The first ever summer fishing championship, bringing together sight-challenged fishermen from all over Russia, has been held in the Lipetsk region, 400 KM south of Moscow. The anglers proved they had a thing or two to teach their colleagues without sight

The ringing of the hand bells is about the only thing that makes the fishing session unusual. The contestants are hunting for carp in a pond not far from the city of Lipetsk.

The idea for the competition was first treated with suspicion, yet it found considerable local support – which led to backing from the Russian Blind Society.

The visually impaired fishing lovers say they have long aspired to turning their favourite hobby into competitive sport. Every team here has an instructor, whose mission is to help anglers orientate. However, the contestants asked the organisers not to patronise them.

“Holding this fishing line over here, I can feel even the smallest fish approaching the fly 30 metres from here,” says Aleksandr Eremichev with assuredness.

Fishermen and women were given just two hours to compete. But as it turned out, the fish were not running, so they prolonged the event. Soon the fishing picked up.

This championship is not yet over, but the organisers already say it was a success. And the organisers are pretty optimistic about the future of their initiative.

“Next year we’d love to invite sight-challenged fishermen from other countries. I wish they could come and see the way we fish in Russia,” hopes Oleg Morozov from the Regional Fishing Club.

Meanwhile, the sportsmen who regret not being able to see the prizes say the smell a good fish soup is what really counts.