Ford V8 Supercar driver James Courtney surprised himself by beating a field including Test cricketer Matthew Hayden and actor Blair McDonough to win a celebrity fishing competition on the Tweed River this week.

Gold Coast-based Courtney, Hayden, McDonough, and fellow-Ford V8 Supercar racer Steven Johnson were each paired with a professional fisherman for the Australian Fishing Championships (AFC) Outdoors event on Tuesday.

The winning team was determined by the combined weight of the heaviest five Bream caught by each competitor.

Courtney, who drives a JELD-WEN Falcon in the V8 Supercar Championship, and fishing partner Darren Borg won the AFC event with their combined catch of 10 Bream weighing 4.3kg.

"I'm a complete novice at fishing, but my team-mate showed me how to improve my casting on the day," said Courtney.

"I got about a dozen Bream, which is easily the most fish I've ever caught. The biggest five were kept to weigh for the competition and we let the rest go."

"It was a fun day and everyone involved had plenty of laughs. Right now there is a gap between our races and going fishing was a great way to unwind."

Courtney, who has a race win and a pole position in this year's V8 Supercar Championship, is relaxing with wife Carys and seven-month-old daughter Zara during the six-week break before the endurance races at Phillip Island from September 12-14 and Bathurst from October 9-12.

The 28-year-old Stone Brothers Racing driver finished second in the Bathurst 1000 in 2007. He will team up with David Besnard for the endurance races for the second successive year.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Mike Porter - Tel: (0417) 311-997. E-mail: mikep@qldnet.com.au

WEBSITE: http://www.jamescourtney.com.au

PHOTOGRAPHS: 300-dpi jpeg images of James Courtney fishing & with fishing trophy available for media/editorial use