Shore Championship of Britain and Ireland
Dover 6th / 8th August 2009
Once again the Federation used the Burstin Hotel at Folkestone for the Championships headquarters with teams from England, Ireland and Wales taking advantage of generous rates and the hospitality of this large sea front hotel. The weather forecast too was favourable with a large high pressure area hovering over Kent and this ensured that the 30 competitors fished the Southern Breakwater wall on every day of the three day event. Boats travelled to the wall at 8am and returning at 4pm.
The fishing was organised in five zones, fishing both sides of the wall, outside into the English Channel and inside into Dover harbour. Dover Sea Angling’s president, Allan Edgington, plus pier steward Tom Preston helped with pegging, landing nets and transport along the wall, whilst Dover members Jimmy and Andy supplied extra bait and an ever ready kettle. Bait was supplied by Peter Owen of Folkestone Angling and Roy Skelton of Channel Angling at Dover and included lugworm, ragworm, squid, sandeel and mackerel.
From the first cast it was England A that took the initiative with, Dave Lovelock (Chippingham); Reg Clough ( Salisbury ), Alan Yates ( Dover ), Budge Booker (Newhaven) and John Campbell (Sheerness) off to a flying start on day one with three zone wins. On day two they went one better with four zone wins and then on day three another three zone wins taking the team gold medal by a large margin with 69 points. Team runners up were Ireland A with Ken Forsythe, Jack Keegan, Ian Knight, Peader Taite and Steven Glynn scoring 51 points ahead of Wales A (Phil Lustig, John O’Connor, Hadyn Cole and Ken Gainforth) on 47pts.
Alan Yates took three day wins to win the gold individual pin with a catch and release total of 8.65metres. Second Dave Lovelock who had three zone wins (4.55metres) with Reg Clough (two zone wins and 3.92metres) taking third spot to seal the England squad’s domination. The two man team event went to Dave Lovelock and Steve Tucker of Wales with 33 points and the four man team to Reg Clough, Haydn Cole (Wales), Steven Glynn and Peader Taite(both Ireland) with 46pts.
The biggest fish over the three days was a catch, measure and release smoothhound of 77cm for Budge Booker of England and the biggest flat fish a 27cm dab for Reg Clough. Catches also included; codling, dogfish, eel, pouting, wrasse, garfish, gurnard, red mullet, bream, bass, plaice, scad and of course mackerel which didn’t count in the event. It was noticeable that the Friday with a duller sky produced more fish than the other two brighter days.
Special thanks to Dr John O’Connor and Brian Flack for sorting results and bait.
Report by Alan Yates