It was a home win in the 2019 Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival with James O’Doherty from Enniskillen claiming the top prize of £5,000 and a stunning crystal chalice.

“I’m over the moon, it was great competition and it is brilliant to see so many people from around the world come to Fermanagh for the week. It is great for the local economy.”

The event was held over three days and was organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, assisted by Inland Fisheries (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) and sponsored by Waterways Ireland.

Over 200 anglers from all over the world took part and on the final day James landed a 13kg 200gms catch from the Boa Island section bringing his total for the week to an impressive 71kg.870gms.

James had had a brilliant day on day two where he caught 39kg 800gms and that saw him move from fifth to first and into a commanding lead.

“That was a huge day for me at Ely Lodge. And I caught roach too which is small fish but it just catapulted me right up to the top and gave me a big lead,” he said.

Next up for James is the European Championships on the Bann River at Portglenone.

In second place overall, collecting £2,000 and a Belleek Pottery trophy, was Brian Nesbitt from East Sussex, with 43kg 860gms, followed in third place by another English angler, Ian Benton, with 36kg 710gms, who won £1,500 and a trophy for his week’s efforts. Fourth was Classic regular Pete Bagshaw with 36kg 050gms and fifth was Manchester angler Michael Smith, who has been travelling to Fermanagh with his father and two brothers since he was a junior angler. Rounding off the top six overall was another Classic regular, Paul Boothby from Penkridge in Staffordshire.

The Friday daily winner was Paul Clarke from Birkenshaw, whose 28kg 900gms from the anglers’ favourite section, Ely Lodge, netted him £500. In second place was Ray Thompson from Manchester, third was previous Classic winner Malcom Brown from Coventry and fourth was Mark Silman from Doncaster.

The Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival is sponsored for the 16th year by Waterways Ireland and is organised and funded by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in conjunction with the Inland Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.