WATERWAYS IRELAND CLASSIC FISHING FESTIVAL - RESULTS

The 2005 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival drew to a close on Friday 13th May after a week of extremes. Rod Scott, an English visitor from Northwich who spends a lot of time in Fermanagh, ended the week on a high note with an amazing catch of 59kgs 940gms from the Rossahilly section on Lower Lough Erne. This brought his total for the week to 104kg 280gms, the highest winning weight for the Classic since 1992, and earned him the top prize of £3,000 and the coveted Crystal trophy.

Local angler, Gordon Williams from Florencecourt landed 58kgs 810gms to capture second place overall in the Waterways Ireland Classic and another English visitor, Raymond Thompson finished third overall with a total weight of 52kgs 10gms. Next highest placed local angler was Phil McCaffrey from Lisbellaw in fifth place.

The dry weather and bright sunshine that lasted throughout the week might have given the 310 anglers a suntan, but it was far from ideal for fishing and overall catches were well down on last year. The Classic organisers are considering what changes need to be made to the format of the festival for next year, to improve the experience for competing anglers.

Organised by Fermanagh District Council, the Classic Fishing Festival is sponsored for the third year by Waterways Ireland, the North/South implementation body responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of the inland navigable waterways system.

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Further information from:

Ms Aoife Morrissy, Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland, 00 353 71 9650787 or 00 353 87 9918412, or
Martin Dennany, Director of Marketing and Communications, Waterways Ireland, 00 44 28 66346203.

Date: 14.05.2005
PR050014

Top angler Rod Scott from Northwich, winner of the Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival with a total catch of over 104 kilos, the best overall winning weight since 1992. The competition, held on Lough Erne all this week (Monday 9th - Friday 13th May), attracted 310 anglers.

Rod Scott from Northwich, winner of the Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival, receiving his award and a cheque for £3,000 from Mr. John Martin, Chief Executive of Waterways Ireland.

Location: Killyhevlin Hotel, Friday 13th May