A top Norfolk angler has won the National Fire Service two-day Angling Festival in Northern Ireland.Kelvin Flood from Mundesley Road, North Walsham became the first rod man from the county to lift the coveted trophy and he achieved it with an aggregate of 19.

A top Norfolk angler has won the National Fire Service two-day Angling Festival in Northern Ireland.

Kelvin Flood from Mundesley Road, North Walsham became the first rod man from the county to lift the coveted trophy and he achieved it with an aggregate of 19.50kg (approximately 43lb) caught from venues around Enniskillen.

Flood extinguished the hopes of his opponents in the 92-man line up with a splendid first day haul of bream, roach and hybrids totalling 13.65kg from Loch Erne and he topped up his winning total with 5.850kg from the River Ern on day two to pocket the top cash prize of £250, as well as receiving a brand new fishing rod.

The 45-year-old angler, who is a partner in the North Walsham company Griffin Automotors as well as serving in the North Walsham branch of the Fire Service, caught all his fish on a ledger rig baited with worm.

Commenting on what he regards as his best-ever match performance, this member of the North Walsham Kingfisher and the Aylsham Angling Clubs commented: “I have been fishing freshwaters since I was five years old and became a member of the local angling clubs a number of years ago. I am delighted to win this festival for Norfolk and feel proud. Our four-man team, that included myself, John Hudson, Peter Harris and Dave Bond also did quite well by coming seventh with 34 section points from 55.16kg and we were not far off winners Hertfordshire, who scored 42 points.

“We followed that performance by winning the Fire Service Regional Challenge Match on the Makins Fishery in Leicestershire last Tuesday, so it's been an excellent month for us.”

Nearer home, the mayday call went out from the bank side where half-drowned rod men who had braved the relentless 48 hours of continuous downpour on Sunday and Monday called home for changes of clothing.

However, the great majority wisely put up their feet in front of the television and this resulted in all the main commercial fisheries suffering one of the worst Whitsun breaks on record.

“The weather killed it completely,” said the Barford Fishery match organiser Daniel Brydon.

Before the weather turned nasty anglers were out in force and the top bag recorded was taken by Jewson's Paul Ashford with 141lb 5oz on the Willow Lake. He completed the double with a winning 78lb 15oz on the Railway.

Melton Ponds reopened last week and the Norwich Busmen hit the jackpot with a number of three-figure returns headed by Dave Wadsworth with a 118lb 4oz.

The Norwich Disabled at Barford was headed by Chris Humphrey with 117lb 9oz while David Creed headed the Freedman card at Abbey Waters with 114lb.