The Top 20 Anglers and the Connaught Team for the Inter-Provincial Lake Championships on lough Owel are as follows:

1.        Eugene Nolan
2.        Martin Feerick
3.        Aidan Hodgins
4.        Toby Gibbons
5.        Liam Conroy
6.        Nick Hanley
7.        Robert Flaherty
8.        Pat Feerick
9.        Tony Tighe
10.      Luke McNamara
11.       Mark Kennedy
12.       JJ Hannon
13.       John Deacy
14.       Brian Hall
15.       Eugene McCarthy
16.       Robbie Pitman
17.       Tom Carroll
18.       Malcum Naughton
19.       Ronan Gibbons
20.       Pat Dermody

Connaught Angling Council would like to thank Partry Angling Association for running this event in a very professional manner which is something we have come to expect from such a well run organisation.

Loughrea Anglers Connaught Cup Team winners for (2012) – Team members: Aiden Hodgins 3rd individual, Luke McNamara 10th, Malcolm Naughton 18th, Jon Menzies 21st

Eugene Nolan Individual Connaught Cup winner (2012) receiving the Cup from Vincent Horan Chairman of host club Partry Anglers

Martin Feerick Partry 2nd individual, Toby Gibbons Westport 4th, and Tony Tighe Galway (Longest Fish)

The full results can be viewed by clicking here:  2012 Connaught Cup Results

Congratulations to all the anglers who have qualified to fish for Connaught in the Inter-Provincial Lake Championships being held on Lough Owel in September.

Some anglers struggled to come to terms with the scenario but others using years of experience in these conditions eventually came to terms with the wily inhabitants.

The prizegiving dinner was held in the Cahir House Hotel and the eagerly awaited results were announced by club chairman Paul Burke.  The prizes were presented by M.R.T.A.C. Chairman Maurice Willis who paid tribute to the Cahir club for a very well run event.  Maurice paid tribute to Kevin Rowe and the organising committee for all the hours of hard work put in and he said that the club could be justifiably proud of the event and the work on the river which they are continually developing and improving.

The following were the top twenty anglers who will represent munster in the All-Ireland Inter-Pro later in the year.

1 Sean Maher
2 John Burke
3 Mike Drinan
4 Tom Beecher
5 John Willis
6 Paul Burke
7 John Lawlor
8 Mike Budds
9 Mike Henley
10 Joe O’Connor
11 Albert Adcock
12 Tony O’Sullivan
13 Tom O’Connor
14 James Shanahan
15 Tom Drinan
16 Liam Foley
17 Pat O’Donovan
18 Willie Farrell
19 Joe Butler
20 Dave O’Donovan

Sean Maher – 2012 Munster Rivers Champion

The winning team were the West Kerry Anglers team of Sean Maher and Albert Adcock with Dunbullogue in second place with a team of Mike and Tom Drinan.

West Kerry anglers Sean Maher and Albert Adcock receiving the the winning team prize from Maurice Willis with Paul Burke and Kevin Rowe

Heaviest fish of the day was caught by Pat Buckley of the Ennis and District Club.

Pat Buckley receiving his prize for the heaviest trout

Some of the anglers getting ready to compete in the Munster Senior River Championship on the River Suir.

Report and photos by Tom Ankettell.

Congrats to both Brian Kerr on winning the 2012 Ulster Rivers Senior Championship and to Francis Rafferty the 2012 Ulster Junior Championship.

Brian Kerr - 2012 Ulster Rivers Champion

Francis Rafferty - 2012 Ulster Rivers Junior Champion

The following are the qualifiers that will represent Ulster in the Inter-Provincial Rivers Championship at both senior and junior level:

Senior

1. Brian Kerr 13 trout for 7,120 Points
2. Dominic McAtamney 11 trout for 6,460 Points
3. Kenny Ferguson 11 trout for 5,680 Points
4. Campbell Baird 10 trout for 5,340 Points
5. Charles Kennedy 8 trout for 4,260 Points

Junior

1. Francis Rafferty 4 trout for 2,200 Points
2. Stephen Murphy 3 trout for 1,600 Points

Congratulations to everyone and the best of luck in the Inter-Provincial River Championships.

Top 20 Qualifiers and this years Leinster Team:

1 Alan Delaney (Co. Wicklow Anglers)  3 trout for 2.250kg’s
2 Matt Campbell (Dundalk) 3 trout for 2.190kg’s
3 Mick McShane (Dundalk) 3 trout for 2.025kg’s
4 Pat Noonan (Monasterevin) 3 trout for 1.940kg’s
5 Eugene Fagan (Silverstream) 3 trout for 1.890kg’s
6 Sean Kirwan (Monasterevin) 3 trout for 1.860kg’s
7 Julie Gerry (Silverstream) 3 trout for 1.845kg’s
8 John Coughlan (Monasterevin) 3 trout for 1.755kg’s
9 Albert Mulhall (Ounavarragh) 3 trout for 1.715kg’s
10 Paul Campbell (Dundalk) 3 trout for 1.675kg’s
11 Stewart McGrane (Aughrim) 3 trout for 1.675kg’s
12 James Gormley (Mountmellick) 3 trout for 1.560kg’s
13 John Kellegher (Dundalk) 3 trout for 1.515kg’s
14 Terry Kelly (Dundalk) 3 trout for 1.505kg’s
15 Ivor Cox (Mountmellick) 3 trout for 1.475kg’s
16 Martin Cooper (Dundalk) 3 trout for 1.435kg’s
17 Hubert Smith (Dundalk) 3 trout for 1.420kg’s
18 Stephen Connolly (Monasterevin) 3 trout for 1.420kg’s
19 Robbie Phelan (Castlecomer) 3 trout for 1.370kg’s
20 Eddie Blanche (Mountmellick) 3 trout for 1.355kg’s

Reserves:

21 Fred O’Hagan (Dundalk) 2 trout for 1.190kg’s
22 Dave Touhy (Mountmellick) 2 trout for 1.000kg’s
23 Michael McKenna (Dundalk) 1 trout for 0.750kg’s
25 Bernard Devenney (Dundalk) 1 trout for 0.725kg’s
25 Fran Bass (Aughrim) 1 trout for 0.590kg’s
26 Tom Driver (Co Wicklow Anglers) 1 trout for 0.525kg’s
27 Pascal King (Aughrim) 1 trout for 0.505kg’s
28 Peter Driver (Co Wicklow Anglers) 1 trout for 0.475kg’s
29 Roger Fowler (Silverstream) 1 trout for 0.410kg’s

71 trout caught

Largest Trout – Julie Gerry 0.900 Kg’s

Winner of Team Event – Monasterevin ( Pat Noonan, Sean Kirwan, Stephen Connolly, John Coughlan)

Alan Delaney - 2012 Leinster Lake Champion

Monasterevin - 2012 Leinster Team Champions (John Coughlan, Pat Noonan, Stephen Connolly, Sean Kirwan)

Best wishes to all in the Inter-Provincial Lake Championship to be fished on Lough Owel in September.

Top 20 Qualifiers and this years Ulster Team:

1 Dominic McAtamney
2 Ian Ireland
3 Cathal Leoppard
Joint 4 Kenny Ferguson
Joint 4 Neil Cardwell
Joint 4 Tim Harron
7 Darren Haggan
8 Campbell Baird
9 Charles Kennedy
10 John McLoone
11 Harry McAteer Jnr
12 Darren Wallace
13 Sean McKenna
14 Brian Kerr
15 James McKenna
16 Harry McAteer
17 Harvey Hutchinson
18 Stuart Wylie
19 Mark Carlisle
20 Alan McDade

Congratulations to all the above who have qualified to fish for Ulster in the Inter-Provincial Lake Championship being held on Lough Owel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath in September 2012.

From the start all the young anglers were landing trout and it was obvious that some big catches were going to be made during the course of the competition.  The competition was fished on a catch and release basis with all trout being returned to the water unharmed after being measured and recorded by the stewards who worked tirelessly all day to ensure the smooth running of the event.

From the very start Ian Howard of Mallow looked like he was going run away with the event but as the day went on several other anglers started to close the gap and a very tight finish was on the cards, but a late surge carried Ian to victory from Stephen Ryan of Macroom in second and Ray Walsh in third.

The Mallow team of Ian Howard, John Buckley, Finbarr Carroll and Peter O’Brien won the team event and the longest fish was caught by Eoin Curtin of Mallow

Speaking at the presentation of prizes M.R.T.A.C. Chairman Maurice Willis paid tribute to the organisers and to the stewards for a very well run event and he wished the Munster Youth Team the best in the forthcoming All-Ireland Interprovincial Rivers Championship.

Ian Howard receiving his prize from M.R.T.A.C. Chairman Maurice Willis

The winning Mallow team receiving their prize from M.R.T.A.C. Chairman Maurice Willis also included is Richard Willis M.R.T.A.C. Youth Officer

Second place individual Stephen Ryan (Macroom) receiving his prize from M.R.T.A.C. Maurice Willis

Ray Walsh (Mallow) receives third prize from M.R.T.A.C. Chairman Maurice Willis.

Eoin Curtin with his catch which won him the prize for the longest fish

The World Team is as follows:

Sean Bowen (Munster)
Dave O’Donovan (Munster)
Mike Drinan (Munster)
Peter Driver (Leinster)
Hubert Smyth (Leinster)
Reserve:  Michael Twohig (Munster)

Captain:  Stewart McGrane (Leinster)

The European Team is:

Kevin Mitchell (Connaught)
Albert Mulhall (Leinster)
Tom Drinan (Munster)
John Buckley (Munster)
Tom O’Connor (Munster)
Reserve & Captain:  Richie Willis (Munster)

Also best wishes to the World Youths Team that are taking part in the Youth World Fly Fishing Championships in France from 8-15 July.

The World Youths Team is:

Sean Demspey (Leinster)
Michael Conroy (Leinster)
Fergal McKiernan (Leinster)
Ian Howard (Munster)
Keith Cormican (Connaught)
Reserve:  Patrick McKenna (Leinster)

The best of luck to everyone, have a wonderful and enjoyable championship.

The coveted Bronze Medals

Campbell Baird - Individual Silver Medallist

Well done to Campbell Baird, Harry McAteer, Harvey Hutchinson, Kenneth Ferguson, Neil Cardwell and of course the Manager Alan McDade on showing what can be acheived through their comitment and teamwork.

Front (Neil Cardwell, Alan McDade, Campbell Baird)
Back (Kenny Ferguson, Harry McAteer, Harvey Hutchinson)

Final Team Results

Final Individual Results