Spearfishermen excel at national champs
Chairman of SKZN Spearfishing, Don Solomon said he was super proud of the team.
The three-day National Spearfishing Championships 2023 saw some local spearos winning trophies in their home waters recently.
Hosted by Southern KZN Spearfishing within the Ugu District, visitors from all over the country attended the event which saw day one off Shelly Beach as incredibly tough with poor visibility and cold rainy weather.
Day two and three from Hibberdene was absolutely perfect, clean water and windless days.
Chairman of SKZN Spearfishing, Don Solomon said he was super proud of the team.
“We performed at a very high and consistent level. The team showed incredible integrity and respect for the sport and were absolutely dedicated to get the best result,” he said.
Don was super chuffed with his third overall place.
“This was my best result so far, it was a super intense, stressful experience having to organise and run a competition as well as be competitive. Lessons learnt, but a big thanks to our top men and on my final day, my wife, Julie who had to step up and look after us at sea,” he said.
Jonathan Geyer, placed 28th, fell ill on day two with flu, but with his normal grit and determination and absolute commitment to the team pushed through to complete all three days.
Carl Werner scored a very well done fifth place, as local knowledge rules and the master of fish sense always provides the goods.
Scelo Celoh Cele, who placed 11th, was consistent and it was awesome to see him back in competitive diving. A brilliant result, and hungry for more.
It was an outstanding result from Tanya Nadauld who was crowned national champ for the ladies.
Spearfishing is still predominantly a male dominated sport but globally there are a lot of women who spearfish and in South Africa it is also starting to grow as a women’s sport.
“For me to have been awarded the first ever in the history of spearfishing SA – Ladies Champion trophy, really means an incredible amount,” added Tanya.
She started spearfishing at the age of 40 – as she decided it was time to start ticking things off her bucket list.
“I grew up in the ocean, was a lifeguard and then scuba diving instructor for a while. But I basically taught myself how to load the gun, etc. from YouTube videos!”
It was only after that that Tanya discovered the Hibiscus Underwater Club where she received so much help, advice and guidance from the other spearos.
The club has an incredible amount of extremely talented spearfishermen, with the likes of Don, even representing SA overseas as a Protea diver.
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