NATIONAL NEWS - Jeffreys Bay’s Dylan Lightfoot and Matt McGillivray advanced directly to Round 3 of the Ericeira WSL Junior Championships in Portugal by winning their respective Round 1 heats on the opening two days of the event which determines the annual undisputed men’s and women’s world junior (20-and-under) champions.

Competing in unruly 1.5-metre waves at the backup venue of Praia dos Pescadores due to huge, stormy surf and adverse winds at the main site of Ribeira D’Ilhas, Lightfoot defeated Costa Rican standout Noe Mar McGonagle and fellow South African Jody Maree (Kalk Bay) in the first heat of the day.

McGillivray posted a pair of high seven point rides in the day’s last heat to dispatch Victor Bernardo (BRA) and Imaikalani Devault (HAW) to the cut-throat Round 2 elimination heats. The balance of the South African contingent all placed second or third in their opening encounters and will contest Round 2 heats.

WSL Africa women’s junior champion Nicole Pallet (La Lucia) will be up against Hawaiian Dax McGill while Gina Smith (Jeffreys Bay) takes on Portugal’s Camilla Kemp in Round 2.