Sunday 11th August 2013 saw 75 anglers from all over Ireland descend once again on Lough Muckno for the eagerly awaited teams of Five event organised by the Irish Angling Development Alliance in conjunction with the Lough Muckno Club.
After a seamless draw process at The Old Coach Inn the anglers dispersed to five sections at Black Island, Yellow Island, two on White Island and also one on Concra Wood.
Team captains were on this occasion given the opportunity to test the specific skill of their team members by placing them on sections they felt would yield the best points for their teams by a simple 5 peg draw, one from each section.
Following the all in at 11.30, it soon became evident that big weights would be required in all five sections with an abundance of fish being caught from the off.
Some teams bemoaned not so much poor draws but rather pegs not fancied and ones difficult to win the 15 man section off.
All team members fought it out to the bitter end and at 4.30pm the weigh-in showed once again the magnificence of the venue.
Top weight was that of Stevie Wright off Black Island weighing in at 31kgs and 810 grms and ten further weights were recorded in the twenties of kgs from this section and the other four with even 21kgs coming off the shallow 4ft deep peg 144 on the Ski area of White island.
An interesting observation was that 200 kgs of fish came from the Black Island section of only 15 pegs with the lowest weight there just under 7kgs and with Yellow Island it was a similar picture.
In all just less than one (1) Tonne of fish were landed, weighed and returned to this great water during the team match where some astute anglers played it safe for best section points.
A very professional and well attended presentation was made after the event at The Old Coach Inn where the copious quantity of food was sponsored by the owner Raymond Watters.
The results yielded few surprises with the much fancied Lurgan A team coming home clear winners with 14 points and the fancied teams following closely behind.
Post mortems showed points unluckily lost that would have changed the minor placings but the deserved winners were Lurgan A comprising Philip Jackson 2nd, Jim Mc Allister 6th, David Herron 1st, Philip Walton 4th and Johnny Keith 1st.
These were followed home by Ballyhaunis A on 17 points and comprised Rory Dunne 5th, Nigel Holdsworth 5th, Gary Doyle 2nd, Mark Leonard 3rd and Shane Dunne 2nd.
In 3rd Place came Fishing Tackle and Bait with 20 pts. Team Comprised Nick Howell 1st, John Potters 3rd, Dave Slater 3rd, Ewen Weed 8th and Dave Burleigh 5th.
Unlucky in 4th place was the local Lough Muckno club, just 1 point behind on 21 points.
Team Comprised Rory O’ Neill 1st, Richard Caplice 4th, Darren Fairhurst 2nd, Francis Mc Goldrick 6th and Andy Chapman 8th.
Coming in 5th place was BSI with David Hamilton 3rd, Kevin Norcliffe 6th, Neil Mazurek 8th, Derek Buckley 2nd and Bow Donaldson 4th giving them a total of 23 points.
This was a very competitive team match with a wide range of angling abilities on show but all 15 teams’ members acquitted themselves with character and spirit, learning an immense amount about team fishing in the process.
A perpetual cup was on offer to the winning team and gold silver and bronze medals were also handed out at the formal presentation, along with €500 added sponsorship from the IADA.
We now look forward to our next big event the Irish Feeder Championships over two days the 14th and 15th September which promises to be a huge success with even bigger numbers than our 80 UK entrants of last year.
Finally we would remind all anglers of the biggest individual Angling Festival in Ireland ever to be held, on the 30th September to 4th October 2013 on Lough Muckno.
The IPB Autumn Festival promises to be a huge event with €5000 guaranteed to the winner and has €10,000 added with a full entries and sponsorship payout.
The entry fee for 5 of the best days fishing ever and with the best payout for any individual festival in Ireland ever, is a modest €150.
The Fishing is great.
The Payout is great.
The Access is great.
The Parking is great.
The Organisation is great.
The complimentary food is great.
The craic is great.
What more could you ask for!
Book now and share and like us on Facebook for your chance to win a free entry to the event.
