The annual media fly fishing competition took place on Friday, 30th March at Annamoe Fishery, Annamoe, Co. Wicklow. Organised by the Irish Times and Annamoe Fishery in conjunction with the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board, the event has proved extremely popular over the years and now attracts the top angling broadcast and print media from Ireland and the UK.

28 anglers from a variety of broadcast and print media took part in the competition on the scenic fly fishing lake in Annamoe Fishery including Derek Davis and Fergal Keane from RTE; Paddy O’Flaherty from BBC Radio Ulster; Michael Flanagan from the Sunday World; Fred Wiley and Doug Tuddenham from BBC TV and Campbell Baird and Bill McIlroy from Trout Fisherman to name but a few. Braving the cold weather, the anglers soon displayed their competitive spirit and fished hard from 11.00am until 5.00pm (with a short break for lunch!). 97 hard fighting rainbow trout were caught, recorded and released during the competition.

As the results were counted, it proved to be a very close contest with both the Irish Times team and Trout Fisherman catching 21 fish each but once the total length of fish were calculated; the Irish Times pipped Trout Fisherman at the post with 912 points to their 907 points! The Irish Angler’s Digest team of Denis Goulding and Karl O’Toole took third place with 10 fish. Denis also collected the prize of a top quality Shimano rod, sponsored by the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board for the largest fish of 55cm. There was a fantastic array of prizes on offer at the ceremony in the Glendalough Hotel and the organisers, Derek Evans of the Irish Times and Brian Nally of Annamoe both thanked all the sponsors, particularly, Failte Ireland as without their support the event could not take place.

The following morning, the journalists were treated to a sightseeing tour of the Garden of Ireland with visits to Wicklow Gaol and Avondale House as well as a spot of fishing for wild brown trout on the local Avonmore River under expert instruction from local anglers Peter Driver and Pat Cullen.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable two days for all involved and we will look forward to seeing if the Irish Times team will defend their title next year!