370 anglers fish for World Cup

CHAMPION The 64th World Cup Trout Fly Angling Championship took place at Cushlough Bay, Lough Mask, over the weekend and was won by Seamus Cash from Newbridge (left), pictured receiving the prestigious trophy from Chairperson of the World Cup Committee, Mattie Lally. Pic: Trish Forde

Kildare fisherman Seamus Cash has triumphed in the World Cup Fly Angling Championship on Lough Mask. With weather conditions proving unfavourable for angling on Sunday’s final day, Seamus’s fish weighing 2.875lbs, was sufficient to edge him into the winner’s enclosure ahead of Stuart Marshall, Belfast, who had two fish, weighing 2.65lbs. Billy Graham, Banbridge, Co Down, was third with two fish, weighing 2.358lbs.
Seamus, who has fished the World Cup for many years, revealed that dry-fly fishing was the key to his success. The winning boatman was Pat Fox.
A total entry of 370 anglers made Ballinrobe a busy place from Wednesday to Sunday. A shortage of accommodation locally meant some potential entrants had to abandon their travel plans. At the final weigh-in and presentation, a minute’s silence was held in memory of regular competitors who passed away since the last staging of the event in 2019.

Results
1, Seamus Cash, Newbridge, Co Kildare; 2, Stuart Marshall, Belfast; 3, Billy Graham, Banbridge, Co Down; 4, Patsy Tracey, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh; 5, PJ O’Brien, Mallow, Co Cork; 6, Christy Crotty, Co Waterford; 7, Paul Colreavy, Castlebaldwin, Co Sligo; 8, Brendan Moran, Kells, Co. Meath; 9, Chris Oliver, Navan, Co Meath; 10, Des McCullough, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim; 11, Frankie Guilfoyle Jnr, Ennis, Co Clare; 12, Brendan Shallow, Belleek, Co Fermanagh; Best Lady Angler, Anne McWilliam, Kanturk, Co Cork.