A TOTAL of 380 anglers, which included 37 juniors, fished last Sunday at Loughor at the Gateway Caravan Park flounder competition.

Fishing in atrocious weather conditions, the anglers braved the elements to try to win the £1,000 on offer and in doing so raised more than £3,000 for the Loughor Inshore Lifeboat.

Triumphant on the day was Brian Lynch from Gowerton, who picked up the first prize sponsored by Gateway Holiday Park plus £140 pool money and trophy, winning with a flounder of 956grams.

£500

Second spot went to Andrew Dawkins from Lymington, Devon, who won £500 sponsored by Concord Extra plus £94 pool with a flounder of 922grm.

Senior table (all flounders): 1. Brian Lynch (Gowerton SAC) 965grm, 2. Andrew Dawkins (Devon) 922grm, 3. Damian Lewis (Llanelli SAC) 846grm, 4. Mike Perrett (Newport) 836grm, 5. Joshua Sharpe (Swansea) 818grm, 6. Steve Phillips (Llanelli SAC) 808grm, 7. John Rees (Llanelli SAC) 792grm, =8. Matthew Dawkins (Devon) and John Davies (Fairwood SAC) 782grm, 10. Joanne Puddefoot 780grm, =11. Wayne Phillips (Llanelli), Martin Richards (Gower Rockhoppers) and David Hole 776grm, 14. Tom Dew (Llanelli SAC) 756grm, 15. Chris Isaac (Gower Rockhoppers) 704grm.

Any other species — Dai Davies with a mullet of 1376grm won a £300 tackle voucher.

Junior table: 1. Leon Williams (Gorseinon) 848grm, 2. Ryan Andrews (Port Talbot) 708grm, 3. Callum Campion (Waun Wen) 628grm, 4. Scott Long (Gorseinon) 616 grm, 5. Alex Richards (Llansamlet) 580grm, 6. Jay Pickman (Townhill) 510.

All the juniors who attended the weigh-in received a prize.

The organisers have thanked all the sponsors for their generosity, Ken from Gateway Caravan Park and Mark from Concord Extra. They have also thanked the members of Loughor Inshore Rescue for their help during the day with tagging the fish.

Next year's event will take place on October 21.

Last Sunday's Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers Personal Members match was fished at St Brides in poor conditions, and a combination of the weather and the fact that an open competition was being fished nearby resulted in a poor turnout.

Fishing was hard, with anglers having a 20mph wind straight in their faces, so it took 6oz leads and good casting to gain any distance.

Only two anglers managed to get among the fish: Norton Jenkins from Ogmore Vale took first place with 445cm, followed by Mike Dixon from Taffs Well with 439cm. As usual, the match was fished catch and release.