The 36th running of the Irish Winter Shore Angling Festival took place from January 26th until February 1st 2025. The competition is one of the most prestigious 3 day events fished in Europe, anglers return year after year to renew friendships and to vie for success.
The organisation of the event was extremely difficult for both the organising committee and competitors alike. The lead up to the event was a worrying time due to ferry disruptions, winter storms and unusually slack tides which restricted bait gathering resulting in many withdrawals. The initial entry of 132 was reduced to 115. The competitors had travelled from England, Wales, The Netherlands and Ireland North and South.
The event headquarters was once again The Hotel Curracloe where check in commenced on Wednesday evening. All but 31 competitors had registered at 10pm closing.
A good gathering of competitors then enjoyed the hospitality to be had in the hotel bar where the craic was good and where challenges were offered and taken in great spirit.
Check was completed on Thursday morning by 9.30am.
The first session was fished on Ballinesker beach from 12noon until 5pm. The beach was pegged by the ever efficient team of Stephen Glynn and Paul Tyndall and ready for the anglers in ample time to set up.
The anglers were treated to glorious weather which was very much appreciated while they prepared their rigs for the fray.
Competition commenced on time at 12 noon and 110 baited rigs of a multiplicity of designs hit the water within moments to target fish with a minimum permissible length of 18 centimetres.
Fish were recorded from the first cast, and it continued throughout the session. Reports along the beach were that good numbers were being recorded and some good fish among them.
Best round fish of the day was a magnificent 60 centimetre bass for Paul Tyndall (IRL), second best was a 36 centimetre coalfish for Roy Arnold (UK). Best flat fish, 32 centimetre flounders were recorded by Saul Page (UK) and Chris Isaac (UK). Best cards (Super Pool) were Ged Stevens (UK), 677 points. Rob Tuck (UK), 555 points and Troy Francis (IRL), 512 points. These were the leading 3 anglers on day 1.
A total of 877 fish were recorded on day 1, all returned to the water alive.
Zone Positions and Winners on Day 1
| Day 1 Zone A | Day 1 Zone B | Day 1 Zone C | Day 1 Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ben Arnold | 1. Troy Francis | 1. Rob Tuck | 1. Ged Stevens |
| 2. Saul Page | 2. Ken McCoy | 2. John White | 2. Eugene Andrews |
| 3. Mike Hughes | 3. Mike Fox | 3. Neil Cutler | 3. Chris O'Sullivan |
| 4. Shane Russell | 4. Jurgen Van Rijswijk | 4. Gary Hughes | 4. Ben Price |
| 5. Ian Bowell | 5. Andy Gallagher | 5. Llewellyn Rose | 5. Brendan Wall |
| 6. Gareth Griffiths | 6. Stephen Byrne | 6. Lar Mooney | 6. Kieran Dempsey |
| 7. Joe Wales | 7. Richard Yates | 7. Ryan Blair | 7. J.P. Molloy |
| 8. Gav Owen | 8. Chris Isaac | 8. Stephen O'Donovan | 8. Bradley Kirwan |
Day 2 was fished between Ballinoulart Beach and Morriscastle Beach, 2 zones on each. The pegging team had once again prepared the beaches in ample time for anglers to set up and prepare their offerings for the day. Their preparation was once again carried out in glorious sunny weather.
12 noon once again saw the competitors enter the fray and once again fish obliged from the start. As the day progressed some good fish were reported along the beaches although the fishing itself was patchy in some areas.
Best round fish of the day was a 46 centimetre cod for Tony Thomas (UK), second best was a 45 centimetre spur dogfish for Richard yates (UK). Best flatfish was a 34 centimetre flounder for Kevin Barber (IRL) , joint second were 33 centimetre flounders for Eugene Andrews (NI), John White (UK), Wayne Hamilton (IRL) and Joe Wales (UK).
Best cards for the day were Sean Ivory (IRL), 793 points. Ged Stevens, 756 points and Ben Arnold (UK), 701 points.
Leading the field after day 2 was Ben Arnold (60/1198 points) followed by Troy Francis (60/1071 points), both with double zone wins and Ged Stevens in third place (59 points).
691 fish were recorded on day 2, all returned alive.
Zone Positions and Winners on Day 2
| Day 2 Zone A | Day 2 Zone B | Day 2 Zone C | Day 2 Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Troy Francis | 1. Ben Arnold | 1. Sean Ivory | 1. Saul Page |
| 2. J.P. Molloy | 2. Richard Yates | 2. Ged Stevens | 2. Jurgen Van Rijswijk |
| 3. Llewellyn Rose | 3. Henry Randall | 3. Ben Price | 3. Barry O'Rourke |
| 4. Max Roche | 4. Ian Bowell | 4. Lar Mooney | 4. Kieran Dempsey |
| 5. Ronan Doherty | 5. Dave Wade | 5. Andy Gallagher | 5. Roy Arnold |
| 6. John White | 6. Stephen O'Donovan | 6. Brendan Wall | 6. Darragh Farrell |
| 7. Joe Wales | 7. Steve Potts | 7. Shane Russell | 7. Paul Molyneux |
| 8. Ken McCoy | 8. Neil Cutler | 8. James Ryan | 8. Simon Phelps |
Day 3 was fished on Curracloe Beach. The forecast for very high winds forced the pegging of the beach to be done up to the right towards Raven Point. This unfortunately created a very long walk to the furthest pegs. The wind did not get up to the heights forecast but was still high enough to have lots of dry sand flying about.
Fishing commenced at 10am on a full dropping tide for the day. This unfortunately led to the inner bank being cleared while there was still quite a depth of water in the gully.
The fishing was very sporadic with some areas bereft of fish for quite a while. Most anglers eventually recorded fish but there were blanks. Reports along the beach were that only a handful of anglers were catching consistently.
As the day progressed the wind increased making it a lot more uncomfortable and many were glad to see lines in called at 3pm.
544 fish were recorded for the session and returned alive. No round fish were recorded in zones 1 or 3, the best round fish, a 30 centimetre bass for Neil Griffin (IRL) was the only one recorded in zone 2, second best was a 23 centimetre rockling for Mike Fox (IRL) in zone 4. Best flat fish was a 35 centimetre flounder for Steve Potts (UK), second best was a 33 centimetre flounder for Chris O’Sullivan (IRL).
Best cards for the day were Ronan Doherty (IRL), 425 points. Saul Page, 410 points and Max Roche (IRL), 404 points.
Zone Positions and Winners on Day 3
| Day 3 Zone A | Day 3 Zone B | Day 3 Zone C | Day 3 Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Ronan Doherty | 1. Max Roche | 1. Joe Wales | 1. Saul Page |
| 2. Franko Attanasio | 2. Dave Hutchinson | 2. Cian Corcoran | 2. Jim O'Brien |
| 3. Ben Arnold | 3. David O'Sullivan | 3. Neil Cutler | 3. Gordon Thornes |
| 4. Darragh Farrell | 4. Leigh Rogers | 4. Mike Hughes | 4. John White |
| 5. Mark Shortt | 5. Barry O'Rourke | 4. Rob Tuck | 5. Gary Hazelgrove |
| 6. Phil Lee | 6. Steve Potts | 4. Joey Brady | 6. Mike Fox |
| 7. Jurgen Van Rijswijk | 7. Shane Russell | 7. Dave Wade | 7. Robbie Smith |
| 8. Chris O'Sullivan | 8. Eugene Andrews | 8. Troy Francis | 8. Pat Shortt |
The hard working results crew had the final standings calculated and displayed at 6pm. There were no queries.
A full room of competitors and guests enjoyed an excellent well prepared and professionally served meal after which the presentation of awards took place.
EFSA Ireland Chairman George McCullough addressed those in attendance prior to the awards ceremony. He thanked the competitors for their participation and their perseverance over the 3 days of competition, especially day 3 in some very trying conditions. He thanked the venue pegging team for their excellent work. He also thanked the results committee for their excellent work and also EFSA Ireland Hon. Secretary for his work in the organisation of the event. He thanked the management and staff of the Hotel Curracloe for their support and professionalism throughout the event.
He then thanked the sponsors, firstly main sponsor Tronixpro for their continued support for the event, also Inland Fisheries Ireland for their continued support and finally Hotel Curracloe for hosting the event. Finally, he thanked those who had gifted prizes for the raffle and wished everyone a safe journey home and hoped to see them again in 2026.
The awards presentation then took place under the stewardship of Hon. Secretary Warren Doyle and Hon Vice Chairman Tommy Squires.
Longest fish and Super Pool prizes were first awarded followed by daily zone prize winners. These were followed by the team prizes.
The evening’s proceedings concluded with the raffle. There were lots to choose from. Tronix and Vercelli rods, Tronix Reels, lots of other Tronix goodies and various items of fishing paraphernalia donated by individuals. There were some very happy people among the winners.
Species recorded were: Lesser Spotted Dogfish, Spur Dogfish, Small Thornback Ray, Cod, Coalfish, Whiting, Rockling, Sea Bass, Flounder, Dab, Turbot.
The 2 person team winners were Saul Page and Richard Yates, retaining the title for a second year. Second were John White (UK) and Brendan Wall (IRL). Third place was taken by Ian Bowell (UK) and Rob Tuck.
The 4 person team winners were Saul Page, Richard Yates, John White and Ben Price (UK). Second were Ken McCoy (UK), Gary Hughes (UK), Ian Bowell and Rob Tuck. Third were Stephen O’Donovan (IRL), Barry O’Rourke (IRL), Troy Francis and Mike Fox.
The individual winner was Saul Page, retaining the title for a second year and winning the Waterford Crystal Decanter and a Tronixpro Competition Performance rod.
In second place was Ben Arnold.
Third place was Troy Francis maintaining his position from 2024.
