Outdoor Sports News - with PembrokeshireSport.co.uk

Skeels steers Welsh anglers to British Isles Championships

The EFSA British Isles Shore Championships returned to our locality recently over three days, after the first day was fished at Aberavon, the second at Amroth, and the final day at Pendine.

Anglers from England, Wales and Ireland arrived at the event's headquarters, the Ivy Bush Hotel in Carmarthen, in the evening of Wednesday 19th for registration, a renewing of old acquaintances and a run down of the rules.

Good catches at Aberavon, but . . .

Catches were good the first night at Aberavon, being mainly whiting with the odd dab, ray and a few dogfish. Despite good bait supplied by Ammo Baits and Anglers Corner, Milford Haven, catches on day two at Amroth were very poor, consisting of a few passing bass, which if lady luck was with you, they grabbed your bait.

Many anglers blanked, which was a shame, both, as it had fished magnificently only a couple of weeks earlier at the Osprey Open and as it gave those catching on day two a huge advantage. On day three, at Pendine, catches improved a little but didn't reach the levels at Aberavon on the Thursday, being virtually all flounder with the odd bass.

Worthy winners

The International team event was won by Wales B, made up of Andrew Skeels (Captain), Steve Lewis, Shane Tucker, Steve Tucker and Shaun Tucker, narrowly from Ireland,  with England third. The winner of the individual event and thus the coveted Gold Pin recipient, was Irishman Paul Tyndall in his first of these competitions.

Steve Lewis from the Wales B team was second, gaining him the Silver Pin and another Wales B team member, Steve Tucker, picked up the Bronze Pin. The pairs was won by Paul Tyndall and Scott Brunton, the latter also winning the junior prize and finishing a very creditable 7th in the Individual table.

Second in the pairs were Welshmen Ken Gainfort and Rob Collins with Welshman Mike Watkins and Irishman Clive Ivory in third. The team of four event was won by Welshmen Steve Tucker, Steve Lewis, Mike Watkins and Alan Cheswick. Paul Tyndall's four-man team, along with Welshmen, Ken Gainfort, Haydn Cole and John O'Connor were narrow runners up by one point. Third were Welshmen Shaun and Shane Tucker, partnered with Englishmen Paul Curtice and Dave Lovelock.

Special thanks

Thanks must go to Ammo Baits for the quality of the bait they supplied and their sponsorship. We must also thank our other sponsors, ABU, Daiwa and K2.

Shakespeare and our other bait suppliers, John O'Connor & Andrew Skeels for the lugworm, Martin & Sandra Thompson of Anglers Corner, Milford Haven for the ragworm and Damien O'Mara of Anglers Corner, Llanelli, for the maddies, not forgetting the Ivy Bush Hotel and their staff for their warm welcome to all, their friendly hosting and the lovely meal on the final night at the presentation.

Finally, thanks must also go to all the EFSA section members, without whose help the competition would not have run so smoothly and successfully.

PHOTOS

Pictured with EFSA Wales President Rino Renesto (left) are (left to right) the pin winners Paul Tyndall, Steve Lewis and Steve Tucker.

 

Pictured are the victorious Welsh B team with their President, (left to right) Steve Lewis, Shaun Tucker, Rino Renesto, Shane Tucker, Andrew Skeels and Steve Tucker.