
by Terry Bearpark
Weather conditions were ideal on Sunday as 425 anglers flocked to the Yorkshire coast to take part in the Daiwa Senior British Open Championship, one of the largest competitions in the fishing calendar.
Anglers from as far as Cumbria, the North East and the Midlands took part, fishing from Flamborough on the North Sea to the Humber Bridge, hoping to catch fish that would net them a major cash prize.
Taking the first prize of £2,500 was Hull angler Dean Nicklas, an angler for 25 years, whose catch of a 4.25kg thornback ray was caught at Aldbrough. A delighted Dean could not believe his luck and plans to share the cash with his fishing partner and also treat his wife to something special.
Picking up the second prize of £1,200 with a 2.875kg thornback ray was Pippen Moore of Hartlepool. In third place was Ian Laverack with a 2.805kg thornback ray, earning him £800. Scott Poltney’s 2.275kg ray saw him collect £500, while Tony Noon and Mick Newton shared fifth place with 2.235kg cods, giving them a prize of £200 each. The biggest whiting of 0.455kg earned Mick Coulman a spot among the prizewinners.
Withernsea girl Kalia Beadle, 12, took both first and second junior places with a 0.410kg whiting and a 0.295kg pouting, earning her £50, two trophies, a rod, and a rucksack for her efforts. Saturday saw many young anglers fish in good weather at the north end of Withernsea. However, fish were in short supply for the youngsters, with very few being weighed in.
Junior Champion was 11-year-old Alfie Metcalfe from Paull with a codling of 30cm. Second was Kalia Beadle with a 27cm codling, and third was James Green with a 24cm dab. The under-11 winner was Rex Taylor with a dab of 22cm, and Alfie Metcalfe collected another prize for his 30cm codling in the biggest fish category. James Green’s 24cm dab earned him the prize for biggest flatfish.
However, all junior anglers received consolation prizes of fishing accessories. Weigh-ins and presentations were made at the Northfield in Withernsea, and the events were organised by members of the Commercial Sea Angling Club.
The main sponsor was Daiwa, with other prize sponsors including West Hull Rugby Club, MKM, Howdens, Squids In Seabaits of Goxhill, Hull Angling Centre, Quids In Bait and Tackle, and East Coast Tackle. The seniors’ raffle was sponsored by Zulcron Sports of Hartlepool.