Phil Jackson and Cathal Hughes, are the Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Champions and took away a cheque for £30,000 and DIAWA tackle.
From Craigavon in Northern Ireland and Galway in Ireland they are an example of successful north/south co-operation! Over the five day period the pair caught 117kg 560g of fish and took the championship by just over 4kgs. Overall individual winner Francis Mc Goldrick from Ballyconnell, Co Cavan has taken home a prize of over £1500 of DIAWA tackle.
Second place and a cheque for £10,000 has gone to Derek Willan and Mark Pollard. With a catch of 112.990kg they came home ahead of the remaining 130 pairs.
The remaining top five prize winners all based in the UK are 3rd Kevin Hartley and Ian Fieldhouse 105.670kg
4th : Nigel Franks and Kevin Rowles 102.050kg
5th : Paul Keeley and Lee Addym 101.880kg
Prizes were given out to the top 18 pairs of anglers from all over the UK, Europe and beyond. Full prize-winners listing on www.worldpairsangling.com
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Colm Breheny, Fáilte Ireland co-sponsor with Waterways Ireland of Ireland’s Lakelands & Inland Waterways said: “The World Pairs is event, the calibre of the entrants and the fishing that has taken place over the last five days will be a significant turning point in how wild Angling in Ireland is viewed world over. I would like to thank the participants for such a competitive week; The organising committee and our colleagues in Inland Fisheries Ireland and DCAL Inland Fisheries for preparing great sections and enabling us to promote Irish fishing at the forefront of wild angling worldwide”
The World Pairs event is sponsored by Lakeland & Inland Waterways, a marketing and product development initiative of Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Fermanagh Tourism, NITB and Shannon Development.
The organisers would like to acknowledge the work of DCAL Inland Fisheries Northern Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland in facilitating the event.
1: Phil Jackson /Cathal Hughes 117.560kg
2: Derek Willan/ Mark Pollard 112.990kg
3: Kevin Hartley/ Ian Fieldhouse 105.670kg
4: Nigel Franks/ Kevin Rowles 102.050kg
5: Paul Keeley/ Lee Addym101.880kg
6: Lee Klimczuk/ Neil Parkinson 101.810kg
7: Frances McGoldrick/ Dave Brettal 101.040kg
8: John Dunnill/ Tony Hopkins 96.900kg
9: Ken Seddon/ Nick Seddon 96.160kg
10. Phil Bardell/ Michael Buchwalder 95.280kg
11: David Robinson/ Fergal Smith 94.340kg
12: Bas Smith/ Kevin Ashurst 94.000kg
13: Tony Watling/ Lee Harris 93.800kg
14: Andy Leathers/ Will Freeman 92.740kg
15: Jeff Clay/ Steve Smith 92.040kg
16. Darren Davis/ Wayne Swinscoe 91.760kg
17: Neil Mallinson/ Neil Stead 89.710kg
18: Martin Room / Richard Hoskins 89.560kg
INDIVIDUALS1. Frances McGoldrick 74.490kg
2. Cathal Hughes 66.090kg
3. Nick Seddon 65.520kg
4. Leo Koot 62.760kg
5. Neil Mallinson 59.010kg
6. Mark Pollard 58.040kg
7. Neil Parkinson 58.000kg
8. Phil Bardell 57.350kg
9. Andy Leathers 57.310kg
10. Kevin Hartley 56.930kg
