GAELFORCE Rods and EED80 lines had huge success in Belfast as a multi national line up of competitors, including World Champions and World Record holders had great success using the product.

The Inaugural Celtic Spey challenge held at the Waterworks in Belfast proved a huge success for GAELFORCE Flyfishing, with all twenty entrants using the EED80 lines and achieving many personal bests for competitors,cementing its position as the No1. distance casting line ever to be produced. The worlds best Speycasters eagerly supported this new event on the Speycasting calendar, it was held at the Waterworks in the centre of North Belfast over the course of three days with the top ten qualifyiers making Sunday afternoons grand final. The mens open final turned out to be an absolute classic with spectacular casting of 58.5 metres by two competitors creating a tie for 1st place between Norways Vidar Naess and Irelands Michael O'kane. A cast off was required to separate these two magnificent casters with Irelands Michael O'kane narrowly taking gold. Congratulations to all who participated in this event and a big thank you to the organizers who provided us all with a first class venue for the future. The ladies competition was also very exciting with Marcy L Stone taking top honours, a hugely proud mum now with her beautiful baby Helen on the sidelines supporting mum.

Top three mens finalists left to right 2nd Vidar Naess, 1st Michael O'kane 3rd Geir Hansen.

Marcy L Stone ladies winner with pictured with Edward Cassidy of the Waterworks presenting the trophy

 The organising committee laid on a very special banquet in the evening where the official presentation took place in Belfast Castle. I was overwhelmed by the warm hospitality fine food and drink which was presented to us all, the organising commitee had really done us proud.Often times we just arrive at a venue, compete then leave, the "Cetic Speychallenge Waterworks" organisational team must be wholeheartedly applauded for their foresight in driving through this competition under difficult circumstances having to fight their corner to promote the event in area which in the past had not welcomed visitors. A huge success this event turned out to be, I would like to extend a special thank you to the people who looked after us all so well, Jim Devlin, Edward Cassidy,Dermot Drain,Michael Griffin and all your team. I also would like to thank the behind the scenes stalwarts on the political scene who made things happen, Nicola Mallon MLA,Gerard Kelly MLA,Cara'l Ni' Chullin MLA Angela Ash of the housing project and Belfast city council. I look forward to this being an annual event and all the competitors from around the world will look forward to attending in the future. "You build it and we will attend" it's not all about winning, having the opportunity to take part is greater.

Michael O'Kane recieves his 1st place trophy form Nicola Mallon in Belfast Castle

Michael O'Kane we are all so proud of your achievements with a complete dedication to Speycasting and your willingness to listen and learn from some of the best in the business,I would like to say a special thank you to Robert Gillespie for setting on your way with Gerard Downey and Travis Johnson giving you fantastic help and support on the way,we were all impressed with your dignity in victory,as I have often said to you,In order to be "Worthy Champion" you have to be a good loser and you are a great example, your father was so proud of you,Congratulations.

This event was very special for me as I had not seen Marcy & Ruairi since the Autumn of 2014 when Marcy had just made the decision to move to Ireland to be with Ruairi and start a family.This had me reflecting all weekend as to how time rolls on, I remember only too well all the Irish lads who competed at the event this past weekend were just young boys eager to get into the casting scene and asking a million questions about lines technique and all the other stuff relating to competition,they are all now men with their own children!! They used to show me video clips of them casting constantly, this past weekend they all were showing me smart phones with photos of their kids!! Tommy Armstrong with beautiful twins a boy Jamie and a girl who looked bigger than Tommy the 1st time I saw him compete when his dad Sean brought him along, Travis Johnson USA with a beautiful baby girl Audrey who he absolutely dotes on and has quietened him down considerably, and Gerard Downey with a beautiful wee boy Corry who has the head of him.This certainly makes me proud to be associated with them all.

The "Bell of the ball" Baby Helen stole the show with her proud mum Marcy.

 Michael O'Kane returns the favour to Travis Johnson USA for helping him at the weekend by putting him onto the fish on the Moy, Congratulations Travis.

Looking forward to a bigger and better Celtic Speychallenge in 2017.