Fishing championship postponed, but assurances offered it will visit in the future

Thursday 19 September 2024

A national fishing championship due to climax in Guernsey has been postponed.

The competition was already two rounds in, with stages due to take place in Plymouth next month and then in island waters in November.

But founder and owner of the Boatlife Fishing Championship Richard Dove has suffered a medical emergency.

“Our thoughts and best wishes are with Richard and his family during this challenging period,” a statement on the championship website says.

“Due to Richard’s sudden medical condition and the lack of a designated representative who can oversee financial and logistical decisions, we are faced with the difficult decision to postpone the remaining events for 2024. This includes the scheduled competitions in Plymouth (October) and Guernsey (November).

“The Championship will now be restructured as we look ahead to future possibilities. We all remain fully committed to ensuring that the event continues, and further details regarding the timing and format of the next BoatLife Fishing Championship will be shared in the coming weeks.”

All current registrations, including those of the Pro and Privateer teams, will be rolled over to the next event.

Commitments by sponsors will be honoured in the revised schedule, it says.

“While these changes are necessary due to the unforeseen circumstances, we are excited about the opportunity to regroup and help BoatLife Fishing Championship build an even more successful event going forward. We would like to reassure everyone that the BoatLife Fishing Championship is set to continue, and we look forward to making it a standout event for competitors, sponsors, and the wider community.”

The championships was one of the activities which won financial support from a States tourism grant scheme which was allocated through the Tourism Management Board.

“I wish Richard Dove a speedy recovery and it’s understandable that the national BoatLife Fishing Championship 2024 will be postponed given the circumstances,” said Hannah Beacom, Chair of the Tourism Management Board.

“They have been clear with us that they fully intend to host the event in Guernsey, so all the positivity and benefits from the island hosting such a fantastic event will still be realised. We’re in discussions with organisers about a rearranged date.’