For the second consecutive year, the climax of the O'Neill Highland Open concluded earlier this week off Thurso with an Australian winning the title to land the share of the $US135,000 prize money - and a priceless Chieftain sword. 

In a dramatic final on 4ft surf off Thurso East, Adam Robertson (Victoria) narrowly defied his countryman Adam Melling to win the title on his third attempt.

Last year it was their countryman, Nathan Hedge, who won the world's most northerly 6-star ASP World Qualifying Series event.

"I was flat broke before this event," said Robertson, "so I was stoked to even get into the final."

Sunny Garcia, the 2000 ASP World Champion from Hawaii finished 5th.

Scotland's wild card entry, Mark Cameron (Fraserburgh) was knocked out in the first round of the elimination heats.

As Robertson celebrates his win, prize money and vital points (only surfers ranked at season's end in the top 15 of the WQS are awarded a lucrative spot on the ASP World Tour), he may also be wondering how he's going to get a 4ft sword through customs at Glasgow Airport!