THE WINNERS OF THE CLUB TROPHIES

BROWN TROUT TROPHY WINNERS

THE COIGACH CUP_____________________ (Ian Jones, Altandubh)

THE ALTNACEALGACH TROPHY__________(Bill Mullin, Reiff)

THE SUMMER ISLES FOODS TROPHY______(Stuart Boyd, Achiltibuie)

IAN JONES left receives the COIGACH CUP from chairman CHRIS MACLEOD

BILL MULLIN right receives THE ALTNACEALGACH TROPHY for the best basket from ERIC FERGUSON the trophy sponsor and proprietor of the Altnacealgach bar and restaurant.

STUART BOYD right receives the SMOKEHOUSE (Summer Isles Foods) TROPHY from KEITH DUNBAR the trophy sponsor.

These are the results of the Achiltibuie Angling Club's Grand Inaugural Angling competition held as planned on the 9th. June 2001 at Loch Borralan.
The popular venue, a good turnout and fine June weather all helped to make the day an enjoyable success.

The worthy cup winner turned out to be IAN JONES. Born and bred in Ayrshire, Ian has been fly-fishing since he was seven years of age and has recently retired to live in his newly built house in Altandubh. Ian won the cup with a 9-¾ oz. Brown trout, ably assisted by Kate McLaren and Soldier Palmer.

The second prize, a bottle of whisky sponsored by ERIC FERGUSON, went to Guest Fly Fisherman Richard Faulkoner with a 9-½ oz Brown trout.

STUART BOYD of Achiltibuie won the SMOKE HOUSE TROPHY for an 8 oz brown trout.

The ALTNACEALGACH TROPHY went to BILL MULLIN of Reiff for nine fish averaging 7-¾ oz.

Our thanks to the hosts, Eric and Bruce, the support of all the local businesses, the Ullapool Angling Club and their friends from Lairg etc. and the Ullapool News.

Bill Mullin
Competition secretary,
Reiff.

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THE OPEN (SEA ANGLING) COMPETITION

SATURDAY JULY 7th 2001

FOR
THE SUMMER ISLES GOLD CUP
TO BE AWARDED ANNUALLY FOR HEAVIEST FISH OF THE DAY
SPONSORED BY HYDRO SEAFOODS (Tanera)

AND
THE FINFISH TROPHY
TO BE AWARDED ANNUALLY FOR THE BEST SPECIMEN FISH (Judges decision)
SPONSORED BY FINFISH (Inverpolly)

ORGANISED BY

THE ACHILTIBUIE ANGLING CLUB

OPEN TO NON MEMBERS, ALL BOATS WELCOME

COMPETITORS please register between 10.00 and 10.30 AM on the Day, at the NEW PIER Old Dornie Harbour.

ENTRY FEE, £5 per ROD, (Juniors £1.)
Weigh in 5.00 PM

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THE COMPETITION RULES

Governing the Open Sea Angling Competition to be held on July 7th. 2001 under the auspices of the ACHILTIBUIE ANGLING CLUB.

Bill Mullin
Competition Secretary
The Achiltibuie Angling Club
Tel. 01854 622321
e-mail billhilton@achiltibuie.fsnet.co.uk

ALASDAIR BOYD left about to be presented with the GOLD CUP

ELIZABETH DRAKE receives the JUNIOR PRIZE, photograph, Beryl Morgan.

The Cuckoo Wrasse, winner of the FINFISH trophy.

The Fleet Homeward bound

Weighing in

At the pier

A (motley) Crew, docking the Albatross, Owner/Skipper Hamish Sinclair.

Harry Hassall and Bill Mullin on the Wests, Skipper Andy Halbrow, Owner Alan Pendred.

Last Saturday, on the 7th of July, it was like Dunkirk all over again. A flotilla of small boats left the harbour in a rush, (this time it was Old Dornie Harbour), but the commitment of the skippers and crews to get the job done and bring back the goods was just as great as it had been back then in May 1940.

The all-important weather was just about perfect, (calm water, not too bright sunlight), and 45 entrants registered for the competition, there could have been more, but for T in the Park and the Dingwall Gathering. 15 boats, some with professional skippers and some with amateurs, ranging from Half-decker creel boats, a "Fifie", to RIBs, Cruisers and Open boats took part.

All day the ether crackled with radio traffic from boat to boat, shore to boat and mobile phone messages. It was really funny, listening in to the exaggeration and miss-information being put out about marks and catches, one angler was called by his missus to ask "if he was coming home last night", all that was missing was a message from Tokyo Rose.

Every known mark between Horse Island and Rubha Coigeach was fished, with more or less success; one angler upon asking a local fisherman for advice on the marks received a tirade of the Gaelic from him, and was left no wiser than he was before.

At about four o'clock in the afternoon, a fishing frenzy set in, with boats scurrying from mark to mark, trolling at the same time, in a desperate last minute attempt to land the winner before the impending five o'clock weigh-in.

Five o'clock came around all too soon for most of the competitors and it seemed as if the time at sea had flown past. Any reluctance on the part of the anglers to return to shore however was immediately nullified by the welcome that awaited them. The turn out of the family and friends to greet the returning competitors at the pier was a sight to be seen. There must have been nearly a hundred people (over half of the population) on the pier for the presentation of the trophies.

Alistair Boyd of Achiltibuie won the Summer Isles Gold Cup, (sponsored by Hydro Seafoods Tanera), for landing the heaviest fish of the day, a 5lb. 5 oz. Ling.

David Mackenzie of Altandubh won the Finfish (Inver Polly) trophy with a Cuckoo Wrasse, which was judged to be the most unusual fish caught on the day.

Elizabeth Drake (12) of Polbain won the junior prize for landing a 3lb. 7oz Pollack. A fine effort considering that she was only out on the water for half the day.

Cod, Pollack and Ling between 4lbs and 5lbs. were landed and one Whiting but it was a disastrous day for the fishing communities of this Country when the three-mile limit was given up.

The Club wishes to thank all of the competitors and their families for making the day a great success. Thanks also to the skippers and boat owners, the competitors from the Lochside to the Lothians, our sponsors and Jim Muir and Chris' MacLeod for judging and presenting the trophies.

Weather permitting, the competition will be held annually on the Saturday following the Coigach Gathering.

A shore angling competition to be held at Badentarbat beach from 5 PM - 9 PM, under the auspices of The Achiltibuie Angling Club, for the Coigach Shield (best fish) and the Badentarbat Shield (best species fish). Trophies sponsored by S. Boyd, Achiltibuie.

Bill Mullin
Competition Secretary

How big Jimmy?

Once again, on Saturday last, the 18th. of August, the members and friends of the Achiltibuie angling club offered a fair libation to Poseidon.

A full compliment of anglers turned out at Badentarbat Bay and they were rewarded with brilliant weather. Beach casting from the shingle beach, spinning from the rocks and industrious pier fishing right up to the finishing time made for an exciting and enjoyable evenings sport for all concerned.

Although Poseidon came up with the goods as far as the weather was concerned, his cupboard as usual was pretty bare.

As was the case at the Sea Angling competition in July, the female pheromones came to the fore, and ALISON MACLEOD of Blairbuie won the COIGACH SHIELD awarded for the best fish.

ALISTAIR BOYD of Achiltibuie won the BADENTARBAT SHIELD awarded for the best species fish.

Ali' Post did his best but the Achnahaird section found the cupboard bare as well.

These excellent results should serve to encourage the Club committee and members to promote the formation of a junior membership section. This should also encourage the boys in the community to come along next time for a lesson from the young ladies on how to catch fish.

How about it Boys and Girls??

The Club thanks the worthy winners, all of the competitors, the chairman Chris Macleod for presenting the shields and Stuart Boyd for sponsoring the trophies.

Bill Mullin
Competition secretary,
The Achiltibuie Angling Club.