EFSA British Isles Championship

The run up to the late May Bank Holiday saw the EFSA British Isles Shore Championships come to the beaches of Carmarthenshire for the first time. Organised by the Welsh section of the European Federation of Sea Anglers, the 3 days of matches were fished at Cefn Sidan on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd, and at Pendine on Saturday 24th.

Anglers from England, Wales and Scotland arrived at the event's headquarters, the Ivy Bush Hotel in Carmarthen on Wednesday 23rd for registration, renewing of old acquaintances and a run down of the rules.

Despite having bait supplied by Dragon Baits, in the view of all participants, being no less than superb, catches on the first 2 days at Cefn Sidan were very poor. Catches consisted of small Flounders, 13 on Day 1, with many anglers and one complete zone blanking, and 19 on Day 2. Why this was is something of a mystery as, according to local anglers, it had fished very well prior to the competition. Perhaps it was down to that old saying "when the wind is in the East, the fish bite least" or did we fish the wrong part of the tide?

On day 3, at Pendine, the wind had backed even more and catches improved with good Bass, bigger Flounder and Dogfish turning up numbering 51 recordable fish. So, was this the weather or the venue? What a shame that much of this magnificent venue is unavailable due to health and safety implications resulting from previous behaviour of speed merchants and the continued use by the military as a training centre.

At this point I must say I can't praise the officials of Carmarthenshire County Council highly enough for all their help in organising access for the competition in the first place, and to the Rangers for their help and courteousness on the competition days.

The International team event was won by England from Wales A, who narrowly failed to emulate last year’s triumph by the Welsh B team in retaining it for the home nation. The Irish came third.

The winner of the individual event and thus the coveted Gold pin was the most senior competing angler, Englishman, Brian "Budge" Booker with another English angler, Dave Lovelock, in second, gaining him the Silver pin. Irishman, Mick Quinn, finished third and received the Bronze pin.

Highest placed Welsh Angler was Haydn "howling" Cole in fifth, but only on count back from third with English regular, Reg Clough, similarly placed into fourth. However, there was some compensation for Haydn as he won the pairs with Mick Quinn and was third in the team of three event with Andrew Skeels and John O'Connor.

Reg was second in the pairs with Welshman and former winner, Alan Cheswick with Dave Lovelock and Irishman Warren Doyle in third. Budge also won the team of three event with Welshman Adrian Tucker and Irishman Ken Forsythe from Matthew Lustig (Wales), Brian Flack (England) and Mike Bowden (Scotland).

Apart from thanking Carmarthenshire officials again for their unstinting help, as well as Dragon Baits for the quality of the bait they supplied, we must also thank our other sponsors, ABU, Daiwa and Shakespeare, 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. Thanks must also go to all EFSA Wales section members, they know who they are, without their help the competition would not have run so smoothly and successfully.

Pictured with EFSA Wales Chairman & Shore Festival Officer and Shore Festival Officer for the Federation as a whole, Phil Lustig (Left) are (left to Right) the pin winners Dave Lovelock, Brain Booker and Mick Quinn.