This report courtesy of the IFSA Connaught Council:
On the 29th of March, Killala B&S held the Connaught Open Gold Medal Shore at Lacken Strand, Co Sligo – a change of location from the original venue due to weather and beach conditions. Eighteen anglers travelled from around the country for the day. They had a 5-hour match, with just over an hour on the drop and the rest on the incoming tide.
As expected, anglers caught only a few fish before the low water mark, one in each of the two zones. As the tides changed, fishing got quiet until the third hour. Turbot and flounder began to show up evenly across the beach, with Billy Gilvarry on a center peg and Fionn O’Higgins and Sammy Sterling both on the end pegs. Tensions were high with all knowing that there was only a fish was needed to be in the lead and with the added bonus of the optional longest pool at stake.
The latecomer to the match, Eoin Gilvarry, got in the mix with a decent flounder. The sight of a fish being landed provided the anglers with the much-needed motivation to resume their fishing, with only two hours remaining. Colin Reilly from Lough Foyle Sea Angling Club landed a fine turbot, which would put him in front, although he had a lead of only a few centimetres. Fionn O’Higgins from Galway Bay complimented his earlier turbot with another fish, and on the very next cast, he landed a decent flounder.
Sammy Sterling from White Wave Sea Angling Club fought back with a second fish to put him in the lead of Zone A, and local Shane Gilvarry also made his day worthwhile with a turbot.
- 1st overall – Fionn O’Higgins (Galway Bay S.A.C.) – 3 fish (70 points)
- 1st Zone A – Sammy Sterling (White Wave S.A.C.) – 2 fish (50 points)
- 2nd Zone A – Billy Gilvarry (Killala Boat & Shore) – 1 fish (27 points)
- 1st Zone B – Colin Reilly (Lough Foyle S.A.C.) – 1 fish (31 points)
- 2nd Zone B – Shane Gilvarry (Corrane S.A.C) – 1 fish (25 points)
- Longest fish – Colin Reilly (Lough Foyle S.A.C.) – 26 cm Turbot
Connaught Council would like to thank all at Killala boat & shore angling club for organising this years Open Shore Gold Medal, a great job was done. We also thank all anglers who travelled from near and far who took part in this years competition.
