The Ladies Salmon Flyfishing Team which will represent Ireland in the International Competition on 6 June pictured at the Ridge Pool, Ballina.

The North Western Regional Fisheries Board and the Irish Ladies Flyfishing Association have joined forces to stage what is believed will be the first ever Ladies International Salmon Angling Competition.

The event will be fished on the renowned Cathedral Beat of the River Moy, in Ballina, on Monday, 6 June, 2005 and will feature teams from Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Each team member (six per team) will fish for just one hour as the beat is limited to eight rods. The competition will be fished on a conservation basis with all salmon being measured and returned alive to the river.

At a joint Press Conference, in Ballina, to announce the event, the Chairman of the North Western Fisheries Board, John Walkin, said that, in accordance with the Board’s Strategic Development Plan, the Board was active in promoting both ladies angling and juvenile angling. Several special events for both had been held in recent years. The forthcoming event would be particularly important as it would be an international one which would, hopefully, result in more female anglers coming to fish in the region in future. Mr. Walkin wished the event every success.

Ms. Julie McGeever, PRO of the Ladies Flyfishing Association, said that there would be special emphasis on conservation and safety during the competition. She said it was most important that our valuable salmon stocks were conserved and angler safety was also very important, especially when wading in large rivers such as the Moy. Special arrangements were, therefore, being made to protect both the anglers and the salmon. Ms. McGeever thanked the Fisheries Board for hosting the event.