Fish'O'Mania to return to Hayfield Lakes in 2019

The ‘FA Cup of Fishing’ was previously held at the Doncaster venue 12 times during the late 90s and 00s and returned last weekend for the first time since 2007.

Birmingham’s Peter Black, 21, took the coveted title and £50,000 top prize with a winning total of 51.35kg to become the youngest angler to lift the trophy.

Doncaster’s Oliver Scotthorne (17.725kg) and Andrew Bailey (7.65kg) finished eighth and 20th respectively.

Kayleigh Smith, from Leeds, won the ladies title with a total of 21.21kg, in front of Doncaster duo Emma Pickering (17.05kg) and Sandra Scotthorne (16.60kg).

Mile Fletcher, 18, from Sheffield, claimed the junior title.

A bumper crowd of over 6,000 watched the action unfold, while it was also screened live on Sky Sports.

Robin Goforth, chief executive of Hayfield Lakes, said: “We’ve never had a bad Fish‘O’Mania at Hayfield Lakes and it was very successful again this year, and now the fish are bigger so there is more thrill for the crowd and for the TV.

“The crowd will be a lot bigger next year and we’ll have a full year to plan things like licenses for beer tents, and things like that. It was a fantastic day, we couldn’t have asked for it to be any better and next year there will be more people and more things around the main event.”

Matchroom Sport chairman Barry Hearn said: “I’m very pleased to say we’ll be returning to Hayfield Lakes for Fish‘O’Mania XXVI in 2019. Hayfield was a great home for Fish‘O’Mania for many years and I’d like to thank Robin, Noelie and the team for their exceptional work in helping deliver one of the best Fish‘O’Mania events yet when it returned to Hayfield over the weekend.

“It was a great day out with so much going on, and most importantly a brilliant match not just for the Grand Final but for the Ladies and Junior matches too.

“I know Robin already has exciting plans for 2019 and I know Fish‘O’Mania will continue to be a great day out as well as the pinnacle of match angling in this country.”