Coll Fishing Competition 2000

A healthy turnout of 18 boats took part this year and it was a competition not without its moments. Although dry and sunny, a 'fresh' north easterly against the tide made for some challenging conditions out with the comparative shelter of the Meall, where seas became increasingly heavy as the wind freshened. Fishing though was exceptionally good if you could hold position and stay with the shoal.

There was a fair amount of needle between competitors and last years winner Stormbringer was licking its wounds after a rather miserable performance in the East End Competition two days previously, and determined to make amends. Determination is of little use however when things mechanical go awry, and a broken starter cord early in proceedings saw Stormbringer on a rapid drift towards the rocks of Ornsay. Roy Barrie on Perseverance was on hand to afford a tow back to the Middle pier; a selfless act it has to be said as a good 15 minutes of fishing time were lost as a result. Some nifty running repairs and Stormbringer returned to the fray but was unable to make up for lost time, losing to another boat from the East End contingent, Wee Percentage. For Wee Percentage it was a doubly successful evening as it scooped up the Coll Hotel Trophy for the Best Presented Boat, their theme being 'Kevin's Bar', in anticipation no doubt of celebrations to come. Additional inducements in the form of a large bottle of whisky from Coll Hotel brought a welcome increase in entrants to this competition.

Those who had made the sensible decision to stay put on dry land and fish from the New Pier found things hard going with little to show for their efforts. Donald Munro stood out from an impressive contingent lining the rails, taking the Pier Cup.

Results 2000

In the water:

Boat with best total catch:Wee Percentage  75.5 Kg
Skipper Will Tunnell Angust Kennedy Cup
Mate Jonathan Tunnell STV Cup
Visitor Andrew Scott Coll Association Cup

Boat with second best total catch:Stormbringer 61 Kg
Skipper John Fraser Robert Sturgeon Memorial Trophy
Mate Charlie Self Individual Cup
Visitor George Barrie

Boat with third best total catch: Perseverance 32 Kg
Skipper Roy Barry MacKenzie Cup
Mate Brian MacIntyre Jnr
Visitor Andrew Jefferson

Heaviest Fish, Local
1st Iain MacQuarrie 18 oz Trophy
2nd Neil Cowie 20 oz
3rd Lee Houchen 19 oz

Off the Pier:

Children (15-18 yrs)
1st Donald Munro 24oz Pi9er Cup

Children (11-15yrs)
1st Calum Baxter 4 oz

Children (Under 11yrs)
1st.equal Edward Beitzk 3.5 oz
Miles Baxteer

Adults on pier
1st Elaine Barrie 4 oz



J.F.