Last week saw Galway and Connemara hosting the FIPS-Mouche World Flyfishing Championships for the first time. The event saw teams from all over the world, including USA, South Africa, Japan, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Italy, Scotland, Finland and the home team competing over 4 sessions on Loughs Corrib, Inagh, Fee and Muck. Weather conditions were much improved on the previous week’s bright sunny weather, and fishing was good enough that most anglers were catching, yet hard enough to provide a good test of skill for international anglers.
Each session brought a change in fortunes for teams as scores fluctuated up and down, and coming to the last session it looked like Scotland or France would take the team gold medal. However, a late surge from the Italian team sent them rocketing up the scoreboard to take top honours, while good results from the Irish team earned them a bronze medal behind Scotland.
On the individual front, it was celebrations all round for well-known Renvyle man Jackie Coyne, who won the gold medal for top angler, just ahead of Italian angler Eduardo Ferrero and Scotsman Mike Cordiner.
The event was incredibly well-run and is testament to the organisational skills of Eugene Nolan and his organising committee from the Connacht Angling Council and Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland. A lot of credit also goes to the stewards and boatmen who assisted, particularly those from the Culfin Angling Club.
