town´s Stacy Guy won the Under-20 division, with East London´s Telana Flanagan and Rosanne Hodge in second and third places, respectively. However, the most outstanding achievement of the day came from East London´s Nikita Robb, who won the under-16 division with 14,5 points, which was by far the highest-score of the day.

The Matthews sisters saved yesterday´s event from becoming an entirely ´Cape´ contest, with Sarah Matthews notching fourth position in both the under-20 and under-18 divisions and her twin sister getting a third position in the under-18´s. However, the Cape will soon be claiming these 3 girls too as, although they are still surfing for KwaZulu Natal, they moved home to Jeffrey´s Bay last week!

Contest director, Niezaam Jappie, (from Port Elizabeth), commented: "The national Roxy Surf Jam Series certainly has provided great opportunities for South Africa’s top juniour female surfing talent to compete regularly against each other. Each event has presented totally different surf conditions, which is excellent for building confidence and experience. Yesterday saw pleasant weather but very challenging surf conditions. The two-foot swell, with the occasional three-foot wave, was closing out and generally very difficult to ride."

"Strategy and experience were critical factors in reading the waves and the tide, which was low in the afternoon resulting in slightly-improved final heats," added Niezaam.

SA junior surfing champion Rosanne Hodge from East London, winner of the main U20 division in the first two events of the series, made a come-back in the under-18 division, leaving Linsey Cottrell (WP), in second position.

Lisa Mace of Somerset West, won the under-14 division for the first time and other new faces to the series were second and third-placed under14´s Adele Nortje of Mossel Bay and Cara McDonald of East London.

RESULTS OF ROUND 3 OF THE NATIONAL ROXY SURF JAM SERIES:

UNDER-20:
1. STACEY GUY, (WP, Melkbosstrand) 8 points.
2. TELANA FLANAGAN (East London) 7,4
points. 3. ROSANNE HODGE (East London) 6,5
4. SARAH MATTHEWS (KZN) 5,7

UNDER-18:
1. ROSANNE HODGE (East London) 6,5 points
2. LINSEY COTTRELL (WP) 4,5
3. KATE MATTHEWS (KZN) 4,3
4. SARAH MATTHEWS (KZN) 3

UNDER-16:
1. NIKITTA ROBB (East London) 14,5 points
2. TARYN CHUDLEIGH (WP) 6,9
3. LISA MACE (WP) 6,7
4. LAETITIA LEE (Jeffrey´s Bay) 5,5

UNDER-14:
1. LISA MACE (WP) 6,5
2. ADELE NORTJE (WP) 4,1
3. CARA McDONALD (East London) 3,8
4. TARYN CHUDLEIGH (WP) 2

The fourth Roxy Surf Jam is scheduled for Bloubergstrand on September 4 & 5, followed by Long Beach, Kommetjie on October 9 & 10. The series culminates with the Grand Finale at Durban´s New Pier on October 30 & 31.

The series caters for U14, U16, U18 and U20 age divisions at each respective venue, offering in excess of R10 000 in prize-money per event, with the Durban final worth R20 000 along with an array of silverware for the division winners.

Entry forms for the Roxy Surf Jam series events are available from surf stores around the country or can be downloaded from the Surfing South Africa website at www.surfingsouthafrica.co.za or from the Saltwater Girl Magazine website – www.swg.co.za