Monday morning, 9th September saw the first casts of the 2013 Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championships. 128 anglers from across Europe went to pegs in the counties of Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh to compete to win the glittering prizes and trophies.
€30,000 will be spread between the top ten pairs at the end of a hard-fought five days of fishing. The winning pair will definitely deserve the €16,000 first prize and Irish crystal trophy. All competitors will also be competing for the Daiwa Cup. With many star names and International anglers on the bank, this individual trophy is sure to be recognition of a superb performance. As well as tackle prize vouchers kindly donated by Daiwa, the winner will also collect £1,000. Daiwa’s voucher contribution runs from £1,500 voucher for the individual winner down to £400 for tenth place.
Started in 2012, the Lakelands and Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championships is the richest coarse match in Ireland. The outstanding fishing has attracted a quality field of high-calibre anglers. Three former World Individual champions are in attendance. Kevin Ashurst, Tommy Pickering and four-time individual champion, Bob Nudd have returned, eager to take the spoils. Steve Ringer, Kevin Rowles and double winner Matt Hall represent Fish O Mania winners and several members of Preston Innovations England feeder team are looking to grab a share of the prizes.
Practise matches brought weights up to 35kg. The changeable weather seems to have settled into mid-teens temperatures and overcast skies. If the rain stays away, the fishing should be brilliant. Philip Jackson, one half of 2012 champion pair, fished Bunerky Lake in Cavan on Saturday for 35kg of skimmers. Simon Fry of Garbolino won a tight section on Garadice Lake on Sunday with close to 20kg of roach-bream hybrids. This weight saw him hold off the challenge of local tackle shop owner Willie Wheeler and Daiwa superstar Steve Ringer.
Simon has never fished in Ireland before and had this to say about his first impressions: “The venues here are beautiful, it sure beats sitting on a close-pegged commercial every weekend.”
2012 pairs runner-up Mark Pollard (Shimano/Dynamite Baits) wants to go one better this year. “With my partner, Derek Willan, we would like to take the top spot this year. I was amazed at the quality of the fish last year, and this made me want to return and fish more events in 2013.”
At the opening night, held in the Standing Stone Hotel in Ballinamore, Norma Herron of Waterways Ireland welcomed the anglers and noted the number of new faces that this event has attracted. She said “it’s good to see this event is bringing anglers to the Lakelands region to sample the best of wild fishing in our pristine natural surroundings.”
Colm Breheny of Failte Ireland also attended the section rotation draw at the opening event. “New faces are always welcome in the towns and villages in the Lakelands region. Our hospitality is well-known and we love to see visitors enjoying the fishing and the ‘craic’.”
For the latest results visit http://www.worldpairsangling.com
The event is sponsored by Lakelands and Inland Waterways, a marketing and product development initiative of Waterways Ireland, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Fermanagh Tourism and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
The organisers would like to acknowledge the work of DCAL Inland Fisheries Northern Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland in facilitating the event.
