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MURCHISON FALLS INTERNATIONAL OPEN FISHING COMPETITION, 12-13 MARCH 2005

EVENT WINNER - TONY COCKAYNE

On the 12th and 13th March, six power boats with nineteen anglers converged on the River Nile below Murchison Falls in Uganda to contest in the 2005 Murchison Falls International Sport Fishing Tournament. The inaugural event involved a total of nine different nationalities.

After four hard-fought separate fishing sessions, during which competitors were rotated around four allocated fishing sections on the river, longtime Uganda resident Tony Cockayne was crowned Grand Champion. Fishing aboard Sea Master, Tony’s points tally hit an impressive 350 and included a 110lb Nile Perch, two Bagrus Catfish over 35lbs and a 22lb Vundu Catfish. The runner up was New Zealander Paul Magee, who scored 200 points with a bag of 8 fish, including Bagrus Catfish, Sharptooth Catfish and Tigerfish. Third place went to Swede, Gustaf Brew, with 160 points. Gustaf’s best fish was a 45lb Nile Perch. Bjarni Hardasson, Kevin Sutton and Tony Cockayne won the Team prize. Tony completed his ‘great day at the office’ hat-trick by also taking home the prize for the biggest fish!

‘Slowly’ sipping champagne after the prize giving ceremony, Tony said how overjoyed he was to be able to represent Uganda in the Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship in 2006.

In his speech, the guest of honour, Mr. John Makombo, the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s Deputy Director of Field Operations, expressed his huge pleasure at the successful outcome of this first international event and asked the organisers to bring it back to Murchison next year.

To view the the event picture gallery click here

Event Sponsors included: