This report from the organisers of the AWOL League 2023/24:
With all of the lines out of the water, in reflection the 2023/24 AWOL league was a great league with some very close competition between the participating anglers.
Albert Adcock won the first match at Laois Angling Centre, with Denis Goulding taking both the second and third matches at Laois and Ardaire Springs respectively. However, there was someone gaining ground on the leaders even after missing the first match. The league only counts the best four results out of five sessions, and even though he was in 7th place after the first 3 matches, Shane Bird won the fourth match only weeks after winning the Munster Banks which put him 4 points behind Denis Goulding, the overall leader. Jano Knazko won the fifth and final heat and it was down to the points overall to decide this year’s champion.
With the scores totted up there were two anglers tied on place points with 36 points apiece, a record number of points for the league. The anglers chatted and enjoyed the food and hospitality at Laois Angling Centre as the scores were checked and checked again. Sure enough, Shane Bird had caught up with Denis Goulding with some superb angling over his 4 legs – including the longest fish overall of 69cm. Fish points were counted and although Denis had caught 44 fish to Shane’s 42 fish, the fish points had Shane out in front with 25490 to Denis’ 24310 – 1180 points in the difference.
Shane deservingly had won the AWOL League 2023/24.
The organisers would like to thank everyone that took part in the league and hope to see the anglers back again to commence battle again later this year.
They would also like to thank all of the main sponsors,
- Rory’s Fishing Tackle.
- Southside Angling.
- Premier Angling.
- PiscariFly
- Fario Fly.
- Alan Lawless Doors and Floors.
- Brian Conway for his donation of a bottle of Jameson.
- Denis Goulding for donating 2 x prizes.
- Ned Maher & family / Ardaire Springs for allowing two heats at the venue and donating two prizes.
- Enda and Johno for accommodating the three heats at Laois Angling Centre and arranging food for the final.
Without the continuing sponsorship of these people the competition would be very hard to run – so please support these businesses when buying fishing gear.
A big shout out to Denis Goulding, Peter M Doherty, Brian Conway and Kevin McClean for all of their work during the league.