IADA reports on the Muckno Mania Festival which was fished over 5 days, finishing with a flourish on Sunday…
Coming into today’s fishing we wondered if Lee Klimczuk hang on and he didn’t just do that but instead he turned in another immaculate performance to put some light between himself and the field when the tot was done by the figures man Geoff Quinn tonight.
Of the leading pack Lee was the sole competitor to hold and indeed consolidate his winning position with a catch of almost 15kgs from White Island. Finishing on 61.210 kgs for a winning weight and a lead of more than 6kgs, this man once again showed his class and justified fully his favourite tag throughout each day of the Festival. W.V.D Helm another who kept up a relentless pace throughout, had no off day and his in depth experience of this venue is beginning to take its toll on the high level fields now competing here. This man languished menacingly in 7th overnight and made his play today, with almost 16kgs and a fine 2nd place and a giant share of the spoils. Every day so far we had a charger and none more so than today in the shape of Piotr Horbinski,who is showing some serious Irish form in recent times. This young man with a brilliant 22kgs from peg 204 yellow island forged from 19th overnight to third spot and his collective earnings in doing so was in excess of €1,000, especially well done Piotr. Ray O’ Sullivan hung on in 4th place after a fine early weeks work that saw him threaten the lead more than once. That man again Kevin Johnson just never slackens and his move through the field was predictable and a thing to behold, culminating in a fine 15.22 kgs final day weight and a top 5 finish.
Making up the top 8 prize winners were the tenacious, irrepressible Tony Hopkins in 6th, the popular and efficient gentleman John Clapham in 7th and the luckless Rob Rowe, the week long top two prospect, who dropped back into 8th spot albeit with a good weeks pay-out on his first venture into the Muckno Festival scene.
Over 50 people attended the usual after Festival courtesy dinner at the Old Coach Inn and the competitors were loud in the praise of the venue and the Festival organisation, including the special courtesy treatment each day at the host venue the Old Coach Inn.
Chairman of the Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Municipal Council P.J O Hanlon from Carrickmacross presented the valuable prizes and thanked the ever increasing number of visiting anglers attending this and the other 6 Festivals now hosted on this fine venue annually.
Mark Pollard on behalf of the Anglers thanked the organisers, the council and IPB for their kind sponsorship of this event and for their continued support and assistance in making Lough Muckno the most sought after venue for Festival Angling now in Ireland.
We look forward to a hectic schedule for the remainder of the year with two Irish opens this weekend and then a succession of Festivals and matches until November.
We, the organisers at Lough Muckno Matches group, thank sincerely the IPB Diaspora fund and Monaghan Tourism for their continued sponsorship and support which is the lifeblood of events such as these and in doing so are responsible for delivering substantial economic benefit to the local and wider community.
Final day section winners
- W.V.D. Helm
- D. Beaver
- F. Feeney
- Klimczuk
- Myers
- N. Mallinsion
- M Smith
- Horbinski
- E. Weed
- K. Johnson
Day 4 report
On Day 4 of our Muckno Mania Festival the Angling gods turned against us somewhat, with a change in direction of the seriously high wind, a drop in temperature and torrential rain added in the final hours, to dampen the high spirits on show in all sections. Other than theses few little inconveniences, all anglers seemed to brave the elements and the challenge, in the usual spirit of friendship and camaraderie. The actual consequence of course was the drop in the fish catch in almost all the cases, where good pegs needed to be exploited and not so good ones maximised, if our leader group were to stay in contention or consolidate further.
Lee Klimczuk held on grimly to top spot but with a reduced lead, now down to just 1kg, from the ever consistent Rob Rowe who continues to attack in 2nd place heading off 3rd by just 500grammes. It was indeed the move of the day here, from Ray O Sullivan with his 18kgs from erstwhile unfancied 153 Black Island, that is now causing some anxious moments, for the lead two, holding on with the smallest of margins. Well fancied John Clapham on peg 161 suffered more than most with this area collapsing in the changed conditions but his spirited performance and 7kgs ensures that he is still very much in touch, only 3 KGS adrift. Tony Hopkins and Rory O’ Neill turned in dogged performances to hold their positions on the leader board, followed closely by Willem V.D.Helm another 4th day placing’s climber. These three are definitely not without a strong chance in the battle for the podium, trailing by only 5kgs in all cases. Ominously for the first time this week K Johnson and Mark Pollard, two of the pre match favourites have made it into the top ten in 8th and 9th respectively and can go all the way tomorrow, with such fluctuating fortunes befalling the lead group.
Pete Jones makes up the top ten and with his wily tenacious graft, not to mention well seasoned skill, he is a sure bet for a good return on his hard earned cash.
John Fletcher and Neil Mallinsion might have played their strategic jokers early and the conditions in their zones punished today. However fortune favours the brave and they also can also challenge on the final day when we will see again, surprise weights from just about any peg.
With the Muckno Mania angling Festival gaining in reputation and prestige and with top level competitors being attracted, this Festival win will surely look good on any Angling CV in the future.
It’s still all to play for in the challenge to become Muckno Mania angling champion and there is also the small matter of reward, with the top ind prize of €2,000, the winner will realistically walk away with over €3,000 in all (pools daily overall sections).
Section Prizes Day 4
- S. Burdekin
- T. Hopkins
- S. Myers
- P. Jones
- R. O’Sullivan
- P. Horbinski
- K. Johnson
- Pollard
- W. Van Den Helm
- R Rowe
Upcoming events
IADA July Festival Lough Muckno July 13th to 17th incl
Entry: (5day) €150 plus €60 optional pools. (Sponsorship added)
IADA National Garda Open Lough Muckno July 18th.
Entry: €25
IADA Irish Open Lough Muckno July 19th.
Entry: €25. (Sponsorship added)
IADA Irish Open Teams of 5 Lough Muckno. August 9th.
Entry: €100 per team. (Sponsorship added).
IADA assisted Annual Dutch Festival September 7th to September 11th.
IADA Five day Feeder Festival Lough Muckno 7th to 11th September 2015 Entry: 5 days €150 plus optional pools. (Sponsorship added)
IADA Irish Open Feeder Champs Lough Muckno Sept 12th and 13th.
Entry: €60 plus optional pools. (Sponsorship added)
IADA Co Monaghan Pairs Festival Lough Muckno Sept 14th to 18th incl
Entry: £100 plus optional pools of £60. (Sponsorship added)
IADA Irish pairs champ Lough Muckno 26th and 27th September 2014.
Entry: €100 per pair, plus pools. (Sponsorship added)
IADA Lough Muckno Autumn Pre Festival Open. September 27th
Entry €30.
IADA Lough Muckno Autumn Festival September 28th to Oct 2rd
(Sponsorship added)
Entry: (5days) €150 plus optional pools of €60. (Sponsorship added)
