John Chambers reports on the previously postponed and finally fished National Pike Championship…
Fifty three enthusiastic anglers turned up at Shannonbridge on 03 October for the postponed final (due to Covid-19). All precautions were implemented as per NPHET guidelines during the check-in process. Fishing was superb with weather and water levels perfect – this aided a large number of fish been caught with the heaviest bag in the 60lb bracket and the cut-off 39lb!

In a thrilling competition where literally hundreds of pike were caught and safely released Eugene Mc Cabe emerged as the new IFPAC Champion. This is Eugene’s second time as IFPAC Champion. This has never happened in the history of IFPAC since was founded in 1988.
Results were as follows:
1st Eugene McCabe 12 fish – 64Ib 9oz
2nd Jody Kiernan 21 fish 55Ib 14oz
3rd David Walsh 13 fish – 54Ib 11oz
4th Eddie McGuirk 10 fish – 54Ib 11oz
5th Tucker McCabe 13 fish – 46Ib 11oz
6th Mark Kiernan 16 fish – 46Ib 3oz
7th Albert McNamara 10 fish 43Ib 1oz
8th Paul Reynolds 12 fish 40Ib 5oz
9th Rodney Gaynor 12 fish – 39Ib 7oz
10th Dave Murphy 11fish – 39Ib 4oz
(Joint 10th. Dave is 10th with 1 more fish)
Substitutions:
11th Marty Lawlor 10 fish – 39Ib 4oz
12th Tommy Coffey 15 fish – 39Ib
Heaviest Fish: 18Ib 8oz Carl O’Reilly
14 Doubles caught.
Amount of Fish: 342.
Report courtesy of the Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs
The Irish Federation of Pike Angling Clubs (IFPAC) is a body representing pike anglers in Ireland, North and South.The IFPAC was founded on 17th January 1988 at a meeting held at the Ardboyne Hotel, Navan. The membership for that year stood at fifteen clubs representing six hundred anglers, today membership of IFPAC is approaching 100 affiliated clubs representing in excess of seven thousand anglers from all walks of life.