The Galway Volvo Ocean Race Festival takes place from 23rd May to 6th June 2009.
Visit www.galwayvolvooceanrace.com for more details.

Talking to a lady today and she told me that mice are fond of bluebottle flies as
she has observed them catching flies in a glasshouse. She also reckons that
weedkiller sprays have a harmful effect on bees.

The Irish Golfers Guide to Open Fixtures for 2009 has rolled off the print presses
and presently its editor Oliver Hilliard is as busy as an unsprayed bee
flitting around the golf courses of Ireland and other outlets delivering
what is also known as The Green Book of Golf. Golfers can save themselves a tidy sum
by choosing to play a course with an open fixture as the green fees are greatly reduced
on such days.

Today the river level at the village bridge reads 3.3 metres. This has dropped slightly
in recent days. There is a strong southerly wind blowing.
I noticed that a lone swan was swimming around probably wondering what happened to her
nest and three eggs which were located at the point of Lamb Island two weeks ago.
Alas they went away with the flood. Did I mention that I contacted people and left a
phone message about this swan's nest when the river started to rise. Somebody returned
my call on the Monday and I told him about the concern for the swan, the corncrake,
anglers and boat owners and river users. He told me that this year they have a raft for
the corncrake. Hope it is not named The Ark.
Last weekend a holiday cruiser moored on the jetty wall below the bridge was blown over
onto the quayside. Today another holiday cruiser went aground on the Suck River.
Boat owners believe that some more markers are required on the windy stretches.


Some of the anglers from Tadley and Basingstoke that fished this area last week have
recorded some of their catches.
Graham Shadwell fishing the Shannon, had 30 lbs of roach and hybrids using a feeder in wet and wind.
" " " " " " next day with same swim and methods had 56 Lbs roach. Best 2Lb 3 Oz.
" " " " " on his last day caught 35 Lbs of roach on the float in 3.5 hours.
Young Paul Portman Basingstoke had 20 Lbs of roach on the feeder one day.
" " " " on another day used the pole to catch six tench in the six pounder range.
Paul's best tench weighed 6 Lbs 2 Ounces.
Johnny Priest from Basingstoke used a stick float to catch 65 Lbs of roach.
Peter Howes Basingstoke caught eleven bream one day on the feeder that weighed 40 Lbs.River Shannon.
" " " used a float to catch 35 Lbs of roach on another day, while fishing the Shannon.
Ross Simms Basingstoke had 30 Lbs of roach on the float one day fishing the Shannon.
Graham Simms Basingstoke fished the Shannon and had a 35 Lbs bag of roach on the float.
This party arrived to near perfect river levels on Friday but the rains rose the river every day for them.
Peter Howes writes a weekly angling column in the North Hampshire Gazette.