HAWAIIAN  BRUCE IRONS WINS BILLABONG PRO WILDCARD

No.3 Machado Forced to Withdraw - Byron Bays Kieren Perrow Slots In

Proven performer Bruce Irons (Hawaii), will take on the world's top 45 surfers after sealing one of the four Billabong Pro wildcards by winning the VZ Hinano Trials at the feared reef-break wave of Teahupoo in Tahiti.

Irons, who placed second to Jake Paterson in the 1999 Hawaiian Pipeline Masters as a wildcard entrant in the World Championship Tour (WCT) event once again sounded a warning to the worlds best with a stunning showing in
the four-man final.

The 21-year-old, younger brother of world no.2 Andy, dominated the solid, one-metre  waves on offer to leave his three opponents to play catch-up for the entire thirty minute final.  Tahitian surfers Hira Terinantoofa and Nicolas Leetham will also feature in the main event with Terinantoofa finishing second to Irons and Leetham as the next highest placed local in fourth.

A disappointed Tamayo Perry (Hawaii), who placed third in the final, just narrowly missed out, with the wildcards being awarded to the top two and then the highest placed Tahitian surfer.

It had been a rollercoaster ride for Byron Bay surfer Kieren Perrow, one moment he was eliminated from the quarter finals of the trials and in the next he was handed a wildcard into the event.

A broken hand had lead to the late withdrawal of world no.3 Rob Machado (USA) paving the way for Perrow to be granted an additional wildcard as the highest rated World Qualifying Series competitor available.

"I couldn't believe it," said Perrow.  "I had just given my rash vest over and when Robbo (Contest Director Steve Robertson) came over on the jet-ski and told me. My heart went out to Rob (Machado) who would have been one of the favourites here."

The 24-year-old surfer has now drawn one of the tougher opening heats, going up against former tournament winner Mark Occhilupo (Gold Coast) and world no.8 Jake Paterson (Yallingup W.A.) continued.

"I will just forget about who they are and surf a heat as well as I can. But I will be going out to win as everyone does."

 A disappointed Machado who suffered the break while free surfing at his home beach in California was forced to withdraw on medical advice.

"I am really disappointed," said Machado "I love surfing hollow lefts and would have loved to have been there.  I was thinking about coming over to watch but it would have driven me crazy."

The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), WCT Billabong Pro looks set to commence in the morning at the infamous reef-break wave of Teahupoo, Tahiti with excellent, 1.5 metre waves predicted.

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