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 three days of matches were fished at Cefn Sidan on Thursday and Friday, May 22 and 23, but at Pendine on Saturday, May 24. Anglers from England Wales and Scotland arrived at the event's headquarters, the Ivy Bush Hotel in Carmarthen in the evening of Wednesday, May 23, for registration, a renewing of old acquaintances and a run down of the rules. Despite the bait supplied by Dragon Baits, in the view of all participants, being no less than superb, catches on the first two days at Cefn Sidan were very poor, consisting of small Flouders, 13 on day one, with many anglers and one complete zone blanking and 19 on day two. Why this was is something of a mystery as, according to the locals, it had been fishing very well indeed prior to the competition. Perhaps it was down to that old saying 'when the wind is in the East, the fish bite least' as it was on day one with a bit of south in it on day two, or were we given a bum steer, or did we fish the wrong part of the tide? However, on day three, at Pendine, the wind had backed even more and catches improved with good Bass, bigger Flounder and Dogs turning up numbering 51 recordable fish. So, was this the weather or the venue? What a shame that most of such a magnificent venue as Pendine is unavailable at most times due to health and safety implications resulting from previous behaviour by the idiot speed merchants we have in our society and the military training of the next batch of legalised assassins in the use and development of the next generation the weapons of mass destruction needed to continue pursuing the war against terror. However, 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 the rangers for their help and courteousness on the days that were fished. The international team event was won by England from Wales A, who narrowly failed to emulate the trophy holders, last years Welsh B team, in retaining it for the home nation. Third were the Irish. The winner of the individual event and thus the coveted gold pin was Englishman and the most senior angler competing Brian 'Budge' Booker, with another English angler, Dave Lovelock, in second, gaining him the silver pin and Irishman Mick Quinn in third getting the bronze pin. Highest placed Welsh angler was Haydn 'howling' Cole in fifth, but only on countback from third with another 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 K2 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 the EFSA Wales section members, they know who they are, without whose help the competition would not have run so smoothly and successfully.
John O'Connor