Surfing: Hareb bows out in quarters

Reigning titleholder Stephanie Gilmore blocked Paige Hareb's bid to make a semifinal appearance for the first time on this year's women's world surfing tour in Peru today.

Gilmore, the three-time defending champion, eliminated the New Zealander by claiming a tense quarterfinal at San Bartolo.

The Australian recorded a two-wave score of 11.86 points from a possible 20 while Hareb tallied 10.50 in their 30-minute tussle in 1m surf south of the capital Lima.

Hareb finished the fifth stop on the tour in a share of fifth place to match her best result in 2010 at her home event in Taranaki in April. It also improves her one spot to ninth on the 17-strong tour.

Gilmore was denied a place in a fourth final of the year when she was pipped at the last minute by local favourite Silvana Lima in their semifinal.

The Peruvian went on to record her first win of the season by crushing current world No 2 Sally Fitzgibbons, swamping the Australian 16.50 to 10.77.

Gilmore's overall lead over Fitzgibbons was trimmed to 492 points, still an imposing advantage with four events remaining.

The tour now has a mid-season break before competition resumes at Perniche, Portugal, on October 7.

- NZPA