NEWS FOR "MAY 2004"
FROM THE IRISH FEDERATION OF PIKE ANGLING CLUBS


Brenton Sweeney Wins All-Ireland Pike Championship

The final of the "Kingspan" National Pike Championship took place on Saturday 3rd April. This was the 15th championship final. 55 pike anglers from all parts of Ireland qualified to fish the final having taken part in eleven qualifying heats.

The Lakeside Hotel, Monaghan Town was the base for the anglers for the weekend along with a number of guesthouses in the town. The majority of anglers, friends and family arrived on the Friday night in order to prepare for Saturdays competition. Each year the venue for the competition remains secret until the morning and while there had been much speculation as to the location of the venue from Lough Ross in Crossmaglen to Lough Major in Ballybay, the name of the venue was released on the morning as Killybandrick Lough in Redhills, Co. Cavan. Killybandrick lough in the Northern Regional Fisheries Board area is a reed-fringed lake with two carparks and has up to 30 fishing stands. The 55 competitors and 19 stewards received a brief talk about the lake in the hotel on the morning and then each received a detailed map of the venue and location to ensure the fairest opportunity for success for all the competitors. The 5-hour competition started at 12 noon and small pike were caught from the off in weather that continually varied between blazing sunshine and driving wind and rain. The majority of pike were caught in the first three hours with action tailing off, as the water appeared to become murkier. Brenton Sweeney from Cootehill and Finbar Meehan from Longford caught fish steadily and recorded 17 fish between them in what was heading for a photo finish for top spot. In all 73 pike to 8lb 6oz were caught and released. The stewards played an important role throughout the day in ensuring fish were released safely, immediately after capture.

The presentation was held back in the Lakeside Hotel. 97 competitors, stewards and friends enjoyed a great meal with top service by the staff. The presentation confirmed that Brenton Sweeney from Cootehill was the 2004 All-Ireland Pike Angling Champion with a winning bag of 7 fish for 29-12 with 2nd to 10th place as follows:

2nd Finbar Meehan, Longford, 10 fish for 24-14
3rd John Chambers, Dublin, 3 fish for 15-02
4th Willie Heasley, Duleek, 4 fish for 12-04
5th Michael Mc Kenna, Keady, 4 fish for 10-15
6th Eugene Mc Cabe, Newbridge, 2 fish for 9-12
7th Edward Mulvaney, Virginia, 2 fish for 9-04
8th David Boyle, Granard, 3 fish for 9-03
9th Jimmy Thompson, Dublin, 2 fish for 8-05
10th Paul Martin, Ardee, 1 fish for 6-13

The top ten anglers will now fish against the top 10 British pike anglers in the annual international Ireland versus Great Britain pike challenge, which is to be held in Ireland later this year. Of the top ten, there are eight anglers who will make their international debut. We wish the team well.

Our thanks must go to the Lakeside Hotel for their hospitality. Our thanks must also go to "Kingspan" who sponsor the event and to Michael Fitzpatrick, Inspector with the Northern Regional Fisheries Board for attending the presentation. The event was filmed by an independent angling production company and may feature later in the year on satellite television.


PUBLIC MEETING DISCUSSES RIVER SHANNON POLLUTION

A public meeting was held in the Longford Arms Hotel, Longford on 30th March last to discuss the growing concern for the water quality of the River Shannon and the disappearance of fish stocks. Two executive committee members of the Federation attended the meeting.

The meeting was chaired by Cllr Mary White the Deputy Leader of the Green Party. Other members of the chairing group included Mr. Parvez Butt and Ms. Catherine Ansbro, also of the Green Party and Mr. Geoff Cooper of the Irish Water and Fish Preservation Society. Attendees of the meeting included concerned stakeholders such as anglers, guesthouse owners and tourism representatives such as Longford Tourism. The basis of the meeting was to highlight and address the issues surrounding declining water quality on the River Shannon between Drumsna and Lanesborough in terms of its sustainability as an important local and tourism resource and as a public water supply source.

The meeting heard that an independent report in 1998 had indicated that the river was living on an ecological knife-edge and that large amounts of foam, not previously found on the Shannon had started to appear at that time. The meeting also heard that since 1998 reports concerning incidents where raw sewage was entering the river had been highlighted and a number of incidents had appeared in newspapers such as The Leitrim Observer and The Westmeath Independent. The meeting was told that analysis of water quality parameters had found above normal levels of Iron and Phosphates but serious concern was expressed at the existence of Formaldehyde upstream of Lough Forbes. Lough Forbes was noted as being the public water supply source for Longford Town. In terms of public health the meeting was informed that high levels of Aluminium Sulphate, a chemical associated with Alzheimer's disease, were been used in the water treatment process in Longford Town. Mr Parvez Butt of the Green Party told the meeting that in the interest of transparency, test results of water analysis should be made available by local authorities to the public. The meeting also heard of a recent pollution incident concerning industrial effluent entering the Shannon via a stream. The meeting was told that the incident had been reported to both the EPA and Longford County Council and currently a reply on the investigation was being awaited.

In relation to fish stocks the meeting heard that until 1998 the River Shannon had been considered one of the finest rivers in Europe but that tourists where now staying away due to poor angling returns. The meeting was told that Roscommon County Council had reported this concern in The Roscommon Herald due to people being appalled at the lack of fishing. The meeting also heard that the Annual Inny Festival, the Inny being a tributary of the River Shannon had seen abysmal fish catches in the past two years with anglers catching an average of 1oz per day.

In response to the concern at the low fish stocks, an angler reported having seen a shoal of about 300-500 fish covered in red lesions in the Rooskey area of the River Shannon a number of months ago. The meeting heard that this sighting was reported to the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board CEO and that the angler was still awaiting the results of a promised investigation. The underlying view expressed regarding pollution and the disappearance of fish stocks was that angling tourists are voting with their feet and staying away from the River Shannon. The meeting heard numerous correspondences from overseas anglers to back up this view.

In order to address these current problems the meeting was told that, Cllr. Mary White Deputy leader of the Green Party has called for the EU Petitions Committee to investigate the ongoing concern with poor water quality and the loss of fish stocks on the River Shannon. Views from the floor expressed the need for urgency on this issue based on fears that the River Shannon and fish stocks are on the verge of collapse. The meeting agreed that all stakeholders of the river should increase their efforts to highlight and confront the current problems and ensure that the EPA, Local Authorities and the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board properly address the seriousness of the River Shannon's predicament.


LOCAL ELECTIONS - HAVE YOUR SAY!

With local elections taking place on June 11th, anglers are presented with the perfect opportunity to voice their opinion to prospective local representatives on issues that affect Irish angling in general, be it Game, Pike, Coarse or Sea angling. One issue that is common to all of us is water pollution. Within the Water Framework Directive, the general public and stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the development of river basin management plans for each of Irelands eight river basin districts. Although production of the management plans only starts in 2006, anglers must participate in this process and every opportunity to voice opinions on local water quality issues should be taken as an important step in this process.

The request by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board (ERFB) for the introduction of a bye law prohibiting the killing of coarse fish in the Eastern Region is another issue, which affects both Pike and Coarse anglers in particular. This request was made to the Department of Communications, Marine & Natural Resources (DCMNR) in May 2003. Anglers in the Eastern Region and indeed other regions have made their feelings known about pressures that are currently impacting on the sustainability of quality Pike and Coarse angling, due to illegal fish removal activities and persistent stock removal on a growing number of fisheries. Unanimous support for the request of the ERFB was agreed at the Federations AGM on March 7th last. It was noted at the AGM that the support by the Federation for complete Coarse fish protection was a reflection of the serious concerns that members had expressed on this issue in recent years. It is our understanding that the DCMNR have written to the Central and Regional Fisheries Boards requesting their views on the Eastern Boards proposal. This process may take some considerable time with no guarantee of success and therefore the opportunity to expedite progress in the interests of resource sustainability, tourism, junior angling etc. through constructive and reasoned dialogue at local level may be necessary.


MILLARD BROS ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

The North Longford Angling Club hosted the first heat of the All-Ireland Junior Pike Championship on Gortamone Lake near Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim on 12th April. The Junior Championship is sponsored by Millard Brothers (Ireland) Ltd, Dublin. A total of 30 juniors participated in the event and all received "goodie bags", which contained fishing tackle, courtesy of Millard Bros (Milbro). 12 juniors fished in the under 18 section and 18 juniors fished in the under 13 section. North Longford Angling Club provided refreshments and a barbeque for all present after the match. Each junior, who caught a fish, qualified to fish in the final. The top five in each section, are as follows:

Under18's
1. Ben Cusworth 3 fish 13.3
2. Philip Kavanagh 5 fish 11.13
3. Damien Simpson 2 fish 8.05
4. Craig Dalton 2 fish 5.07
5. Paul Mulligan 2 fish 4.12

Under13's
1. Jason Sheridan 2 fish 6.12
2. Laura Markey 1 fish 3.6
3. Luke Briody 1 fish 3.00
4. Killian Briody 1 fish 3.00
5. Peter Boyle 1 fish 2.11

A total of 20 juniors caught fish and qualified to fish the final in September. The North Longford Angling Club sponsored trophies for the top three anglers in each section. A total of 33 fish were weighed and released. The best fish of the day was caught by Ben Cusworth and weighed 11.08.

Kiltimagh Angling Club held the second qualifier in Kiltimagh on the 18th April. 10 junior anglers took part on the day with Brian Mc Entee going forward to fish the U13 finals in September.

The next heat will take place on the 23rd May and will be held on the canal in Tullamore. For further details on the junior championship, contact Youth Officer Finbar Meehan on 086 0711137.


KINGSPAN NATIONAL PIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2004-05

The first qualifier of the Kingspan National Pike Championship took place on the River Barrow, Athy, Co. Kildare on 25th April. Results of that qualifier next month.

The next qualifiers are as follows:
9th May, Gulladoo Lake, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim
30th May, Garty Lough, Arvagh, Co. Cavan

For further details on the pike championship, contact Competitions Officer Pat Sheenan on 087 2045536.


AFFILLIATION: - As a reminder, affiliation and insurance is to be paid to treasurer Terry Sheridan.


FEDERATION SECRETARY: - Paul Hamill has accepted the post of Secretary for the coming year.



May 2004

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