Cast of huge salmon to go under the hammer

64lb fish was caught on the Glendelvine estate

A rare model of the biggest salmon ever caught in Britain is to go up for auction next month.

The fibreglass cast of the 64lb monster hooked by petite Georgina Ballantine in 1922 is one of just 12 in existence.

The original fish, measuring 54 inches, was cast in plaster by PD Malloch’s and remains on the Glendelvine estate in Perthshire where it was caught and is owned by Sir Gavin Lyle, a descendent of the golden syrup magnate Abram Lyle.

The salmon remains the largest ever caught by rod and line in British waters.

The cast is being sold as part of Bonhams’ Sporting sale in Edinburgh on May 23.

The replicas were cast in fibreglass by George Jamieson by taking a mould from the original plaster cast.

The model comes with a photograph of Miss Ballantine with her prize catch and rod, a certificate that this reproduction of ‘The British Record Salmon’ is number 4 of a series of 12 signed by Sir Gavin Lyle of Glendelvine and a record of the landing of the salmon.

Experts expect it to fetch up to £5,000.

Bonhams’ head of sporting sales, Henry Baggott, said: “As usual, the Sporting Sale offers a wide variety of lots celebrating country pursuits. In particular, we have a fine choice of fishing artefacts and memorabilia including a rare cast of Georgina Ballantine’s wonderful record salmon – a record which has stood for more than 90 years and is very unlikely ever to be broken.”

Georgina Ballantine with her record-breaking catch.