The 48th Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival culminated in a thrilling finale on Friday with Mark Silman, from Doncaster, reeling in the heaviest weight of 41.610kg over the three-day event, netting the winner’s cheque of £5,000 and the coveted Belleek Trophy.
Lisnaskea man, Jordan Hall, secured a remarkable second place, harnessing his angling prowess to reel in an impressive 37.750kg followed by Shaun Bilsbury, from Glazebury (England), with 36.300kg, while fourth spot went to Steve Hemingray, from Great Glen (England) with 31.210kg.
With so many visiting anglers, the festival includes an International Winner category. This year’s winner was Thorsten Beil from Germany, taking the prize with 22.100kg.
The four-man team, Sensas Starlets unleashed an unstoppable display of unity and skill, reeling in the hotly contested Masters Team event with 88.300kg.
Presenting the prizes at the farewell gala and prize giving ceremony in the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel and Lodges on Friday night, Councillor John McClaughry, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, congratulated all the winners saying:
“The Classic Fishing Festival, now in its 48th year, is one of the Council’s longest established events in Fermanagh. We have been delighted to welcome our local and visiting anglers to the area this past week and I have no doubt they have enjoyed the best of our local hospitality.
The event is hugely important to the area in terms of direct spend and we thank all our anglers for contributing to that, but it is also an opportunity for us to showcase the area on a national and international platform.”