I have an amazing friend, Penny who is South African but now lives in Harpenden. She is a lady on a mission as she is trying to break the Women's World Record to spearfish a black jack.
I feel so proud of her and am following all her stories. I really wanted to share her story. I so hope you enjoy reading her blog.
Hi, I’m BIRD…. Penny BIRD.
Problem? Women’s World Record for black jack (Caranx lugubris) also known as the black trevally, black kingfish, coal fish and black ulua is currently open, unclaimed, blank…
My mission? To shoot, subdue and land a black jack weighing in at more than 10 lbs (4.5kg), in accordance with the International Underwater Spearfishing Association (IUSA) rules.
The objective? To claim the Women’s World Spearfishing Record, of course! (Ahem.)
Location? Ascension Island.
Estimated date? A nine-day window in August 2011.
Meet me: I am a 44-year-old, stay-at-home-Mum with spaghetti arms. My idea of fitness
training is having a smoothie for breakfast. My arms are so puny, I devised a way of loading with my feet years ago. (Don’t worry Colin – I could NEVER bend
your spears into right angles…) I even need help getting my wetsuit over my hips.
Does this sound like a long shot? Trust me, it is!
training is having a smoothie for breakfast. My arms are so puny, I devised a way of loading with my feet years ago. (Don’t worry Colin – I could NEVER bend
your spears into right angles…) I even need help getting my wetsuit over my hips.
Does this sound like a long shot? Trust me, it is!
I started spearfishing in my 20’s with my buddy Charl Blignaut (South African spearfishing champion 1993 – Stilbaai) aboard Cuda Cat and I have some amazing memories from those crazy days. Based near Cape Town, we hit the road nearly every
weekend in search of good water, towing the boat up the east coast as far as we needed to go. We were founder members of the Bonito Spearfishing Club and Charl represented Boland at Nationals regularly (I even made an appearance in the D-team one year). In 1998 I left South Africa and hung up my kit. I swore I wouldn’t dive in the UK
because nothing could be as great as the South African coastline, besides which
my buddy was very far away… So, for a decade, nada… Not even underwater hockey (can you believe they called me a “whale” when I tried it out?) Then, along came my bro to “rescue” me and remind me what I was missing.
weekend in search of good water, towing the boat up the east coast as far as we needed to go. We were founder members of the Bonito Spearfishing Club and Charl represented Boland at Nationals regularly (I even made an appearance in the D-team one year). In 1998 I left South Africa and hung up my kit. I swore I wouldn’t dive in the UK
because nothing could be as great as the South African coastline, besides which
my buddy was very far away… So, for a decade, nada… Not even underwater hockey (can you believe they called me a “whale” when I tried it out?) Then, along came my bro to “rescue” me and remind me what I was missing.
Over the past four years, Cameron has tempted me, step by step, out of retirement. First, he bought me a wetsuit for my 40th birthday (that was a big hint!) and then he
sponsored my 1* AIDA freediving training with David Morgan in the Gosport SETT
tank, followed by my 2* in Malta with Emma Farrell a couple of years ago. He is also responsible for getting me to go to Ascension in August (I am so excited bro!).
sponsored my 1* AIDA freediving training with David Morgan in the Gosport SETT
tank, followed by my 2* in Malta with Emma Farrell a couple of years ago. He is also responsible for getting me to go to Ascension in August (I am so excited bro!).
Meet the support team: The intrepid Parker Brothers, Cameron and Rory are assigned to look after their big Sis. They are responsible for making sure my artillery is in good nick and suitably modified for loading with my fin-clad feet. They also have to carry
my weight belt, provide moral support, advice and lots of compliments to keep my pecker up. They are also in charge of making sure I get home in one piece!
my weight belt, provide moral support, advice and lots of compliments to keep my pecker up. They are also in charge of making sure I get home in one piece!
Titus Bradley, from Crystal Vis, has been amazing. He’s the one who came up with the idea originally – nothing could have been further from my mind – and he has also offered to sponsor me with a Rob Allen rig for the attempt. I think he’s throwing in a few t-shirts too, so we’re all set for the big photo opportunity…
Do you think we can bag the record? Got any questions? For example, how on earth do I load a gun with my feet? How am I going to deal with the public humiliation if this all goes
wrong? Ask away… Next step is to find out what I am letting myself in for…
wrong? Ask away… Next step is to find out what I am letting myself in for…
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