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PSUK National Coarse Angling Championships 2011
This years National Championships were hosted by PSNI and the venue was to be the Upper and lower Erne around Enniskillen, County Fermanagh.
The venue was a natural fishery in complete contrast to the commercial venues that had been chosen in recent years.
The Northumbria had prepared well in the weeks leading up to the match. As all fishermen know the weather always plays a major part in how venues fish and this year was to be no different.
The team travelled on Sunday 11th September sailing from Stranraer to Belfast, this co-incided with the arrival of what had been ‘Hurricane Katia’. The team were fortunate as within 2-3hrs of landing all other ferry crossings were cancelled due to the 70mph winds.
Match HQ for the week was to be the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. The Team stayed in two of the riverside chalets.
Matches had been organised for the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday but these were cancelled due to the bad weather and the fact that a number of teams were still stranded on the mainland.
With this in mind the team decided to hold practice sessions on the sections to be used for the main match.
Tuesday 13th September
The team practiced on the Sligo Road section. The only method that could be used was the feeder as the wind was incredibly strong. Weights were not great but everyone caught fish.
1st R Smith 12lb 8oz
2nd G Parkin 10lb
3rd B Weddell 4lb 10oz
4th K Hood 4lb 6oz
5th P Hutchinson 4lb 2oz
6th D Brown 3lb 14oz
7th R Westgarth 3lb
Wednesday 14th September
The team practised at Ballanaleck. The wind had dropped very slightly overnight but was still gusting to over 50mph and again posed a problem for those fishing limiting the options of anglers. Everyone chose to fish with a feeder. Again the fishing was hard but everyone caught fish.
Dave Brown lost several roach to a large pike which took up residence in his swim.
1st D Brown 14lb 8oz
2nd G Parkin 12lb 8oz
3rd P Hutchinson 4lb 3oz
4th K Hood 2lb 14oz
5th B Weddell 2lb 6oz
6th R Smith 2lb 4oz
TEAM NORTHUMBRIA
Rear left to right K Hood D Brown B Weddell
Front P Hutchinson R Westgarth G Parkin
Thursday 15th September
On the day of the match the gods had taken pity on us and the weather was almost perfect. The peg draw was made at the Cloughbally Mill tackle shop and everyone went off to their chosen pegs. The match was fished between 11am and 4pm.
Everyone knew that the fishing would be hard but it was even more difficult than any of us imagined.
Kevin Hood (above) fishing his section at Broadmeadow
Gordon Parkin (above) fishing his section at Derrycharra
Top weight for Northumbria was D Brown with 4.500 kg, next was G Parkin with 2.660kg.
The match was won by Stewart Lister ( Met A ) with 7.460kg.
West Midlands won the team event with 27 points.
Northumbria finished a very creditable 9th place.
There were further successes with Gordon Parkin finishing 2nd in his section and Dave Brown finishing 3rd in his section and 9th overall both receiving trophies.
R Smith fished the reserve match and after a stunning performance blew the opposition away winning with 2kg.
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