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Jordy Smith placed fifth in Oz

Johannesburg - South African Jordy Smith was placed fifth in the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach when he was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Joel Parkinson from Australia at Bells Beach, Australia on Friday.

The encounter was held in excellent 1.0 to 1.5m offshore waves, with the second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) won by two-time world champion Mick Fanning.

The Durban-born Smith started the day's challenge for the title with a convincing Round 5 victory over 2001 winner CJ Hobgood to set up a quarter-final bout with Parkinson.

Needing 7.94 points for victory and a berth in the semis, Smith delivered an action-packed ride but only earned 7.50 from the judges.

Another Durbanite Travis Logie, the only other South African in the world's top 34, finished in equal 13th placed having been eliminated in Round 3 by his compatriot Smith.

Parkinson, bidding for a fourth Bells Beach title, fell to a rampant Fanning while Kelly Slater defeated Frenchman Jeremy Flores in their respective semi-finals.

Fanning, the 30-year-old Australian, beat current champion and 11-time winner Slater from the United States in a final that was described as the best in the 51-year history of the event.

"Kelly (Slater) did that Hail Mary for the 10 and I thought, 'oh, here we go'," said Fanning at the podium.

"I just caught waves and I'm stoked it all paid off. I'm really at a loss for words and I'm just pumped."

The women's quarter-finals will be determined on Saturday.

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