The town of Killeshandra in the heart of the Cavan lakelands once again hosted Ireland’s biggest and longest running one-day coarse angling event. The NCFFI’s All Ireland Senior Mens and Ladies Championship this year attracted 110 anglers from across Ireland and the UK to take part.
Local venues fished included Lough Oughter at Killykeen Forest Park and Sandy Point, Lower Derries, Rockfield, Glasshouse and Town Lake. The weather wasn’t kind and the fishing was expected to be tough but this didn’t deter too many.
Defending champion, John Potters, drew the centre of Rockfield and not the hot section of Killykeen that most were looking to draw. Killykeen saw Team Ireland international, Nick Howell, win the title back in 2012 and drawing here was another previous winner Philip Jackson along with notable anglers such as Wayne Fuller and Andy Chapman. However, it was to be the venue to find the All Ireland Champion of 2015 and local angler Fergal Smith with his 11kg catch.
All eyes were on Cathal Hughes who has previously published his desire to win the title but it wasn’t to be. His catch from Town Lake was just 200g short of the championship. Visiting angler Brian Nesbitt from Eastbourne had a good start to his 10 day angling holiday with a 4th place at the Bob Parker Memorial match the day previous and now third place in the All Ireland. Lee Symonds, Baz Smith and Piotr Horbinski rounded off the top six on the match with a total payout of €2750, which included payouts for every five peg section.
This year saw 6 lady anglers take part with defending ladies champion Mary Tigwell and 2012 champion Emma McMahon fighting out with Kath Huthwaite, Sheila Bromley, junior Roisin Finchett and Baete Kiehek.
Keen junior international anglers James Gargan and James O’Doherty had a good day on Lower Derries and the youngest angler of the match Eoin Rogers fished Killykeen. We hope to see them back to compete in the Junior version of this event on Saturday 29th August.
The NCFFI would like to thank Inland Fisheries for their assistance with the pegging of the venues, carrying out bio-security measures and for stewarding the event. For Peter & Cathy of Irish Bait & Tackle Ltd in braving the weather to ensure the competing anglers had the convenience of on-site fresh bait and to Gilsenan’s Bar for their hospitality.
During the registration Jack Tisdall Junior Team Ireland Manager presented Philip Jackson, Lurgan Coarse Anglers with the new NCFFI Junior Club Champions cup for his team’s win on the Newry Canal back in May. He was also delighted to receive from Robert Buick, East Belfast Coarse Anglers a cheque for €420 raised by the club to support the U18 and U23 teams attendance at the World Youth Angling Championships in Serbia 8th & 9th August.
Top Six
1st Fergal Smith 11kg
2nd Cathal Hughes
3rd Brian Nesbit 9.740kg
4th Lee Symonds 9.320kg
5th Bas Smith 8.520kg
6th Piotr Horbinski 7.940kg
Ladies
1st Mary Tigwell 6.300kg
2nd Emma McMahon 3.820kg
3rd Sheila Bromley 1.100kg
4th Kath Huthwaite .700g
5th Roisin Finchett .560g
6th Baete Kiehek 400g
Top weights by venue
Section A
Killykeen- grassy bank.
Fergal Smith 11kg
Jimmy Douglas 7.400
Tom Marshall 6.800
David Turton 5.240
Eamon Rodgers 5.000
Mike Stone 4.940
Section B
Killykeen- boathouse.
Bas Smith 8.520
Mary Tigwell 6.300
Brenton Sweeney 4.540
Darius Karaluinas 3.520
Neil O’Brien 3.080
Dave MCNeice 2.860
Section C
Rockfield.
Wayne Fuller 6.120
Philip Jackson 5.400
Frank Holding 4.840
Gary Quayle 3.920
Trev Platt 3.160
Brian Bohan 2.600
Section D
Glasshouse
Brian Nesbitt 9.740
Lee Symonds 9.320
Piotr Horbinski 7.940
Ewan Weed 7.00
Pete Reilly 5.300
John Heys 4.580
Section E
Derries.
Liam O’Brien 7.920
James O’doherty 4.080
Steve Nurse 4.010
Julian Kendrick 2.980
Leigh Maitland 2.790
James Gargan 2.670
Section G
Town Lake.
Cathal Hughes 10.800
Leo Aungier 5.800
Report compliment of:
NCFFI National Coarse Fishing Federation of Ireland
Web: http://www.ncffi.ie/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coarseangling
