A NORTHSIDE man was celebrating recently after reeling in the top prize in an international angling competition.
Stephen Glynn, from Raheny, was crowned European Shore Angling Champion for 2019 at the EFSA European Shore Angling Championship held in Iceland.
Stephen, who took the Gold Medal and Pin, became the first Irish angler to win the individual event.
He was among the 10-strong Irish team of anglers who represented Ireland in Akureyri, Northern Iceland.
On Day 1, the highlight for the Irish group was a zone win for Seàn Murray.
The teams did not have a great day, however, and were back in sixth and seventh place.
Day 2 proved to be better for the Irish with Stephen Glynn taking a zone first and Paul Tyndall, a second. The teams, however, still remained in sixth and seventh.
There were some notable performances by the Irish contingent on Day 3 with Stephen Glynn recording another zone win with the best catch of the day on five fish; Ken Forsyth and Shay O’Neill, zone second; and Paul Tyndall and Mark Shortt, zone third.
Back at their headquarters there was an air of anticipation among the Irish team members due to their Day 3 performance.
The presentation dinner took place in the Hotel Kjarnalunder followed by the prize-giving ceremony.
For the Irish, though, there was both elation and disappointment. The ‘A’ team of Stephen Glynn, Ken Forsyth, Paul Tyndall, Mark Shortt and Shay O’Neill finished joint third on 89 points with Germany ‘A’ but lost out on a medal on the countback.
The Netherlands ‘A’ and England ‘B’ came first and second respectively.
However, Stephen Glynn’s individual triumph meant that Irish eyes were ultimately smiling!
A total of 1,183 fish were caught, 388 on the first day, 754 on the second day but only 41 fish on the third day.
Fish species captured in competition were Dab, Rough Dab, Cod, Wolf Fish, Scorpion Fish, Whiting and Starry Ray.
At the conclusion of the presentation ceremony, the Championship flag was passed to EFSA Ireland Chairman George McCullough.
The 2020 European Shore Angling Championship will be hosted by EFSA Ireland from October 28-30 and fished from the south east beaches of east Wexford and Wicklow.
