Scotland’s women came second to Ireland in the Home International shore angling championships in Tralee in County Kerry last year.

Now the Tartan Team’s ambitious coach Kevin Lewis is looking to recruit enthusiastic women anglers to join the Scotland sea fishing squad in the build-up to this summer’s championships at Weymouth.

Applicants don’t need to be experienced sea anglers as coaching sessions will be held ahead of the event.

The squad of five and a travelling reserve will also fish the location at Preston Beach in Dorset prior to the two-day championships in the first week of July.

England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland are invited and Kevin added that equipment can be provided.

He added: “It would be great if we could get more women coming forward from the Lothians or anywhere else in Scotland so we can travel with the strongest possible squad.” Anybody interested should contact Kevin on kevinlewis166@msn.com

Neil Cuttler from Gateshead won the Amble Open with a bag of 15lb 7oz including 16 flat fish and one coalfish.

David Cooper from Edinburgh was 39th with six cod for 6lb 4oz and Craig Ogilvie from North Berwick weighed in with 5lb 7oz thanks to five flat fish and one cod to take 45th place.

Stuart Fairbairn from Haddington landed one flat fish for 14oz in a field of nearly 500. He was 162nd.

Elsewhere, Blyth-based Sonik Sports have released details of their Gizmo bite alarm which, they claim, offers a miniature package giving instant indication for the slightest of line movement.

Functions are controlled by click dials which are claimed to be quick to setup for multiple alarm heads. An anti-theft and torch function are included.

Each alarm can also be assigned a colour channel to instantly recognise which alarm head has been triggered.

Prices start from £49.99 for a single alarm and £199.99 for a two-plus-one alarm and bivvy lamp up to £299.99 for a four alarm and bivvy lamp version.

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