#ANGLING - Entries close next Friday 17 August for the Lakelands & Inland Waterways World Pairs Angling Championship, taking place from 10-14 September in Monaghan, Leitrim, Cavan and Fermanagh.
Described at the world's richest coarse angling competition by the Leitrim Observer, entries have so far being received from throughout Europe and as far afield as Brazil and Australia, all aiming for a share of the £60,000 (€76,500) prize fund.
The 150-pair limit is close to being reached, but organisers are establishing a reserve list to ensure all spots are filled for the biggest contest of its kind in Ireland.
Organisers are calling it "a match run by anglers for anglers" - all competitors have to do is catch as many bream and roach as they can, and all methods can be fished.
Test fishing has already been hosted on inland waterways throughout the four counties that comprise the cross-border Lakekands & Inland Waterways region, based on the Erne system, the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the main Shannon navigation, to find the best five spots for world-class wild angling.
The event is sponsored by Lakeland & Inland Waterways, a marketing and product development initiative of Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Fermanagh Tourism, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Shannon Development.
