THF FISHING COMPETITION

The highlight of the fortnight of the 'Glasgow Fair' holiday, when the maximum visitors are in Coll is a ritual called the Fishing Competition . It is the island version of gold cup day at Ascot but with far more excitement. No gorgeous flowery hats but masses of macho wellies, fishing outfits and fishing hats, a real scramble of followers and a glamorous Fishing Queen to deliver the prizes.

This year the competition was postponed three times with problems of weather, as with so many small boats competing you need a relatively calm sea.

On Monday evening finally, the fishing competition got under way, even though it was a rather cold and drizzly evening. This year for the first time I was not a competitor. Our little boat is rather too risky and I had been away the previous week when all the crewing politics had been played.

Susan and I went to the village as spectators at 9.00pm just as the fleet were coming in to the Middle Pier. It was decked with flags and a huge banner advertising 'Grouse Whisky'. When a sporting event is sponsored by a whisky company you know that it has arrived!

This was a good year for entries with 18 boats competing. There must have been a hundred spectators on the pier cheering in the competitors as they landed their boxes of mackerel and then queued up for the weigh-in. And the honours this year went mainly to our neighbours in the East End of Coll: John Fraser of Bousd and crew took the top prize and cup. Lavinia and Alexander Bristol had much the glitziest boat with zoom in and zoom out power, which left the rest of the fleet standing, but not so many fish. They didn't know their Arinagour as well as other locals.

While we were waiting for the prizes to be announced we had cheese and biscuits and chatted to all our friends, fighting the wretched midgies. Susan was stirring it up a little with "You canna catch the top catch unless ye go to Canna".

THE RESULTS

Boat with the best total catch - John Fraser, Charlie Self, Roy Barrie. (25kg).

Boat with the second best total catch - R Sturgeon, J MacLean, G McCabe. (19kg).

Boat with third best total catch - W Tunnell, S Biel, Jack. (14kg).

Heaviest fish (Local) - Angus Kennedy, llb 8oz; 2. Kevin Oliphant l1b 4oz; 3. Andy MacKinnon llb 3oz.

Heaviest fish (Visitor) - Roy Barrie and George Barrie llb 40z.

Children (from the pier) - 11-15 years - Ryan Sorby 14oz; N Kennedy lloz. Under 11 years - 1 Donald Munro; 2 Murray Sorby; 3 Jamie Henderson. 

Adults from the pier - Tina Simpson.