Anglers in a Highland village have raised spirits as they host annual fishing competition despite the pandemic.
Organisers of the village’s annual angling competition were preparing to cancel this year’s event due to Covid-19.
However, as restrictions began to lift, the community pledged to salvage what they could and create a twist on the popular event.
To comply with social distancing measures, more than 40 competitors took to the water with families and social groups separated on 10 individual boats.
Participants raised £280 which has been donated to the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Skye and Wester Ross, a local group that volunteer to protect marine mammals and wildlife in the area.
Organiser Neil Hawkins said: “We had planned a big marine festival for 2020 as part of the Year of Coast and Waters and had hoped to put on marine events and music in collaboration with Ullapool Harbour and a number of local businesses this year but sadly corona put and to the idea.
“However a number of local boat owners decided that we’d try to salvage something and we ended up with 10 boats and over 40 competitors taking part, and fortunately the weather was ok and we got out in Loch Broom and to the Summer Isles for the day.”
Jonah Piggot and Martha Kerr from Scoriag won the men’s heaviest fish with a 7.7 lb Pollock and women’s heaviest fish at 5.5 lb aboard the peninsula-based boat Scrimshaw.
Meanwhile, Ullapool school girl Caillin Patterson won the under 18s cup with a 4.66 lb Pollock.
