MONDAY 14th MAY
WATERWAYS IRELAND CLASSIC FISHING FESTIVAL 2007

The 2007 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival got off to a flying start today on the waters of Lough Erne in County Fermanagh. Two hundred and fifty (250) anglers trekked to the fifteen (15) fishing sections along the banks of the Erne and cast their lines, hoping to reel in a good catch of fish to give them a chance of winning the top prize of £3,000 and a crystal chalice, or some of the many other cash prizes on offer this week.

The recent warm weather conditions seemed to have provoked early spawning among the fish population of Enniskillen, which promptly headed away from the previously productive town sections, into deeper waters outside of the town. The organisers of the festival made drastic changes to the line up of sections over the weekend, introducing new areas such as Tamlaght, which turned out to be a lucky choice.

Today's top weight of 63kg 100gms was caught on the new Tamlaght section by Ross-on-Wye angler Richard Hoskins, who also netted £500 for his efforts. Second was Allan Reid from Omagh with 46kgs 600gms, also from the Tamlaght section. Third was Ray Thompson from Macclesfield who netted 33kgs 800gms from the same productive section. Top local angler was former Londoner, Kevin Locke, now living in Kesh, who landed 22kgs 300gms at the fancied Rossahilly section.

The action continues on Tuesday with the first day of the King of the Erne event and the next Classic fishing day is on Wednesday. Although there is a clear leader, the first day winner has never won the overall prize in the history of the competition. The general consensus is that the competition is still wide open and expectations will be high when the anglers congregate for the draw at the Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen on Wednesday morning at the later time of 10am.

The Classic Fishing Festival, now in its 32nd year, is being sponsored for the fifth year by Waterways Ireland and still remains the premier fishing festival in the British Isles.

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Further info from:
Eddie McGovern, Fermanagh District Council on 00 44 28 6632 3110; or
Aoife Morrissy, Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland, 00 353 71 9650787 or 00 353 87 9918412.

Date: 14.05.07
PR07008

Angler Keith Winn from Bedworth, with his outstanding catch of 32 kilos 300 grammes on the first day of fishing at the Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival on Lough Erne.