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Gracetowns Macaulay bags World Masters title

Local Gracetown legend, Dave Macaulay, has won a world title at the Over 45 World Masters Championships in the Azores Islands, Portugal.

The local goofy footer has still got the same skills from 20 years ago when he was full time on the world tour and relished the left handed beach breaks to snatch the win over American Shane Beschen in the final.

Yallingups Jake Patterson was also in fine form at the event and made it to the quarter finals for a fifth place finish.

However it was Macaulays day and he was over the moon with his first ever world title win.

“I kind of snuck into the top and it's pretty crazy”, Macaulay said.

I've got a bit more empathy for competing now because I haven't done it for 10 years.

“My first heat I was nervous.

“This is what my daughter Bronte must feel all the time.

“Pinch me would ya! I can't believe this," he said.

The West Australian had a fast start in the final and looked fired up, searching the line-up to find the best peaks and continuously improving on his scores to impose a big requirement on his opponent.

With a couple of sevens on the scoreboard, Macaulay remained out of reach for the Hawaiian and the two-time former world number three claimed the win as the oldest competitor in the masters division.

“I never dreamed this would happen,” Macaulay said.

“Ive had a very fortunate life, being able to keep surfing after the tour, all my kids surf and its just insane.”

Perfect waves on Thursday with a solid 2.5 metre groundswell and clean south-east winds.

More 2.3m swell on Friday with epic east-north-easterly offshore winds.

And the weekend looks fun with a 1.8m swell rising Sunday and more offshore winds.

Smiths beach on Thursday.

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Margaret River Mail

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