A strong Scotland Team ran out deserved victors in this year’s Home Nations Boat Championships in Scrabster, but were pushed all the way by a determined England Team in one of the closest contests in recent years.
The winning Scottish combination of Steve Souter, Bryce Watson, Scott Gibson, Derek Yulle and Donnie Morrison took a narrow 6% lead at the end of the first day, ahead of England’s Cliff Newbold, Dave Shay, Gary Galbraith, Steve Clements and Mike Patton.
Day two was almost as close as Wales and Ireland also piled on the pressure with their own separate battle to avoid the wooden spoon. Although both Scotland and England lost ground on their day one results it was Scotland who held their nerve best to win with a total of 889 points to England’s 865. Wales took the bronze with 670 with a plucky Ireland finishing on 562 points.
The top individual performer was England’s Cliff Newbold who scored a perfect 200 points over the two days which completes a superb run of results for the Pompey angler. Fish caught included coalfish, cod, pollack, ling and wrasse in one of the highest scoring Championships for many years.
Next year’s event is in Belmullet, Ireland for what will be an eagerly awaited contest between all concerned.
