PHOTO:
Pictured are some of the winners, Haydn Cole, Finan Williams, Michelle Paton, Ben Cook, and Llewellyn Rose in with members of Blood Bikes Wales who kindly turned up in support, on the day. (Picture by John O’Connor)

The Inaugural Blood Bikes Wales Open Beach Fishing Competition, organised by members of Pembroke & District Angling Club and Osprey Sea Angling Club, was held on 10th November 2019 on Amroth Beach in South Pembrokeshire.

 

The winning anglers were locals Ben Cook (Pembroke) and Llewellyn Rose (Saundersfoot),  and they tied, a rare occurrence, as they managed to land four decent-sized flounder apiece, for 1Kg 665gms netting them a share of  the top prizes for bags of flatfish (£200 and £50).

 

Great weather – and a great turn out

 

The weather on the day was balmy, reasonably warm and dry, so the weather Gods really smiled on the day with only a gentle North Easterly breeze which meant the conditions weren’t far away from perfect, with a gentle surf building as the tide flooded in with just a few rollers, as can be seen in the picture.

 

This augured well for a good catch and turnout and support was good with 63 anglers including four junior boys and four  27 anglers, including three ladies and one junior weighed in 40 sizeable flounders along with five dabs, 11 lesser spotted dogfish and one dover sole, with other undersized fish caught but not weighed in.

 

 

Andrew wins ‘Heaviest Fish’ prize – and well done Michelle and Finan

 

The winner of the prize for the heaviest any fish was Andrew Rogers (Milford Haven) with a lesser spotted dogfish of 825gms netting him the £100 prize. The pair’s competition, in which both anglers had to weigh in, was won by Haydn Cole (Lamphey) and his partner Mark Bennett (Pembroke) with four flounder, two lesser spotted dogfish and two dabs for 3Kg 430gms.

 

Second with a bag of 3Kg 045gms were another local pair in Saundersfoot club members Andy Young and Franco Attanasio, whilst the ladies’ section was won by the partner of another regular visitor, who used to be local, Michelle Paton who had a flounder of 430gms.

One junior; Finan Williams weighed in a flounder of 335gms so naturally took the junior prize.

 

Excellent cash total raised for ‘Blood Bike Wales’ – and special thanks

 

However, the most important result on the day was that the event, raised £690 for the Blood Bikes Wales, including the second pairs’ prize which Andy and Franco kindly donated to the charity.

 

To thank for this sterling effort the clubs must first congratulate the anglers from the organising clubs, together with Mr Ian Wilkinson of the Temple Bar Inn, who put his premises and valued support at this event’s disposal. Lastly, we must again thank the multitude of kind and generous sponsors of the event, who donated cash, together with those donating prizes for the raffle which will hopefully ensure the continuation of the event.

 

These were Andy Young & Franco Attanasio, Ian Wilkinson of the Temple Bar Inn, Shane Tucker, Peter Kraus, Chris Park, John O’Connor, David Omnet, Chris & Phil D of Blood Bikes Wales, Llewellyn Rose, Cross Saws Inn, Pembroke, Andrew & Leigh Rogers, David & June Howell, Mike Rowe of J & M Tackle, Pembroke Dock, Mark Bennett, Christchurch Angling and the Propeller Café at Withybush Airport – all of them being thanked warmly, for their continued support.


 

The next angling event, on Sunday, 12th January, is the 18th Annual Wales Air Ambulance Open, for which it is hoped there will be the equivalent in terms weather, plus as good a turnout and numbers of fish caught!

PHOTO:
Anglers set up along the beautiful Amroth beach