Three-day contest hooks top fishermen

The European Open Beach Championship will be staged from February 25 to February 27 on the East Coast, with anglers casting off from beaches from Sewerby Steps in the north to Spurn Point in the south.

They will be trying to emulate last year’s overall winner Justin Hawksley from Withernsea who walked away with a large share of the £25,000 prize fund and the crown of European Champion.

Organised by East Yorkshire Events, in association with Total SeaFishing magazine, the competition started life as the Bridlington Open Beach Championship.

Initially it attracted just 300 anglers but the event grew as word spread with people taking part from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Shetland Islands as well as Belgium, Holland, Sweden and Greece.

Despite the harsh economic climate, organisers say they are delighted by the high level of interest in the competition, particularly the increased interest from the Netherlands and Belgium, following from a promotional drive there.

Events manager Paul Roggeman said: “Our original concern regarding the current recession, affecting participant numbers, seems to have been a little pessimistic and we are delighted that so many anglers have already booked for this year’s competition. We are seeing a big increase in interest from across Europe with a number of foreign magazines running competitions to bring anglers to Bridlington.”

Back by popular demand this year is the Bridlington Flattie Bash on Friday February 25, held at the new boating compound on Wilsthorpe beach from 11.30am to 3pm. Tickets are still available for the event, which has separate sections dedicated to junior girls and boys, as well as senior women’s and men’s competitions.