IT MIGHT have been one of those frustrating fishing days where Tom Ketterick couldn’t catch a cold, but the 95-year-old Mayo angler was in still in high spirits yesterday evening.
And well he might be. Mr Ketterick put anglers less than half his age to shame by making the final of a major international fishing competition in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, over the bank holiday weekend. Out of a starting field of 564 Ketterick was among the 116 who made it to the final, which took place on Lough Mask yesterday, but he came home empty-handed. “It was a bad day for fishing and I didn’t catch a thing, but I enjoyed myself and really enjoyed all the attention.”
Mr Ketterick has been a regular competitor at the World Cup Trout Angling Championships in Ballinrobe since the competition started in the 1950s, competing in every decade. However, this year was the very first time he made it to the final and he is the talk of the county.
A great-grandfather to seven boys, Mr Ketterick, who is still driving his Opel Astra on a daily basis, is a well-known figure at Castlebar Celtic and Sligo Rovers matches and he is an avid card player as well, playing games such as whist and 25 at least four nights a week. A native of Castlebar, he has lived with his daughter, Gaye Hendry, and her family in Ballina since 1973. Ms Hendry, an only child, tells us his independence has to be seen to be believed.
“He’s on the go all the time,” she revealed last night. “He is up early every day and goes to 9.30am Mass every morning during the week and then he goes and does his own thing and I don’t see him until dinner, sometimes even later if he goes out the country visiting friends. He plays cards locally, whist and 25 would be his games. He’s quite the card player – he’s not slow in telling people how to play,” she added with a laugh.
The winner of the World Cup competition was Robert Creighton from Douglas, Co Cork, who caught a trout which weighed 5.1kg (11.36lbs).