The NCFFI NCFFI National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland have all the news from the Ballybay NCFFI Charity Shield:

Match anglers from all across Ireland travelled to Castleblayney on Sunday 28th of June to take part in a charity event hosted by Ballybay Angling Association.

Anglers at Lough Muckno
Anglers at Lough Muckno

The competition was the initiative of angling couple Liam O’Brien and Sheila Bromley who first ran the event in 2014 raising funds for the Irish Cancer Society, a charity close to many anglers’ hearts. In doing so they reached out to the angling world who donated a superb array of prizes allowing all funds to go directly to the charity. By kind invitation the National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland were delighted to provide the crystal trophy and shield that can be used for years to come. This is an event now firmly on the angling calendar with lots of new ideas for 2016 already.

The 76 coarse anglers fished the Black and Yellow island sections of Lough Muckno competing for prizes donated by local businesses, tackle and bait suppliers. Entry fees, sponsored cards and donations from other angling clubs brought the total raised to over €2200

L-R Sheila of Ballybay Angling Association, Piotr Horbinski, Dympa representing the Irish Cancer Society
L-R Sheila of Ballybay Angling Association, Piotr Horbinski, Dympa representing the Irish Cancer Society

Dympna a night nurse thanked all the organisers and those who took part on behalf of the Irish Cancer Sciety as she presented the trophy to the winner Piotr Horbinski of Fishmaniak Polish Angling Club. The fishing wasn’t as good as expected, Piotr’s match win was 6kgs but this was one angling competition that was more about taking part and judging by the banter on the bank it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

L-R Liam, Dympna, Sheila with the Ballybay NCFFI Charity Shield
L-R Liam, Dympna, Sheila with the Ballybay NCFFI Charity Shield

Ballybay Angling Association would like to thank all those who took part, Raymond Watters at the Old Coach Inn for his hospitality and their sponsors: IADA, Matrixfishing.eu, Boland Ireland, Lakeview Angling, Clones Coarse Anglers, Daiwa, Fishing Tackle and Bait, Irish Bait and Tackle Limited, Creighton Hotel, Clones, ArdeeTackle Shop, Tracbucco, Tubertini UK LTD, Cloughbally Mill Wholesale (Fox),Ringerbaits, Sensas Ireland, Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship, Inland Fisheries Ireland, Newry Coarse Fish Angling Club, Leinster Federation, Daingean Match Anglers.