Fine conditions for Yell eela but no big lures this year

The annual Burravoe Eela Competition was held on Friday in perfect weather, the best conditions in years with a light north-east wind and bright sunshine.

Eighteen boats took part, fishing from 7pm to 9pm which included the row out and back.

Surprisingly with the bonnie night the fish were takkin’, which might have been due to the state of the tide which was the very last of the ebb and the start of the flood. There was much manoeuvring and reading of meads to secure a space on them.

Three boats failed to cross the line before the finishing gun but did not seem too concerned about it. Another made it with seconds to spare, a closely-judged trip indeed.

A very welcomed fish supper at the Barrel Store was enjoyed by “fisherpersons” and spectators alike, with an added bonus of the absence of midges.

The John Tulloch Cup for the overall heaviest basket was won by Graham Hughson, Stanley Nisbet and Michael Guthrie with 59½lb, while they also won the “oot-o-daeks” crew bottle of whisky.

The East Ground Cup was shared between David Brown and crew and Jim Smith and crew, with 49lb each.

The Burga Skerry Cup for the heaviest fish was won by Raymond Strachan with a 3½lb redwarr codling, which was the only bigger fish in the competition. There were no variety of big lures this year.

All the above cups were won at the Neep-o-Back Skerry grounds.

The West Ground Cup was won by Aaron Smith and crew with 48lb.

The Wayward Cup (re-assigned from the Eela Eve Race) for the heaviest fish on the other ground was won by Ivan Odie with a 1lb 2oz piltock.

The prizes were presented by Lisa Smith during the lively licensed dance in the Weaving Shed, with music by Erik Williamson, Robert Goodlad, Brendan and Shareen Scollay.

A spokesman said the South Yell Boating Club wished to sincerely thank all the willing helpers and participants from near and far.