Stonehouse angler Charlie Vallender was victorious in a top Irish fishing competition.

The IFI (Inland Fishing Ireland) hold a fishing festival at Cootehill, County Cavan, every year.

Charlie and other local anglers, travel to Ireland every September, to compete against the best anglers from both the Republic of Ireland, and the UK.

This was the 38th year of the festival and Charlie landed a total of 84.730kg of fish, to beat 94 anglers and place first, in the competition.

Held over five days, anglers fish a different lake each day, in rotation. Each angler’s combined weight, of the fish caught over the five days, determines the outcome.

Consistent fishing throughout the week, by former four-time world champion Bob Nudd, saw him lead the festival, going into the final day. However, Charlie clinched his win on the last day, by netting a whopping 28.900kg of roach, to overtake the former champion and win the festival by 8kg.

Another local angler Andy Pollard, also from Stonehouse, had a very respectable result, by finishing 3rd overall in the festival. Andy is also a former winner of this festival back in 2012.