Another very successful World Cup was held on Lough Mask over the August Bank Holiday weekend with numbers up slightly on last year. This year 470 anglers battled for the much coveted World Cup trophy which is now in its 56th year.
Mick Dunne from the Midlands, now living in Tourmakeady, struck gold on the final day. Mick qualified for the final on Thursday with 4 fish weighing 4.15 lbs. On the final day Mick also weighed in 4 trout for 4.42 lbs. On this occasion, and something that has never happened in the 56 years of the competition, Brendan Shallow, Co. Fermanagh, also weighed in 4 trout weighing 4.42 lbs. The fact that both anglers had equal numbers of fish and equal weights meant the committee had to take into account the weights of their catch in their qualifying days to establish a winner. Mick Dunne proved to be the lucky angler and took the top spot on the podium.
Third place went to Colin Wilson, Co. Down, with 3 fish for 4.20 lbs. Heaviest fish prize went to Kevin Bettie from Ballinrobe with a fine trout weighing 3.71 lbs. Best Ballinrobe & District Angler over the competition was Jackie Coyne with 9 fish for 10.50 lbs. Top lady angler was Madeline Kelly, Co. Antrim, with 6 fish weighing in at 7.16lbs. Finally, the prize for best overseas angler went to Alexander Whiteside, Scotland, with 5 fish for 5.40 lbs.
The boatman who brought in the heaviest weight of fish over the competition was Jackie Mahon, Co. Sligo, with 15 fish weighing 17.99 lbs., while Sean Moogan from Westport scooped the prize for best boatman on the final day.