A CARDENDEN bricklayer demolished the competition to capture the Kingdom Fly Fishing Championship on Saturday.

It was the first major silverware success for Shaun Dickson, 32, who had given up competition angling to concentrate on raising a family.

But after returning to the sport the father of two killed three fish, the biggest was 5lbs 13.5oz, and returned another five to take the coveted title at Stenhouse Fishery, near Burntisland.

He was one of 24 qualifiers for the final and did not think it was going to be his day when he blanked during the morning session of the seven-hour event.

Shaun struck gold after re-positioning himself behind the large island in the middle of the water.

And it was damsel patterns which made the difference as he totalled 15lbs 13.5oz to take the win.

Shaun used a midge tip during the final and revealed: “It’s my first ever win in a major event and I’ve only started fishing competitive events again after having my two kids.”

Second was Kirkcaldy angler Scott Mudie with three fish killed and four fish returned for 14lbs 10oz.

And Ian Crighton from Dundee was third with a bag of three fish and four returned for 13lb 10oz.

The heaviest fish caught on the day was a 7lbs 3oz rainbow landed by Gary Ormiston from Kirkcaldy.

And Chris Meldrum, also from Fife, claimed the biggest fish in the three heats and the final of 9lbs 11oz.

Anglers from as far afield as East Lothian, the Borders, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Tayside and Fife entered the three heats and the top eight in each qualified for the final.

This is the second instalment of the event and organiser Colin McGlone thanked the sponsors who helped make it happen and the anglers who competed in the heats and final.