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A CHAMPION angler has been stripped of his prestigious title after being caught cheating.
Marty Booth, 48, was awarded the top prize at the Paul Roggeman European Open Beach Championship.
He scooped £4,000, new fishing rods and was cheered by fellow competitors as he collected the coveted trophy.
But organisers discovered he broke the rules by landing one half of his prize-winning catch outside competition hours.
They have now disqualified Booth, of Hartlepool, Co Durham, and awarded victory to the runner-up, Chris Fisher.
More than 1,000 anglers — some from mainland Europe — took part in the three-day event at Spurn Point and Bridlington, East Yorks, last month.
In the main competition — on days two and three — the anglers’ biggest fish on each day was recorded.
Booth’s catch on day one was a 2.385kg cod.
But he sneakily fished out of competition time that day and landed a 3.520kg thornback ray.
He submitted the fish hours later as though he had landed it on the second day.
It gave him a 5.905kg aggregate winning score.
Fellow competitor Matthew Hope, 44, of Hull, said: “To find out the ‘winner’ was a cheat was absolutely sickening.
“He had the gall to stand on stage in front of all the other anglers and accept his trophy, rods and prize money while we cheered.”
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Fishing fan Ryan Mullins added: “Hope he gets a lifetime ban from competition fishing.”
East Riding council, which runs the event, confirmed a competitor was disqualified after an investigation.
Booth was unavailable for comment.
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