Blaine O’Donnell topped the podium at the second semi-final of the Scottish Stillwater Bank Championships at storm-battered Allandale Tarn.
The Cumbernauld angler hooked into six fish as thunder, lightning, sleet and high winds hit the fishery during the match near West Cader.
Michael Ward from Paisley was second and Kevin Andrews (Kilmarnock) third in testing conditions. All hooked six fish.
Ironically, the sun came out with around 15 minutes of the six-hour event remaining, but the chilly wind remained.
By that time, several anglers were feeling their backs as fatigue and the cold wind took their toll.
A total of 65 fish were caught by the 23 anglers on duty – there was one no-show – and other qualifiers were Scott Mudie (Kirkcaldy), Alan Patterson (Aberdeen), Peter Cowie from Stewartfield near Mintlaw in Aberdeenshire, John Johnstone (Lanarkshire), Brian Quinn (Clydebank), Stevie Plank (Stirling), Lee Anderson (Dundee), Kevin Riley (Aberdeen) and Ian Scott (Ayrshire).
Anglers started the day with calmer conditions but the weather worsened towards the lunch break and the storm hit just after lunch with rain, then sleet plus the thunderclap and lightning, but the anglers soldiered on.
Gusts of wind of over 50mph added to the difficulty but qualifier Cowie, who won gold at New Haylie several years ago, said that these were not the worst conditions he has fished in. They were, however, difficult.
Thankfully, he said, the West Lothian fishery is sheltered and he added: “More fish were caught in the morning session.”
Kyle Courtney, who qualified second with 13 fish at Drumtassie on Saturday, three behind the winner, Fife-based Scott Pozzi, was a marshall at Allandale and declared that Sunday was the worst day, weather wise, for the anglers.
Once the storm had cleared, he said, the air pressure changed and fish started to take patterns at Allandale.
Looking back, the wind at Drumtassie, he declared, did cause problems, and he tried a number of tactics to search out trout. They paid off in the end.
The 37-year-old angler from Drongan in Ayrshire, who won gold with Scotland at New Haylie several years ago, now, like the other 23 qualifiers, has to concentrate on the final due at Millhall on Sunday, April 12, to clinch his place in the Scotland team.
The Home International, for the record, is in Wales in mid-October and he said: “It is what you do on the day that counts.”
DRESSED UP: Decorations greeted the field at Allandale. Picture Nigel Duncan
LINE UP: Anglers on the side of the loch near the zoo. Picture Nigel Duncan
ON THE MARCH: wrapped-up competitors changing positions during the match. Picture Nigel Duncan
SUNNY SIDE: The sun came out late in the match. Picture Nigel Duncan
