Galjoen Competition 2024: Big Prizes and Exciting Surprises

The third successful and popular ‘Galjoen’ Competition occurred on Saturday, 17 August 2024. The competition was very well supported by local anglers, even though the wind wasn't right for ‘galjoen’ catches. In total, 86 anglers participated, consisting of 37 individual and 49 team entries. 16 ‘galjoene’ were caught - 11 by the teams and 5 by individuals. The surprise for the day was the only junior angler - Philje Johnston, only 8 years old, who caught the largest ‘galjoen’ of 1.03kg! Congratulations, Philje!

The team's champion with the largest ‘galjoen’ is Johan Dreyer with a 1.45kg ‘galjoen’ and among the individuals, it was Lt Col Willem du Toit from Sea Point with a 1.38kg ‘galjoen’. The man with the biggest smile is Oubaas Lesch who is the only angler to have caught another fish species - a small fish of 0.4kg, for which he pocketed R1000!

This competition is one of the ‘NGK’s’ Ministry Entrepreneurs under the leadership of Fanie Botha. Riaan Booysen is the leader of the ‘Galjoen’ Project and acted as Chief Organiser. Riaan also presented the prizes. All profits for the day's income were handed over to two elderly institutions: ‘Herberg aan See Tehuis vir Bejaardes’, with Deon Naudé and Francia van Dyk receiving it on behalf of the institution. The second institution is ‘Silwerjare Dienssentrum’ and ‘Oak Grove Nasorgdiens’, which was handed over to their manager, Suzanne Hans. Both expressed their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the organizers and the anglers.

"We are privileged and grateful to have been supported by 36 sponsors for the competition," said Riaan. The main sponsor was Emile Calitz of Gansbaai Arrie Nel Pharmacy, for which the organisers are very grateful. "Three other major sponsors were De Wet Grobler of Delta Logistics, Suretha van Bergen of ReMax, and Michiel Kemp of Fish Fever, but we are equally grateful to the remaining 33 sponsors - without them, a competition like this is not possible," Riaan says a few extra surprises are waiting for anglers in next year’s competition.

Hardus Botha