Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, Cllr. Alex Baird with Gus Greaves the winner of the 2008 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival and John Martin, Chief Executive, Waterways Ireland at the prize giving ceremony on Friday 2nd May in Enniskillen.

FRIDAY 2 MAY

WATERWAYS IRELAND CLASSIC FISHING FESTIVAL 2008

The 2008 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival finished with a real cliff-hanger today. English-born Irvinestown resident Gus Greaves scooped the top prize of £5,000 and a Crystal Chalice with a winning overall catch of 72kgs 470gms, a mere 50gms ahead of multiple World Champion Bob Nudd.

Going into the final day Wayne Truman from Nottingham held the overall lead, closely followed by Bob Nudd, but Gus' 33kgs 400gms from the improving Rossahilly section catapulted him into top place. Wayne Truman finished third overall with 71kgs 910gms followed by Lee Harries from Oxley with 57kgs 620gms, Neil Mazurek from Cootehill was fifth with a total of 51kgs 700gms and young Newent angler Philip Bendall completed the top six with 46kgs 30gms.

Changing weather conditions throughout the week have added to the unpredictability of the Classic with different sections performing better on different days. The decision to hold the event earlier in the year appears to have paid off, and the average catch per angler has improved on 2007.

The Classic is sponsored for the sixth year by Waterways Ireland and is organised by Fermanagh District Council in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.

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For further information please contact Aoife Morrissy, Waterways Ireland on 00 353 71 965 0622 or Eddie McGovern, Fermanagh District Council on 028 6632 3110.

PR08006
Date: 02.05.2008