Well, that’s the Western Isles open competitions over for another year, a huge thanks to everyone who took part in the competition, especially all those who made their way across the Minch to Stornoway, making sure it was a fantastic event yet again. The weather tried its hardest to stop us getting out to enjoy the fishing, but we still managed to get out over all three days as the venue provides some great sheltered locations. The anglers landed excellent numbers of fish and a wide variety of species including a potential Scottish Record tub gurnard of over 6 lb which fell to Derek Yuille.
Well done to all the winners over the three days, especially local angler Joe Campbell for winning the Highlands and Island Open on the Thursday, with a fantastic catch of flat fish and rays, and to visiting angler Scott Gibson for winning the main event the Western Isles Open over the Friday and Saturday putting in excellent very solid performances as usual on each day.
A big thank you to our main sponsor for the event Abhainn Dearg Distillery, providing us with bottles of their superb Hebridean whisky as prizes, and to everyone who helped contribute in making the competition the success it was, the boat skippers, the markers, the clubs committee, caterers and bar staff, everyone involved who helped in some way.
Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year, thanks.
Results
Highlands and Islands Open
1st Place – Joe Campbell
2nd Place – Steve Souter
3rd Place – Scott Gibson
Ladies Winner – Nikki Thompson
Heaviest Fish – A thornback ray of 7lb 12oz caught by Gillies Mackenzie
Western Isles Open
1st Place – Scott Gibson
2nd Place – Derek Yuille
3rd Place – Gillies Mackenzie
4th Place – Steve Souter
5th Place – Peter Redshaw
Ladies Champion – Nikki Thompson
4 Man Team Winners – Steve Souter, Scott Gibson, Stevie Burns, Ally Campbell
4 Man Team Runners Up – Gus Mackenzie, Peter Redshaw, Alasdair Forsyth, Gillies Mackenzie
2 Man Team Winners – Scott Gibson, Steve Souter
2 Man Team Runners Up – Gillies Mackenzie, Peter Redshaw
Rarsdan Trophy Winners – Stornoway – Angus Macdonald, Iain Maclean, Gillies Mackenzie, John Nicolson
Specimen Fish Winner – A 6lb 9oz tub gurnard caught by Derek Yuille
Heaviest Fish Winner – A cod of 8lb 3oz caught Eddie Hughes
Top Visiting Angler – Scott Gibson
Highest Local Score – Gillies Mackenzie
Highest Aggregate Score – Gillies Mackenzie
Top Boat – SYSAC 2 skippered by Robbie Bell
Boat with Heaviest Fish – Nimrod skippered by Jimmy Macintosh
