Riviera scoops the pool at Light Tackle Masters gamefish tournament

4:42 AM Tue 20 Jan 2009 GMT

'Ian Walker, owner and skipper of The Phantom, is congratulated by Riviera's Stephen Milne. - Riviera Light Tackle Masters' Denby Browning Click Here to view large photo

Riviera boats swept all before them in a tightly contested Riviera Gold Coast Light Tackle Masters game fish tournament over the weekend, taking first and second places overall as well as the Champion Female Angler title.

The tournament, held from the Marina Quays International at Hope Harbour on Queensland's Gold Coast, ended on Sunday afternoon with three of the results relying on countback. Riviera 51 Enclosed Flybridge The Phantom was overall winner, beating Riviera's own corporate boat, the 48 Offshore Express Fascination IV on a countback, tagging its marlin earlier. The Phantom, with her new owner Ian Walker, was Riviera's previous corporate boat, Fascination II.

Riviera awarded a special trophy to the Riviera team who scored the most tag-and-release points throughout the tournament. The trophy was won by the team on board The Phantom.

Champion Male Angler went to Dane Rusmussen on board Legacy Gulfstream while Champion Female was won by Lorraine Golightly on board Fascination IV.

According to Gold Coast Game Fish Club President Darren Malaquin, the number of juniors competing was particularly exciting for tournament organisers.

'These young people are the future of our sport and, with 12 young people in this tournament, the future is in safe hands,' he said.

More than 150 anglers aboard 38 boats ranging from six metres to 19 metres in length competed over the weekend for prizes valued at a total of $65,000.

Boats come mainly from the Gold Coast but some anglers came from as far away as Melbourne and Townsville and New Zealand.

The tournament was scheduled to run over three days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - but Saturday was called off after the Bureau of Meteorology issued a Strong Wind Warning for the area. However, action on Friday and Sunday ensured a close finish across all categories of competition.

RIVIERA LIGHT TACKLE MASTERS - OFFICIAL RESULT

Winner overall The Phantom
Runner-up overall Fascination IV
Winner Over 8 metres The Phantom
Runner-up over 8 metres Fascination IV
Winner Under 8 metres Outer Limits
Runner-up Under 8 metres Reel Addiction
Champion Male Angler Dane Russmussen
Champion Female Angler Lorraine Golightly
Champion Junior Angler Raymond Rehua