BANK INTERNATIONAL REPORT FROM PAT NOONAN

Leinster T.A.F.I recently played host for the first time to the International Bank Flyfishing Competition. The venue was the superb Laois Angling Centre in County Laois. The competition delivered a welcome boost to the local community and will leave a legacy for angling in this area of outstanding natural beauty which is set at the foot of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

Teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales competed in this annual Home International event. The four home nations fielded teams of six anglers with a travelling reserve and manager to make up the squad of eight.

In first place with 112 place points were England, Wales were runners-up with 149 place points with Ireland third with 155 place points. Scotland were fourth with 185 place points. England also had three anglers in the top five with Andy Taylor crowned International Bank Champion with 12 fish, David Neilson runner-up with nine fish and Andrew Taylor fifth with eight fish. Andy Taylor and Phil Shaw-Browne shared the longest fish with both anglers catching fish of 58cm. In total 129 fish were caught for a rod average of just over five.

The Irish team was made up of top class anglers, led by Manager Campbell Baird and Captain Brian Kerr. They put in a lot of time training and preparing for the event, a superb effort was put in but it wasn’t to be their day.

Thanks to the stewards and referees, Hubert Smith, Denis Cronin (Fips Mouche representative for Ireland) and Pat Noonan.

Timekeeper Brian Lynch.

Recorders Paul Page and Diego Leccard.

Thanks also to the following sponsors:

www.piscari-fly.com

Dave Tuohy

Alan Kenny

Ivor Cox Fishing Tackle, Mountmellick

Laois County Council

Nolan Premier Angling Supplies

Abbeyleix Manor Hotel

Donal Monahan Builders, Kildare

Inland Fisheries Ireland

RESULTS

Results:

1st England, 40 fish, 112 place points.

2nd Wales, 34 fish, 149 place points.

3rd Ireland, 33 fish, 155 place points.

4th Scotland, 22 fish, 185 place points.

Individual Results:

1st Andy Taylor, England, 12 fish, 4 place points.

2nd David Neilson, England, 9 fish, 9 place points.

3rd Matthew Pate, Wales, 7 fish, 14 place points.

Longest Fish:

Andy Taylor and Phil Shaw-Browne – 58cm.

Leinster T.A.F.I would like to express their thanks to all parties involved, stewards on the day for their time, referees, sponsors. Also ‘The Abbeyleix Manor Hotel’ and ‘Laois Angling Centre’ for being wonderful hosts for the event.

It was a great privilege for me to be involved as Chairman of the Organising Committee. A dedicated group of people gave their time so generously, the competition ran smoothly and I would like to thank all teams involved for their outstanding cooperation.

It was a pleasure to host this event in Ireland and we all look forward to next year’s International Bank Flyfishing Championship which will be held in Wales.

Pat Noonan

Competition’s Chairman

Leinster T.A.F.I