Celebrity adds to fishing and fun

Children enjoy fishing on the estuary. Boys first place winner Quin Bedford in foreground.                                        Graeme Sinclair was popular with all the participants.

                                               Size doesn’t matter – it’s all good fun!                                                     Graeme Sinclair gives fishing tips to Cody Brunt.

Christmas came early for some of the prize winners as over 40 keen youngsters took to the shore for the TradeZone Blue Light Mangawhai Kidz Gone Fishing Event held on Saturday December 8. 

Television fishing personality and Blue Light patron, Graeme Sinclair, was on hand to present the prizes. 

True to form, Graeme provided enthusiasm and motivation as he mixed and mingled with the youngsters, provided autographs and willingly gave lots of his secret fishing tips – even with some of the parents listening!

Great weather, an incoming tide and excited young people contributed to a very successful afternoon.

Students from Wellsford, Kaiwaka, Tomarata and Mangawhai participated, reeling in their catches all along the Mangawhai estuary shores.

Boys winner for the heaviest fish went to Quin Bedford with Sebastion Waldron second and Kyle Hunt third.

First and third place for the girls went to Lauren Kirkley, with Stella Waldron winning second and the mystery weight prize.

The ugly fish prize went to 6-year-old Cody Alice Smith.

We are very appreciative of the support given by the Mangawhai Boating and Fishing Club,” said Blue Light co-ordinator Shane Gould. “Not only did they provide the venue and enthusiastic volunteers, but also a sausage sizzle, chips and drinks for all the competitors.”

“This is just one of the many Blue Light activities that serve to educate and entertain our youth in the many facets of life skills on both a national and international level and what better place to be educated than at the Mangawhai estuary.”

Organisers wish to thank TradeZone, The Warehouse, Wellsford McDonalds and Blue Light for their generous donations of prizes.