WATERWAYS IRELAND CLASSIC FISHING FESTIVAL 2014

MONDAY 12th MAY

The 2014 Waterways Ireland Classic got off to a sometimes wet and windy start on Monday on the shores of Lough Erne.  Weather conditions were variable to say the least, with spells of sunshine interspersed with heavy rain showers.  The colder temperatures did not have an adverse affect on the fishing however, with most of the sections fishing well.  In addition, some excellent weights were recorded from the consistent Lough Acrussel, Rossahilly and Cornagrade sections.

The top weight of the day, 28kg 330gms from Peg 14 at Lough Acrussel, earned previous Classic winner John Potters from Lisbellaw the daily overall top prize of £500.  Second with 23kg 880gm was Classic regular Dickie Carr from Cheshunt, netting him £350 for his day’s fishing on the improving Rossahilly section.  In third place was another Classic regular Matthew Hall from Nottingham who landed 20kg 320gm, also from the Lough Acrussel section.  Completing the top four was Jimmy Messer from Durham with 18kg 920gm from Peg 15 on the Cornagrade section.

As is often the case with the Classic, the top thirty on the leader board contains anglers from Ireland, England and Germany.  This year the Waterways Ireland Classic has an entry of 234 anglers in total, a very encouraging increase in numbers.  The long established fishing festival has again attracted a group of dedicated anglers from Germany with one of their number, Heinz Keil achieving 15th place overall today.

Once again the waterways Ireland Classic is wide open going into the second day of the competition on Wednesday.  The expected higher temperatures could have an interesting effect as the week progresses and the draw on Wednesday morning will be eagerly anticipated by all the anglers competing in Ireland’s biggest angling festival.

The action continues tomorrow (Tuesday) with the first day of the Railway Hotel ‘King of the Erne’ festival, organised by the local Erne Anglers Angling Club.

The Classic is sponsored for the twelfth year by Waterways Ireland, with additional sponsorship from DIAWA and is organised by Fermanagh District Council in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

For further information please contact Norma Herron, Waterways Ireland, on 028 6632 3004 or Eddie McGovern, Fermanagh District Council, on 028 6632 3110.

WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY

WATERWAYS IRELAND CLASSIC FISHING FESTIVAL 2014

The second day of the three-day Waterways Ireland Classic saw a change in the weather.  The chilly wind and heavy showers of Monday were replaced by the more typical ‘soft’ Fermanagh weather, that is warm and damp.

The change in the weather also brought a further improvement in the fishing, with the traditional Classic sections of Ely Lodge and Rossahilly coming to the fore.  The three top weights of the day came from these sections.  Richard Smith from Audenshaw, who has been participating in the Classic since he was a junior angler, landed 32kgs 350gms from Peg 14 at Ely Lodge, netting him the top daily prize of £500.  In second place Bellaghy angler Derek Buckley’s 24kg from neighbouring Peg 15 at Ely Lodge earned him £350.  Classic regular, Pete Bagshaw from Stainforth landed 23kg 380gms from Peg 7 at Rossahilly to win £250 and complete the top three.  Fourth overall was St Neots angler Anthony Watling Junior, whose 21kg 450gms from the Sligo Road section won him £150 for his efforts.  Top locals today were Paul Eyres and Tony Kersley, in 18th and 19th places respectively.

Today’s action rearranged the leader board somewhat, with Monday’s winner John Potters dropping to sixth place overall but still in contention for the big prize on Friday.  Derek Buckley’s catch today has elevated him from tenth to first overall with Richard Smith a close second, Matthew Hall in third and Neil Mallinson only a roach away in fourth place.

This year the Waterways Ireland Classic has taken to the World Wide Web.  For news and updates on the competition you can click on the Classic Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ClassicFishingFestival, follow the event on Twitter at @FishClassic or visit the Fermanagh District Council website at www.fermanagh.gov.uk/ClassicFishingFestival.

The action continues tomorrow (Thursday) with the final day of the Railway Hotel ‘King of the Erne’ festival, organised by the local Erne Anglers Angling Club.

The Classic is sponsored for the twelfth year by Waterways Ireland, with additional sponsorship from DAIWA and is organised by Fermanagh District Council in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

For further information please contact Norma Herron, Waterways Ireland, on 028 6632 3004 or Eddie McGovern, Fermanagh District Council, on 028 6632 3110.