Warren Doyle reports that the European Federation of Sea Anglers (EFSA) held their 2013 Shore Championships in the Heinkenszand, Zeeland area of Northern Holland from the 28th of October to November 1st 2013.
The competition started on Wednesday on beaches around Westkapelle & Domburg with an onshore wind making casting very difficult. Best result on the night was for local angler Arjan Rijnberg with 36 fish. Team Ireland had good results with Joe Byrne 2nd in his zone, Micheàl Quinn 3rd & both Clive Ivory & Warren Doyle scoring 4ths. This from 16 anglers to each of 5 zones. The result put Ireland in 1st place, 2 points ahead of Italy.
Day 2 was fished on the opposite side of the dyke with an offshore wind. Conditions were very trying and fish very hard to find. Best result on the night was Arjan Rijnberg once again with 34 fish. This was an exception though with some zones being won with as few as 5 fish. Team Ireland had a super night. Micheàl Quinn leading the way with a 7 fish zone win, Warren Doyle with a 3 fish zone 2nd, Joe Byrne with a 19 fish zone 2nd & Clive Ivory with an 8 fish zone 3rd. This rocketed the team 13 points ahead of Italy with Netherlands 7 points further back.
Day 3 was brought back to the same beach as the first night. This was a head to head with Italy for the title. Team Italy fought a very hard battle to bridge the gap & won the night by 54 points to Ireland’s 50 from 2 fourths & 2 fifths. Best individual was Arjan Rijnberg with 28 fish.
The species of fish caught were Dab, Whiting, Bass, Flounder, Plaice, Dragonet, Dover Sole & Lesser Spotted Dogfish.
These Championships were fished on the same beaches as the World Championships in 2012. The help & advice given by Ireland’s medal winning team at those championships was invaluable to team EFSA Ireland.
The final team result was: Ireland 165 points. Italy 156 points. The Netherlands 138 points. This is the first time Ireland has won the European Shore Angling Championship. After near misses as far back as 1999 at Langeland in Denmark when The Netherlands took the title by a single point from Ireland.
Individual: 1. Arjan Rijnberg, Netherlands. 2. Roberto Miserandino, Italy. 3. Volker Claus, Germany.
Team Ireland: Joe Byrne, Courtown, Co. Wexford – 4th.
Micheàl Quinn, Bray, Co. Wicklow – 7th.
Clive Ivory, Gorey, Co. Wexford – 12th.
Warren Doyle, Bray, Co. Wicklow – 13th.
Shay O’Neill, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin – 40th.
