Junior Protea angler represents SA well in Namibia
Local angler Caitlyn Greyling was recently awarded her SA colours at a tournament in Namibia because she was part of the team that represented SA well.
Alberton’s Caitlyn Greyling recently competed in the South African Junior Bank Angling international competition at Hardap Dam in Namibia from July 3 to 5.
The competition saw the top six junior U19 South African Protea anglers compete against the best Namibian junior anglers. SA won gold, beating Namibia on all three tournament days, for the third consecutive year.
Caitlyn achieved the highest honour, having been selected as the only girl in the Protea junior angling team to represent SA. She was awarded her SA colours at the tournament in Namibia.
Caitlyn said the road was not easy, “But my hard work, perseverance and support from great mentors along the way ensured my success.”
Background in the sport
The junior had her first experience with angling when her school, Hoërskool Dinamika, invited parents and learners to a meeting to set up their first school angling team.
“Caitlyn’s friend, Caitlin Adant, encouraged her to try it, and the pair, affectionately known as ‘Cait squared’, began their fishing careers on the school team. The power duo was selected for national school competitions before moving on to provincial and Suid Afrikaanse Varswater Oewerhengel Federasie [SAVOF] competitions,” explained her mother, Caroline Greyling.
Caitlyn’s father, Quintus Greyling, said SAVOF has made huge strides in making angling more accessible to women and previously disadvantaged youth.
“Caitlyn wouldn’t have achieved this level without the encouragement, mentorship and support of professional anglers like James Hobbs, Theuns Lampbrecht, Greg Swanepoel, Nadine Jansen van Nieuwenhuizen, Colleen Richards and the Requin [Angling Club] teammates,” he said.
Caitlyn has achieved numerous accolades over her five-year career as a junior angler.
“These include a personal best barbel catch of 18.74kg at the SA minis tournament in 2021 and runner-up Victor Ludorem at the 2021 SAs. At the Protea Region Five junior tournament against Namibia, Caitlyn caught the heaviest bag of the juniors on the tournament’s second day at 56.8kg,” explained Caroline.
When asked what is next, Caitlyn said that she has already trialled to represent Gauteng for the Dames Team in 2025.
She aims to continue her fishing career as a senior and encourages girls of all ages to try the sport.
“With enough hard work, early mornings and perseverance, you, too, could become a Protea junior angler,” Caitlyn said.
