Angling's Richest Open Coarse Competition

Ireland’s Lakeland & Inland Waterways World Pairs

The last chance to enter to win the staggering £60,000 prize package of Ireland’s Lakeland & Inland Waterways World Pairs competition is rapidly approaching with the closing date for entries on the 17th August. The limit of 150 pairs has almost been reached but a reserve list is being established to ensure maximum entry in case of illness or accident.

Entries have been received from Brazil, Australia, Germany,  UK, Holland and Ireland with over 70% of the entries for this Erne and Shannon based event coming from outside the island of Ireland.

To ensure the 150 competing pairs get the cream of the wild angling available in the Lakelands & Inland Waterways region, test fishing has been taking places on lakes and rivers on both sides of the border; in Fermanagh, Cavan, Monaghan and Leitrim. Competitors will fish five locations in this, the most lucrative open entry coarse fishing event in the world and compete to be crowned “World Pairs Champions”.

The Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs is taking place from the 10-14 September 2012 and  will see the winning duo pocket £30,000, with second getting £10,000, third £5,000 and 4th - 18th  place overall each getting £1,000, along with a raft of tackle prizes provided by DAIWA. In addition, individual matches run over the week will enable the anglers to take home up to an additional £30,000.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Éanna Rowe, co-chair of Ireland’s Lakelands & Inland Waterways said, "We aim to put Irish fishing at the forefront of wild angling worldwide and in particular by using both lakes and the Erne and the Shannon River. The variety and strength of the angling product in this region is of international significance and the World Pairs is an excellent way of highlighting this to the best in the world."

Two practice opens will take place on the 8-9 September before the main action begins. For more information about the event, check out www.worldpairsangling.com, or contact organiser Kevin Locke to seek a place on the reserve listing on +44 (0)7736 129627. The closing date for entries is Friday, August 17. All registered entrants should have received confirmation information. Please contact the organiser.

The event is sponsored by Lakeland & Inland Waterways, a marketing and product development initiative of Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Fermanagh Tourism, NITB and Shannon Development.

The organisers would like to acknowledge the work of DCAL Inland Fisheries Northern Ireland and Inland Fisheries Ireland in facilitating the event.

MICK WRIGHT, GARY DREW, KEVIN LOCKE (Event Organiser)