Anglers from 18 countries will compete along Wexfordcoast

AN ESTIMATED 240 competitors will hope to reel in some success next week when they flock to Wexford’s coastline for the 2016 World Shore Angling Championships.

The opening will take place on Saturday, November 12, starting with a parade through Wexford town at 3.30 p.m. followed by a ceremony at the National Opera House, which is open for anyone to attend.

Teams of anglers - 18 for the men’s competition and 11 for the ladies - from 18 countries across the globe will compete over a full week on beaches dotted along the Wexford coast.

This year’s event, which is organised by the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers, will prove to be particularly significant as it is the first time that an Irish all-female team will take part.

Kilgorman, Ballinoulart, Morriscastle, Ballineskar, Curracloe, White Hole, Ballyhealy, Rostoontown, Rosslare Strand and Burrow have been earmarked as suitable beaches for the competition, along with Wicklow North beach and Woodstown in Waterford. Decisions on where competitors are to cast their lines will be determined according to tides on the day.

While competitors will arrive from faraway shores such as South Africa, Portugal and Spain, the Irish team will include some anglers from much closer to home. Killinick man Martin Howlin will serve as team captain while Courtown’s Joe Byrne is also one of the team members. On the women’s team, Jane Cantwell from Wexford town will fly the flag for her county.

Commenting on the championships, Martin