Dodder Anglers – local anglers host Leinster championships
By Mary Dennehy
The Dodder Anglers hosted the Leinster River Championship last Sunday, with 14 anglers taking to the vibrant city river in the hope of netting a place on the Irish Rivers Team 2020.
The competition took place along various spots on the Dodder, including spots as it flows through Templeogue and Rathfarnham.
Gerry Heaslip, Noel Shields (ITFFA Chair), Tony Butler (Dodder Anglers Chair) and Tony Doherty (ITFFA)
Established more than 60 years ago, the Dodder Anglers was “honoured” to host the championship on the local river, which, over the years, its members have kept a watchful and caring eye over.
Speaking with The Echo, St Maelruain’s resident Gerry Heaslip, who has been a member of Dodder Anglers for over 40 years, said that the competition was a “great success”.
“Some 14 anglers fished in this catch-and-release competition and they caught and released 225 trout,” Gerry said.
“[The trout] had to be over 18cm to be marked on the angler’s score card.”
Seamus Byrne (Steward) and Eamonn Conway (Dundalk Anglers)
Overall winner on the day was Shane Callon from Dundalk Anglers, followed by Kevin Dunne of Clane Anglers (2nd), Brian Larkin from North Kildare Anglers (3rd), Glen McCrave of Dodder Anglers (4th) and Eamon Conway, Dundalk Anglers (5th).
These five anglers now make up the Leinster Rivers Team, which will go on to fish an interprovincial competition to take their place on the Irish Rivers Team 2020.
Fran Nugent (DIAA) and Mike Byrne (Stewart)
The prize for the longest fish caught on the day, 35.3 cm, went to Alan Lawless of North Kildare Anglers.
Alan was presented with a fly rod by Mark Harkin of Rory’s Fishing Tackle in Temple Bar, which sponsors the competition. For further details on Dodder Anglers visit the club Facebook page.
TAGS Tallaght
