The 2017 Wterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival is won by local anglers Keith Murphy with a great catch of 36kg 40gms on Friday at Cleenish Bridge. Keiths total weight over the three days of the 53kg 890gms netted him the winners cheque of £5,000 and the coveted Crystal Chalice.
In second place overall was Doncaster Angler and Manager of the England Feeder Team, Tommy Pickering, a previous Classic winner, whose total of 41kgs 540gms earned him £2,000 and the runners-up crystal. In third place was another local angler Tony Green with a total of 40kg 720gms which landed him £1500 and a crystal sports trophy. Fourth overall was Craig Brown from Ross-on-Wye whose 40kg 570gms was enough to secure him £1000 and a Belleek trophy. Filling out the top six were Richy Roberts from LLanidloes with 38kgs 800gms and another local angler Paul Eyres with 38kg 510gms.
The winners of the hotely contested team event, the Waterways Ireland Masters, were the 'Team With No Name', with 'Dads & Lads' second and 'Two Postman Pats and a Couple of Sprats' in third place.
The Classic is sponsored for the fifteenth year by Waterways Ireland and is organised by Fermanagh & Omagh District Council in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture, Enviroment and Rural Affairs.