Gilmore wins women's surf crown again

BIARRITZ, France, July 14 (UPI) -- Australian Stephanie Gilmore won the Roxy Pro Biarritz in France Saturday to claim her fifth career Association of Surfing Professionals women's title.

Gilmore, 24, bested 18-year-old fellow Aussie Tyler Wright by a score of 18.53 to 13.10.

The win gave Gilmore 48,400 points for the season. Second-place Sally Fitzgibbons has 42,100, and Wright and Hawaii's Carissa Moore are tied for third with 36,700.

The fifth ASP title set a new women's record and put Gilmore behind only male competitors Kelly Slater and Layne Beachly for the most championships in a career.

"I woke up this morning and thought it wouldn't happen today," Gilmore said. "But as the day progressed, and things fell into place, I began to believe it could happen."

Gilmore won the ASP women's crown four years in a row from 2007-2010 but slopped back to third place in the 2011 campaign.