WATERWAYS IRELAND ERNE WORLD OPEN PIKE FISHING CLASSIC 2010 RESULTS

The 2010 Waterways Ireland Erne World Open Pike Fishing Classic took place over the weekend 15 – 17 October. The three day event consisted of one day Bank fishing competition, a Boat Fly fishing competition (both on Friday) and a separate two day Boat fishing Competition.

An excellent turnout of 363 entries from 17 different counties in Ireland were received, as well as a number of anglers from England and even one competitor flying over from the USA to take part. This is the fifth year of the event, which has been supported throughout by Waterway’s Ireland as its main sponsor.

Competitors caught a total of 227 Pike during the event, with five individual fish of over 20lbs being caught over the weekend. All fish were weighed and released unharmed.

The weekend started with the Bank and Fly Boat Events on Friday in excellent weather conditions on the River Erne around the town of Enniskillen. Brothers Eddie and Frankie Roofe from Enniskillen in Co Fermanagh dominated the Fly event, which was fished below Portora Lock to Devenish Island on the Lower Lough. Eddie took the £300 first prize with a fish of 13lbs 08ozs, while his boat partner Frankie took second and third places with fish of 11lbs 12ozs and 9lbs 5ozs.

The Bank event, with record 103 anglers took place in perfect conditions on the river sections of  Upper Lough Erne mainly in the town of Enniskillen. Lisburn angler Alan Foye took top prize in the event of £600 with a fine fish of 20lbs 06ozs from the Derrychara. English angler Kirk Booth (£400) was  runner up with a fish of 16lbs 09ozs from the Portora section, while Patrick Behan (£300) from Co Dublin was third with a fish of 13lbs 01oz. Alan Foye  won the cumulative prize of £500 with a 2 fish catch totalling 30lbs 09ozs from the Derrychara section, Kirk Booth’s 2 fish total of 26lbs 01oz was good enough for second (£300) while Jason Martin from Co Fermanagh was third with a 2 fish weight of 16lbs 03 ozs (£100).

Day one of the Boat event produced the two biggest fish in the history of the event, with local angler Darryl Curry (Enniskillen) catching a fish of 24lbs 10ozs on Saturday afternoon only to be beaten by a fish of 25lbs 00ozs a hour later by Joe McDermott from Co Longford. As both fish made it into the overall prize list it was Nigel Hamilton (Omagh, Co Tyrone) fish of 15lbs 06ozs that won the top prize of £600 for the day.   Prizes ranging from £400 to £80 were paid to an additional seven anglers on the first day.

Day two of the boat event saw another two big fish landed with Joe McDermott (Co Longford) winning the £600 daily prize with a 20lbs 08ozs while local Enniskillen angler Nick Seddon caught a record fish for the event of 25lbs 15ozs at Bellanaleck Marina to claim the £3,000 overall 1st prize.

In the overall standings Darryl Curry’s fish of 24lbs 10oz from Saturday earned him an a £1,000 for third overall with Joe McDermott’s 25lb fish winning him an additional £1,500 for second overall.

Joe McDermott and son Jason from Co Longford won the cumulative Boat prize (£500) with a catch of 11 fish for 115lbs 08ozs, with Michael Bannon and Jimmy Fitzsimmons second (£300) with 5 fish for 41lbs 10 ozs. A Fermanagh boat of John Brazil and Barry Cornyn was third (£100) with 10 fish for 39lbs 10ozs.

16 teams entered this year’s 4 man Inter County/ International team event (with £1,000 going to the winning team), it won by Team Shannon made up of anglers from Co’s Longford and West Meath. Joe and Jason McDermott and Barry and Finian Darby caught a total of 12 fish for 122lbs.

The weekend concluded with a prize giving in the Killyhevlin hotel where Erne Anglers club Secretary Jack Tisdall thanked the main sponsors Waterway’s Ireland for their continued support. He also thanked  DCAL (Fishery owners, for their continued help in the organisation of the event including the stewarding) and Fermanagh District Council’s marketing and logistical support.

Jack commented “The Waterway’s Ireland Erne World Pike Classic is without doubt the premier Pike Angling event in the world, with a total of £14,900 in cash prize money as well as Crystal trophies. The capture of three exceptional fish can only help the event to grow in the future.”

Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications at Waterways Ireland was on hand to give out the Boat prizes and commented… “Waterways Ireland is very proud to be associated with this prestigious competition and congratulations to all the Anglers who participated in both the on-shore and the boat fishing events. Waterways Ireland is particularly pleased that this year’s event has grown so much in popularity, bringing competitors from both sides of the border as well as from much further afield. We are delighted that so many, old friends and new, have experienced the outstanding fishing that the Erne has to offer.

While the largest fish caught this weekend have been impressive enough at 25lbs, we look forward to welcoming many anglers back next year to catch the even bigger pike we know are out there”.

Councillor Harold Andrews of Fermanagh District Council who presented the prizes for the Pike fly event commented “the Council prides itself in developing events in the county and it is pleasing that our natural resources are being used in a sympathetic way to further develop our tourist product.  This is the fifth time this event has been held in Fermanagh and I understand there is an exceptional turnout of anglers despite the current economic climate.  I believe the competition is one of the most prestigious pike angling events in the world and we hope that the standards set by the Erne event will be a benchmark for others”.

Marcus McAuley (Chief  Fisheries Officer DCAL) presented the prizes for the Bank Event and was delighted with the catches and large turnout at the event. He praised the partnership approach developed in the organisation of the World Pike Classic and gave a firm commitment that DCAL would continue to provide the infrastructure needed for all the public to avail of the premier angling product in Fermanagh.

Keith Collen, Recreation Officer for Fermanagh District Council went on to say “the response to the Erne competition has been outstanding , the anglers really enjoyed the 2010 event, although there are always a few things which we would reassess for future events we believe that the competition has a good foundation for  development.”

The event was enjoyed by all competitors and all fish we successfully returned alive and unharmed  to the Erne. The organisers ensured that fish welfare was paramount during the competition and best practice was employed when handling the fish under the supervision of stewards, including DCAL staff.

The event was sponsored by Waterways Ireland and organised by the Erne Anglers Angling Club, Fermanagh District Council and the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure, Inland Fisheries Division.

Photo’s
Nick Seddon from Derrygonnelly, Co Fermanagh receives his prize from Martin Dennany, Waterways Ireland
Alan Foye - Bank Winner
Joe McDermott - 25lbs fish