RAY Barron won the EFSA European Boat Angling Championship in Weymouth for the third time with a perfect score of 400 points by finishing top on his boat over all four days.

It was a fantastic performance by the Southampton angler but a lot of credit also has to go to England World Championship team member Colin Searles and three-time European champion Heiko Dreier, who finished close behind in second and third respectively.

The trio are at the very top of their game at the moment and once again proved that it is not just luck that wins major angling championships.

A total of 150 competitors represented 17 different countries in the event in which they fished aboard 15 Weymouth charter boats and two from Poole on a catch-and-release basis.

Only a few specimen-sized fish were brought back for weighing in with Russian angler Mikhail Dushlyuk snaring a superb 6lb 9oz plaice and Isle of Wight entrant Kevin Sampson hooking a 17lb cod.

In the international team event, England A team finished first with Italy B in second and Italy A in third.

Runner-up Searles and Rod Adamson from Wales won the pairs and Mary Gavin Hughes from Ireland was lady champion.

Top junior was Italian Anthony Giaco-mini with Weymouth’s Ryan Casey taking the runner-up spot.

The one-day Line Class Championships also took place with the main focus being on catching large fish.

There were congers to 58lbs, a blonde ray to 26lb, cod to 22lb, ling to 20lb and pollack to 14lb, all taken on light 16lb lines.

Top of the crop was Gareth Croft, who caught seven congers and a tope.

The trophies were presented at the Venue on Portland, who also hosted the gala dinner at the end of the week-long event.

Rachael Bradwick of Fladen UK (Weymouth) handed out the line class trophies and EFSA chairman Horst Schneider dished out the Boat Championship awards.

Full results of both Championships can be found on the EFSA England website efsa-england.com