Gun Woman Angler Lands A Big One

February 27 , 2003

Gun woman angler lands a big one at Port Stephens

If good things come in threes, then dedicated Kenthurst game fishing woman Wendy Tinker, will be having a week to remember this week.

Last Wednesday, at the Toyota Sportivo Blue Water Classic Tournament presentation at Port Stephens, Wendy became the first woman to win the Toyota Sportivo mid week fishing tournament prize of a Toyota Hilux 4x2 Workmate. This prize is a random draw and all entrants on the day are in the running to win.

But things could have been quite different had she received a much awaited phone call. Wendy may well be last seasons Lady Champion of the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club, but had she received a phone call telling her she had become a first-time grandmother, her fishing line wouldn't have even got wet.

The call didn't come (although it is expected at any moment) so Wendy calmly went fishing in the mid-week Toyota Sportivo BlueWater Classic Tournament - and won.

Winning a Toyota Hilux 4x2 Workmate, being the first woman to take out the prize - and becoming a grandmother for the first time would be a hat trick made in heaven for Wendy.

Wendy has been fishing with her husband Col for over ten years. As members of the Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fishing Club she has tagged 15 marlin of all species and a short bill spearfish.

Marking the 41st consecutive year of the running of the week-long tournament, this years Toyota Sportivo Interclub Tournament has attracted some 240 boats and 1052 anglers as well as marine biologists from around the country an overseas.

The excitement of two consecutive weekends of the Toyota Sportivo 2003 Interclub Tournament is maintained throughout the week with a program of special events for both fishing enthusiasts and those who prefer to keep their feet firmly planted on the ground.

The Toyota Sportivo BlueWater Classic is held on the Wednesday in which a Toyota Hilux 4x2 Workmate vehicle is the major prize. This midweek tournament is open to anyone with a zest for fishing. Participants in the tournament are placed in to a draw to win the Toyota Hilux 4x2 Workmate, plus other fantastic prizes, regardless of their fishing skills on the day. This year 93 boats and 393 anglers entered.

Wendy Tinker is proof that the once exclusive male domain of blue water fishing is becoming increasingly popular each year for females at one of the largest fishing tournaments in the world. Just ask new President of the NSW Game Fishing Association Ms. Sanchia Glaskin.

Ms Glaskin says that: "Each year in NSW, more and more women are participating in traditionally male dominated sports, including fishing". In 2000 alone 48.3% of sport participants were women and over 46 000 of these were anglers. These figures have grown steadily over the past ten years.

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