With 1500kg of fish caught by 42 anglers over 4 days, the 2013 Belturbet Summer Angling Festival proved yet again to be a great success.
The four sections fished at Lower Derries, Killykeen match length and Glasshouse Lough provided equal amounts of fish with the prominent species being Hybrids, unlike the previous years catches dominated by Roach.
With less than 5kg between the first and sixth placed anglers it was a close match. Bas Smith showed consistency throughout the match finishing in the top three for three of the four days and eventually winning overall, now for the third time, with a total weight of 52.870kg. Closely followed in second place by Wayne Fuller who caught a massive 26kg of Tench at Lower Derries on the pole on day 3.
21 anglers travelled over from the UK to fish the match, staying in the local area to combine their angling holiday with the festival activities. With the visiting angler making up half of the total competitors the match organisers were able to avail of sponsorship from The Gathering bringing the total prize fund to €7,000.
Based on aggregate weight prizes were paid to the top 8 anglers;
Festival Winners:
- 1st Bas Smith 52.870kg
- 2nd Place: Wayne Fuller 51.590kg
- 3rd Place: Tony Kersley 50.890kg
- 4th Place: Jon Potters 49.280kg
- 5th Place: Russ Dowding 48.970kg
- 6th Place: Rory O’Neil 47.670kg
- 7th Place: Brian Bohan 47.110kg
- 8th Place: Francis McGoldrick 45.140kg
The match organisers would like to express their thanks to the Erne Festival Committee, local landowners, Coillte’ and Francis and his staff at the Seven Horseshoes, Belturbet for their hospitality.
If you would like to book in for this event in 2014 to take place from Monday 28th July to Thursday 31st July or wish to enter the Belturbet Autumn Festival taking place over five days from the 2nd to the 6th September, please call Paul Lee on + 353 87 985 6602.
http://www.festivaloftheerne.com/fishing_competition_belturbet_festival_of_the_erne.html
Report courtesy of www.irelandtravelplus.co.uk Ireland Travel Plus
