AS WEYMOUTH gears up to host not one but two major angling events, a figure pivotal to the organisation of the championship double-header has spoken about just how important the competitions are to the town.

Andy Selby, a familiar face in local angling circles for a number of years, reckons that the EFSA European Boat and Line Class Championships and the FIPS-M World Boat Championships will put Weymouth “on the map”.

Weymouth Angling Centre owner Selby, the boats festival officer, has been involved in bringing big championships to the seaside town and is expecting this year’s competitions to once again provide a significant boost to the local economy given the numbers of anglers that are due to flock to Weymouth.

“A study was done in 2001 and it was worked out that an event like the Euros was worth nearly £500,000 to the local economy,” said Selby, whose wife Charlotte is also playing a big role as the competitions coordinator for the Europeans and Worlds.

“It will definitely be more this year because countries are spending around £10,000 on just accommodation and fishing, and we have the Worlds as well.

“Teams have been coming to practice since April and when you take into account the money they are spending it’s a lot of revenue for the town.

“The preparations have gone well and everyone has worked hard to get things ready. We’ve got a council that backs us and the best fishing in the country.

“It gives me a great sense of pleasure to see the town hosting events like these, which really do put Weymouth on the map – it’s huge in the angling world.”

He added: “Weymouth had never hosted an event like this until we won the bid to hold the Euros in 2001.

“We had the Worlds in 2005 and then the Europeans in 2007, 2011 and this year, again with the Worlds.

“It’s a very big honour to host both championships in the same country in the same year.

“I’m really looking forward to it and there is such a buzz during the event that when it’s over you really do miss it.”

Selby is tipping Italy to be among those vying for top honours, particularly in the European Champion-ships.

Explaining how the Euros will be played out, he went on to say: “There are team prizes but the most prestigious award to win is a gold pin and that’s as an individual, it’s not about trophies or money.

“It’s a catch and release competition for the first four days and anglers are looking to land as many species as they can, up to a maximum of 10.

“Each species is worth a different number of points and the aim is to finish first on the boat you are on.

“Every day the scores are added together and then at the end of the four days the winner is the person with the highest total.

“The fifth day is the line championships when only turbot, brill and plaice count.”

However things pan out, the waters of Weymouth are going to be the setting for some top angling over the next few weeks.