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IFI Ballinamore Angling Festival 2015

4/6/2015

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One of our own festivals the  IFI Ballinamore Angling Festival 2015 took place from Monday 25th to 29th May.  Based in the Ballinamore area the festival only in it's third year attracted 36 anglers mostly due to the ease of access to Lough Garadice and the good fishing usually experienced in the area.  The festival supported by Ballinamore Tourism Group with sponsorship of €500 from Waterways Ireland was fished by rotation on Connolly's Church and Haughton's Shores of Garadice with an open draw on the Friday.

Congratulations to John Potters, Lisbellaw the 2015 winner who picked up fabulous prize money of €900 for his festival catch of 34.480kg. In second place was Dave Pickering, Stoke on Trent with 30.340kg ahead of local angler Brian Bohan of Mohill with 28.420kg for third. In fourth place was another new face on the festival Tony Green who picked up €300 with his 24.000kg ahead of last years festival winner Dara Finnegan who placed fifth.

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Sadly the weather conditions were not on our side and made the fishing difficult at times; mostly hybrids & skimmers with the roach starting to move back into the lake towards the end of the week. A few bonus bream and tench were caught too.

Lough Garadice provides easy access angling with the ability to park right behind your peg at Haughton's and Church Shores.  With kind permission of the landowner anglers may drive to their pegs on Connolly's Shore but when the going gets tough Inland Fisheries come to the recuse and transport the anglers equipment to their pegs.  A fantastic service.
The next international event to take place on these shores will be the World Pairs Angling Championships in September - register now at www.worldpairsangling.com
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40th Anniversary Waterways Classic

18/5/2015

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The 40th Anniversary Waterways Ireland Classic ended with another exciting finish. Stuart Northrop from St Neots, Cambs emerged victorious with a total catch over the three days of 44kgs 60gms.  His 27kgs 960gms catch from the productive Portora section on the final day clinched him the Classic title for 2015, along with a cheque for £5,000 and the coveted Crystal Chalice.

232 anglers took part in this years 40th Anniversary event with the majority travelling from overseas and staying in County Fermanagh.  The full competition results can be downloaded here
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In second place overall was German angler Rudiger Hansen, whose consistent day one and three catches boosted his total to 37kgs 690gms and earned him £2,000 and a Crystal Trophy.  In third place overall was Norman Thewlis from Middlestown, with a total of 36kgs 580gms, which netted him £1,500 and a Crystal Trophy.
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In fourth overall was Frank Smith from Omagh with 35kgs 440gms, Thorsten Beil from Germany was fifth with 35kgs 430gms and local angler Phil McCaffrey from Lisbellaw completed the leader board in sixth place with 35kgs 170gms.
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The weather throughout Classic week has been ‘Classic Fermanagh’, ranging from gale force winds to bright sunshine and from chilly mornings to balmy evenings.  The catches improved along with the weather as the week progressed and some very good weights were recorded, from Boa Island on Lower Lough Erne to Corradillar on the upper lake.

The Classic is probably Europes' most prestigious individual title to win along with a very nice cash purse.  It's all about the luck of the draw over the three days of the festival but it's the local hospitality and the fun of Classic Week that keeps the anglers coming back year after year.  Ask Ron Williams from Barnet, London and the only angler who has taken part in very one of the 40 competitions and he will be back next year.  Well done Ron!

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The Classic has long been the favourite of many angling faces including current and former World Champions who turn out year after year for that chance of the title.  Running inside the match is the Teams event and this year it was Team Van den Eynde's turn to show off their combined skills and take first place.  L-R Bob Nudd MBE, Gary Whalley, Richard Turner DCAL Inland fisheries, Baz Smith, Kevin Ashurst.  Yes, there is a fancy dress tradition at the Gala Presentation to end the week.
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We are already taking bookings for next years event and will be releasing details of some new accommodation in County Fermanagh shortly.  Please get in touch for more information.
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40th Anniversary Waterways Classic

14/5/2015

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The town fished well on day two, Wednesday of the Waterways Classic fished in glorious weather. Today’s winner was Norman Thewlis from Middlestown, whose catch of 30kgs 230gms from peg 9 at Rossahilly earned him the top daily prize of £500.  This superb catch propelled him from 144th to overall first place on the leader board.  Young angler, Cameron Hughes, from Little Eaton, came in second with 20kgs 350gms caught on peg 32 at Cornagrade.  Third place was taken by Nigel Truman from Nottingham with a catch of 16kgs 880gms from peg 8 at Rossahilly, and in fourth place was Matthew Hall, also from Nottingham, who took 15kgs 50gms from peg 28 at Cornagrade. 

Friday morning will commence with Norma Thewlis in first position. Fergal Smith from Balliniagh, County Cavan has moved up into second place.  Third overall going into the final day on Friday is young English angler, Cameron Hughes, who is a member of one of five father and son teams fishing the Classic this year.
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40th Anniversary Waterways Classic

11/5/2015

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It's finally here the 40th Anniversary of Europe's premier angling festival the Waterways Classic.  Previously known as the P & O Ferries, Sealink, Dunhill and Guinness Classic as many of the old faces here in Enniskillen will remember.

232 anglers checked in for the draw this morning at the Lakeland Forum to find a variety of venues old and new.  Much effort has been put into searching for new locations on the Erne and this years event introduces some island fishing along with the re-introduction of a few venues.  

It was a hard day's fishing due to the near hurricane conditions on the Erne.  Newbridges was the venue for the top weight of today awarded to Phil Bardell of Milton Keynes with his 16.110kg.
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Mahon's Angling Festival 2015

9/5/2015

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Kevin Locke, former DELCAC team member and UK National winner has won the 2015 Mahon's Angling Festival held on the Erne in Co. Fermanagh.  Kevin knows all there is to know about fishing in Ireland having fished the entire circuit in previous years and won many Erne Festivals along with matches in Inniscarra and Clones. This knowledge gave him the inspiration for the Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Festival which showcases some of the best angling there is on offer in the Lakelands region and has put angling in Ireland back on the map. See www.worldpairsangling.com.  This week he is taking the time to participate in the festivals around making arrangements for the championships this September.

Kevin said:- It's a great honour to win the Mahon's Festival, originally created by Mal Scott and now run by his son Roddy. It has been a challenging week with the Erne the highest I have ever seen it at this time of year making the fishing tougher than normal. It was especially tough at the start of the week with the rain and a cold easterly wind but it got warmer and the fishing gradually improved.  I was hoping for that good draw on the last day to stay in the top ten and I was lucky! But this is fishing in Fermanagh, it's all about a having a great weeks fishing in good company and enjoying the craic!  So to next weeks Waterways Classic - it's going to be hard.
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Kevns week:
Day One - Cornagrade.  A brilliant day's fishing and 6 roach for 2.950kg.
Day Two - Derrycharra. A nice day fishing the tip for 3 bream and some bits giving me second place on the day with 11.450kg.
Day Three - Ely Lodge.  I drew peg 23 over the hill but with the best bit of kit I ever bought in Ireland, a 4 wheel barrow it was much easier. The fishing wasn't great at 1.250kg.
Day Four - Portora.  Peg 17 for 7.770kg of roach fishing the pole at 13m.
Day Five - Airport. Peg 5 I could not have hoped for a better draw.  I fished with red worm and maggot for 13 bream and bits for 32.440kg and the match!
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With 82 anglers competing the festival paid out to the top nine as follows;

Kevin Locke, England 55.790 
Rudiger Hansen, Germany 45.950
Andy Leathers, England 44.780
Rod Scott, England 43.850
Andy Hampson, England 41.900
Gary Drew, Northern Ireland 38.160
Graham Ault, England 36.820 
Paul Boothby, England 31.300
Kevin Rowles, England 29.730


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3rd Andy Leathers
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4th Rod Scott
Joe Mahon of Mahon's Hotel, Irvinestown and the host for the Grand Presentation presents to the winners.  Mahon's has a long history with the anglers with Joe playing the perfect host, night & day!
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Mahon's Angling Festival 2015 Day 4

7/5/2015

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A dry day today and the water is warming up.  No change at the top but a fantastic 24.100kg weight from Airport today puts German Rudiger Hansen into 2nd place.

The Top Five;

1st Rod Scott 37.400kg
2nd Rudiger Hansen 36.550kg
3rd Gary Drew 35.160kg
4th Andy Hampson 34.000kg
5th Graham Ault 28.370kg
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Mahon's Angling Festival 2015

6/5/2015

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A warmer drier day today with Ely performing for Rod Scott and Gary Drew pushing them up the leader board.  

Top 5 Results:
Rod Scott 35.650kg
Andy Hampson 30.300kg
Gary Drew 28.160kg
Paul Boothby 26.950kg
Graham Ault 26.220kg

Here are the overall results @ Day Three
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Mahon's Angling Festival 2015

6/5/2015

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82 anglers are persevering with the horrific weather conditions and high waters of Lough Erne this week fishing for those quality roach and bream these waters are renowned for.  

Sections being fished are;

Round 'O'/Protora & Brown's Field
Ely Lodge
Cornagrade
Boa Island/Lay-by/Airport
Sligo Road/Derrycharra

Here are the results @ Day Two
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Mini Mahon's Festival Results

4/5/2015

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Mahon's Hotel hosted a group of 35 anglers for the first full week of competitive angling on the Erne. The group who annually stay at the hotel, many taking the opportunity to fish ahead of the Waterways Classic 11-15 May had the weather against them.  An easterly wind, rain and hail battered them on the banks but there were some good catches of roach and hybrids with some bream and perch with Ely Lodge performing.  Kevin Ashurst led the way all week but on the final day Ely threw up weights of 28-30kg and Andy Insley took the match.



1st  Andy Insley 66.500kg

2nd Keith Smith 66.000kg

3rd Kevin Ashurst 58.150kg

4th Frank Slater 48.200kg

5th Tony Green 47.250kg

Next up is the Mahon's Festival commencing Monday 4th of May.

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FSSAA Northern Ireland Competition

2/5/2015

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29 anglers from the Fire Services National Angling Section have enjoyed their annual pilgrimage to Enniskillen in County Fermanagh to fish several locations on the Erne.  The week started with warm & sunny weather reaching 20' ending with the wintry conditions of wind, rain and hail.  

The size of the catches reduced in line with the weather but nice nets of quality hyrbids and roach were enjoyed by everyone with some bonus bream catches.  The Erne is coloured at the moment and very high.

After a few days pleasure fishing several locations to include Airport, Cornagrade, Protura and Cleenish a two-day competition took place.  Congratulations to Team Herts and Individual winner Adrian Hunter who were awarded trophies at the presentation held at the Killyhevlin Hotel.

A great week's fun was had by everyone accommodated side by side in the self catering chalets at the Killyhevlin Hotel. Situated on the River Erne this accommodation makes for the ideal anglers holiday with flexible self catering and the added benefit of 4* hotel facilities on site. More information here
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A 'Chalet' with a view @Killyhevlin Hotel
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