A LOCAL angler is £5,000 richer this week after taking the top prize in the 2016 Waterways Ireland Classic Fishing Festival.
Jordan Hall from Lisnaskea finished the competition with a third-day catch of 28kgs 180gms on his peg at Boa Island which catapulted him to first place on the leaderboard overall.
Jordan, competing in his first Classic had a total catch for the week of 59kgs 400gms. In addition to the overall prize of £5,000 and a coveted crystal chalice, he also took runner-up in Friday’s competition which earned him £350. Another Lisnaskea angler, William Wheeler, took fourth.
All the anglers taking part met for the gala farewell and prize presentation in the Enniskillen Hotel on Friday evening hosted by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Group and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
In second place overall was Cork angler Mike Stone, whose total catch of 40kgs 800gms earned him £2,000 and the runner’s up crystal trophy. Third was Newtownabbey angler William Donaldson with a total of 38kg 620gms, which landed him £1,500 and a crystal sports trophy. Fourth overall was 2001 Classic winner William Wheeler from Lisnaskea, whose 34kg 470gms was enough to secure him £1,000 and a Belleek trophy.
Two classic regulars completed the top six; Nigel Franks from Wiltshire with 32kgs 150gms and German angler Thorsten Beil, who won the Classic in 2010, with 30kg 180gms.
The winners of the hotly contested team event, the Waterways Ireland Masters, were ‘Wiltshire’s Worst’, with ‘Nathan’s B Team’ second and ‘Browning Team Germany’ in third place.
The anglers enjoyed some terrific weather during the week, with bright sunshine and hot temperatures on most days.
Apart from the Classic fishing days, the anglers competed in other competitions through the week.
The Classic is sponsored for the 14th year by Waterways Ireland and is organised by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.