Angling notes:To win the World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championship once in a lifetime is a major achievement. To win the championship a second time is almost beyond comprehension. Well, that is precisely what Brendan Moran achieved last Monday when he stormed home to take the much-coveted world cup title for the second time with three fish weighing 2.5kg.
Moran, who hails from Carlanstown, Kells, Co Meath, last won the championship in 1991 and, in 1996 came second to Noel McLoughlin, a close friend also from Kells. "I suppose over the last 16 years I have managed to qualify for the final every second year," he said.
Having qualified on the Saturday with one good fish of 1.6kg, he was listed as a favourite to take the title in a "mock-up" betting forecast at 10/1 among six former winners. "We fished the Inishowen shore for most of the day and, with four flies up, the Welshman Button and Maguires Bumble did the business along the rocky shoreline," he said.
The town of Ballinrobe in Co Mayo once again came alive for this prestigious festival of angling, and the five-day spectacle provided an enormous revenue boost for the town and catchment area. All the action, of course, was focused on Cushlough Bay on the shores of Lough Mask. This beautiful 20,000-acre lake is undoubtedly one of the finest brown trout fisheries in the world.
This year's championship was extra special as it represented 50 years of this remarkable event. I say "remarkable" because it has stood the test of time since its modest beginning in 1953 to its present stature as the largest known wild brown trout competition in the world.
The highest attendance before this was in 2000, with 730 anglers. However, in this jubilee year, the figure jumped to 804 and included 50 overseas anglers and 14 juniors, of whom one, Charles Ridoire, a junior from France, qualified for the final. Competing too was 95-year-old Tom Ketterick from Ballina, who has the distinction of having participated every year since the championship started.
Your correspondent caught a fish of 0.6kg, which unfortunately missed the cut. However, one particular incident is worth a mention. A large fish surfaced close to the boat and devoured my Grey Woulffe tail fly. It took off at breathtaking speed and dived, taking line at the rate of knots. "Let 'em run," shouted boatman Patrick Molloy from Oughterard. Alas, when it finally turned, the hook came out and it was gone. "That fish was at least 1.4kg (3lb)," Molloy said. Devastated, I carried on.
The number of fish caught was down on previous years; indeed, one fish (under 0.6kg on most days) was sufficient to qualify for the final. Dr Ken Livingstone from Northern Ireland caught a great trout of 2.3kg on the Friday, but in Sunday's qualifier John Purtill from Tipperary went one better with a magnificent fish of 2.4kg to win the 19' Anglers Fancy Lake Boat.
Congratulations to the committee who, as always, did a fantastic job. To hold an event of this magnitude is no mean feat. The organisational skills and camaraderie among the committee is their key to success.
"As soon as this championship is over we meet soon after to prepare for next year," a committee member said. Well done, and roll on next year.
Results: 1 Brendan Moran (Co Meath). Prize: Anglers Fancy Supreme Lake Boat, Trailor, Torqeedo Electric Engine (sponsored by Burke Boats, Ballinrobe and Torqeedo, Germany); 15hp Yamaha Outboard Engine, sponsored by O'Connors, Cong and World Cup Committee; Crystal Cut Glass Trophy, sponsored by Murphy's Newsagents, Ballinrobe; Hardy Swift Mk 11'7" fly rod, fly line, Hardy jacket and cap, sponsored by Hardy of Alnwick, England; World Silver Perpetual Cup.
2: G Goodwin (Co Meath)
3: R Yang (Ballinrobe).
The Irish Game and Country Fair at Birr Castle, Co Offaly on August 25th and 26th is on line to become one of the largest outdoor angling shows ever mounted in Ireland. Aside from the vast range of tackle stands on Anglers Row, angling director Philip Maher has assembled a programme of demonstrations and casting competitions, including attempts on the world and Irish trout-casting records.
Dunfly Game Fishing Tackle (www.dunfly.com) is the main sponsor for the casting competitions and a special edition of Dunfly rods designed for the Irish market will be available at the fair. In addition, casting expert Robert Gillespie and Ireland's top lady caster Glenda Powell, along with Maher, will provide coaching and casting demonstrations throughout the two days. More information on 048-90483873, or visit www.irishgameandcountryfair.com.