Umtamvuna Views: Mere grams places angler Francois second
Paul won the second prize last year and Francois left empty handed and now they both have identical aluminum prize-boats.
MARLIN Ski-boat Club hosted the tenth Annual Gamefish Classic last weekend and 31 boats and 78 anglers entered the competition. The event had to be postponed from May because of floods. Anglers fished under very difficult conditions with 4m high swells last Friday and Saturday, but thankfully there were no mishaps in the turbulent sea.
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The winning fish was a 25.70kg yellowfin tuna caught by PW Roos on the boat ‘X Ta Sea’. PW and fellow anglers Deon Beukes and Fanie Roos travelled down from Bloemhof, Northwest Province, to take part in this exciting event. PW scooped a cool R40 000 cash.
Close second
Second place went to a 25.35kg couta landed by local angler Francois ‘Fiddlestix’ van der Merwe on his boat ‘Blue Tooth’ – a mere 350gm less than the winning fish. He won R5 000 cash, as well as fishing equipment and an aluminium boat built by local Mark Harrison of Port Edward Boat Builders. Francois’s fishing buddy in this competition was Paul Marshall-Smith.
As luck would have it, Paul won the second prize last year and Francois left empty handed and now they both have identical aluminum prize-boats. The club thanks all sponsors who donated generously – without them this popular fishing classic would not draw the anglers from far and wide to compete. Port Edward can be proud of this well-organised and supported annual event.
Runs and rides
All trail runners and MTB riders will be interested to know that the annual Sardine MTB race and trail run takes place at Port Edward Holiday Resort on July 7. Then there will be three more races to diarise after that – the Sappi Scottburgh MTB on July 20 and 21, the Ingeli Forest MTB and trail run at Harding Country Club on July 28, and the Lake Eland Classic powered by the Burry Stander Foundation and Lake Eland Game Reserve on September 22. For more information contact Barbara at 079 4037014.
Colony carers
Feral cats around Splash Rock have a group of caring ‘angels’ who raise funds and work very hard to sterilise and feed the colony.
The group recently ran a raffle and the winner was Eva Hedtrich-Reilander, who won a meal voucher donated by Ramsay Gardens Restaurant.
With the proceeds from this raffle, the group managed to sterilise three cats and purchase food. Grateful thanks go to all people who purchased tickets for this worthy cause. It is important to keep feral colonies going because these cats keep snakes and other pests at bay. For more information or to find out how you can help, please contact Mary Martin at 084 7018137.
Holding thumbs
Community media groups in all areas have been inundated with messages regarding the water debacle. Broken promises by Ugu, no viable schedule, ratepayers and community groups working flat-out to inform residents and help stranded households as much as they could. The latest news is that the renegade pump has been repaired and installed and full water supply was expected on Tuesday this week. Residents have been let down so many times that most were waiting hopefully to see water flowing from taps before celebrating.
All news to Philippa.
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