A South Benfleet team has won a prestigious fishing championship in the Caribbean and caught some massive 350 plus pound fish in the process.

The South Benfleet Social Club Sea Angling Club won the Rolex IGFA International Game Fishing Association Offshore Championship 2003 in Tobago for the second time by reeling in marlins -- one of the world's biggest species.

Alan Pritchard, 44, of Canvey Island, John McEvilley, 38, Terry Hamlyn, 30, both from South Benfleet, angled their way to success in the three day competition from March 28 to 31 by beating off competition from 78 anglers from around the world, including teams from the United States and South Africa.

The team will now compete in the invitation-only fishing championship of champions in Mexico in 2004.

The team, sponsored by Scottish Courage and Fosters beers, Leigh Bathroom Centre, Daws Heath Timber and Rippleside Metals, had to see off hard competition from US challengers, who were winning up to the final day when the British team realed in a massive 355lb blue marlin.

Alan Pritchard said: "We responded immediately on day three of the competition when I by caught the largest blue marlin of the tournament."

Published Thursday, April 17, 2003

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