Hastings and St. Leonards Angling Association

The 116th annual three day Hastings International Boat Festival sponsored by Hastings Angling Centre Ltd was fished 20th, 21st and 22nd July and, unlike last year, it was fortunately fished on all three days from the boats.

The good weather prompted an excellent entry with 73 anglers taking part on over 25 boats. Friday was calm but overcast and typically very wet in this driest of summers! Saturday and Sunday were bright and hot with a day breeze picking up in the afternoon especially on the Sunday with a lumpy sea wind against tide.

The Red Arrows giving an excellent display overhead to end the Saturday.

The Festival is based on points for the best five specimen fish weighed in by each angler each day, with each day being a separate match with prizes and the overall Festival being rewarded with cash and trophies.

Despite the decent conditions, specimen fish proved elusive with remarkably none being recorded. Best specimen of the Festival was a Ballan Wrasse of 4lb 2oz (90.7 points) caught by Lee Milton and won him The Friendship Trophy and £500, narrowly beating Colin Crosby’s Wrasse by 0.5 points.

Keith Sturmer won the South of England Trophy and £500 first prize with 343 points on the Sunday. Paul Murray had the highest aggregate points (903) to win the ICSA Gold Cup. Paul Carter had the biggest fish a conger eel of 41lb. The junior prizes were all taken by Amy Dickinson. Top lady was Sue Wells and top veteran Charlie Ball. Team prize won by Charlie Ball, Barry Coleman, Steve Erends and Ed McBrien.

The Club team prize went to Hastings & St Leonards Angling Association, Ralph and Colin Crosby, Paul Murray and Bill Ellis.

The prize giving and fine buffet was held at the East Hastings Club with Mayor Nigel Sinden presenting the trophies. The prize table for the day prizes was again excellent. Thanks to Shimano and Pure Fishing for donating prizes. Thanks also to Seashore graphics, ACW Brickwork Ltd, RX Fisheries, SJ Homewood for generous support and to Hastings & St Leonards AA and East Hastings SAA for hosting the event.

MAIN TROPHY WINNERS

• South of England Trophy (1) - Most points on one day – Keith Sturmer (343)
• Friendship Trophy (2) – Best specimen in the Festival – Lee Milton (90.7)
• ICSA Gold Cup (3) – Most points in the Festival – Paul Murray (903)
• Cinema deluxe Cup (4) – Greatest weight of fish on one day – Paul Carter 51lb 4oz
• Dreadnought Cup (5) – Most points from whiting on one day – Peter Thorpe (15)
• Lewis Abbott Cup (6) - Most points from flatfish in one day – Graham Furness 259
• Amsterdam Trophy 7 – Biggest conger in the Festival – Paul Carter 41lb 3oz
• Southend Cup 8 – Most points from congers in one day – Paul Carter (73.55)
• Borough of Hastings Cup 9 – Biggest fish in the Festival- Paul Carter 41lb 3oz
• Hastilow Cup 10 - Heaviest cod in the Festival – Steve Shoesmith 3lb 1oz
• Herne Bay Cup 11 - Best specimen dogfish – Bill Ellis Bull Huss 5lb 1oz
• Palmer Cup 12 - Most points from cod in one day – Steve Shoesmith (17)
• Richardson Trophy 13 – Heaviest ray- Alan Kent Thornback 11lb 5oz
• Farnham Trophy 14 – team of four – Charlie Ball, Barry Coleman, Steve Erends and Ed McBrien (1022)
• Veterans Trophy 15 – Charlie Ball (760)
• Ladies Rose Bowl 16 – Sue Wells (531)
• Bon Ami Cup 17 - Most junior points in one day – Amy Dickinson (190)
• Skinners Trophy 18 – Best junior percentage on one day- Amy Dickinson (86.1%)
• RNLI trophy 19 – Most Junior points in Festival – Amy Dickinson (481)
• TSB Shield 20 – Most points from flatfish – Amy Dickinson (386)
• Saffir Vissers Trophy 22 – Most different species – Luke Allcock 8
• Observer Boat Trophy 23 – top local angler- Paul Murray (903)
• Whitbread Trophy 24 – longest fish – Peter Thorpe (73.5 inches)
• Coronation Cup 26 – best club team of four on one day – Bill Ellis, Paul Murray, Colin and Ralph Crosby (1070)
• Nelson Cup 27 – top score in Coronation Cup – Paul Murray (304)
• Family Cup 28 – Ralph and Colin Crosby (592)
• Pollack Cup 29 – Mark Fairhurst 5lb 1oz
• Frank James Cup 30 – Pete Welford 3lb 9oz Plaice
• Les Watson Kayak Cup – John Billings 9oz Gurnard