19th June - Bron Effion

Result
1st - Jason Connah - 68.8lb
2nd - Ian Simpson - 59.1lb
3rd - Jeff Grantham - 46.8lb
4th - Paul Robinson - 44.4lb
Sec A - Kenny Pickup - 37.5lb
Sec B - Jamie Pickup - 30.9lb
Sec C - John Heald - 31.8lb

Overall another good day at Bron with a great turnout of 26 and 14 weights over 20lb with 9 of those over 30lb. It was just a pity the water levels were down probably 8-12inches and what are normally the shallows became very difficult with 10 inches of water in places, having said that 1st, 3rd a 30lb and a 20lb came from there.

Jason Connah pictured left finally "cracked it" taking the win with a method feed display (having had his swim prebaited by the pleasure anglers I hasten to add whilst he was setting up). Jason stuck to the method most of the match switching to the pole later for his catch. Ian Simpson was second with 59.1lb starting shallow but later resorting to paste inside as the wind proved difficult. Jeff Grantham took third with paste and the pole for 46.8lb but was plagued by a phantom eel attached to stray line in a tree. After the match it was pointed out it was a phantom shadow!! Jeff wouldn't have it insisting it kept moving "it will Jeff its a shadow of a bleedin twigs attached to some line blowing in the wind - numpty" the ever eloquant Lloydy was overheard saying. Paul Robinson, not been out since October, decided to try something different from the dam wall and fished the method recording 44.4lb for fourth.

The sections when to Kenny Pickup, drawn next to 2nd place but he caught mainly with pellet on the deck. Jamie kept it in the family for Sec B , drawn on the point of the island, a flyer, he caught 30.9lb on pellet and John Heald took the final section pegged next to the boathouse with 31.8lb having complained to H after 3 hours "it was fishing crap!"........never did believe John Heald anyway!

Sticking with the crack theme, there were also a few loud cracks of thunder or gunfire during the match........no, no that was 4 pole sections breaking with Graham Aveyard and Peter Cavanaugh calling it a draw at 2 all. Graham obviously decided the carp fight too hard, didn't want to break any more top sections so went for perch and ended up with this stonker.....bigger than a lot of the Bron carp!!


League results tabs updated and winter league dates have also been added to the match calendar tab and congratulations to Dave Grimes our first Knockout Semi Finalist having beaten Dougie Walsh at Bron 35.2lb v 23.4lb. Three more fish offs to go at either Larford or Orcheton to provide the other Semi participants.
Pics courtesy of Andy Thompson

12th June - Larford Match Lake

Well a new record total weight for WBAC and an average of just over 38lb per man despite 2 DNW's, might just say it was a decent match with 16 weights over 25lb!!

Results
1st - Jeff Grantham - 76.1lb
2nd - Pete Walsh - 73.5lb
3rd - Mick Flanagan - 71.6lb
Sec A - Jason Connah - 59.5lb
Sec B - Graham Aveyard - 57.8lb

Jeff took the win despite spending the first 3 hours following expert advice and sticking to 5m and ignoring up in the water but eventually he succumbed and probably had 50% of his weight in the last 90mins on 4mm pellet feeding 4mm.
Pete Walsh well and truely "got it all wrong", but that was before he arrived!! See more detailed story below. Pete started late, for reasons that will become obvious but managed a great 4 hours fishing again up in the water. Mick followed suit and again focussed mainly on pellet up in the water for his third place. Jason C was the exception catching on the pole and the tip but lost enough to have won. Graham stuck to the tried and tested pellet and shallow for his section win.

A number of knockouts concluded and results are on the blog tab and congratulations to all those through to the next round - Andy Thompson, Ian Simpson, Jeff Grantham, Jason Connah, Dougie Walsh, Davy Grimes, Ian Hughes and Kenny Pickup, these need to be fished by Partridge at the latest.

Story of the match
Billy and Pete leave at 6.00am, meet Rick and Ian S and get to Stourport in convoy at 8.00am. 117miles in two hours....the detail will become apparent!!
After some early banter with 2 cafe's in Stourport seeing us fed and watered by 8.30am (Sonny ended up in one, Dave parked the van and ended up in another....eh???) we decided to travel the 3 miles to Larford and get sorted. On arriving we were greeted with woman everywhere and even a 4 times world champion - the Ladies National was on Larford as well. Having duly sorted Mr Scotthorne out with a few tips (look both ways before crossing, don't eat yellow snow etc) we had the draw..........someone was missing........(are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin............
8.55am - Rick gets on the phone "Pete/Billy where are you we're drawing" Pete replies "I've got it all wrong mate, we got lost on the way from the cafe (3 miles away)
9.10am - Lloydy takes a call from Billy "what pegs have we drawn......oh and by the way whats the postcode we are still lost, Pete's got it all wrong on the satnav!"
9.20am - Call from Pete and Billy enquires "is it near Swindon/oh we've got this so wrong?"
9.40am - Call from Pete "how many Stourports *ucking are there - I can't have got it wrong again?"
10.00am - call to Pete and Billy "suggesting they call a taxi and follow it to Larford does not go down well given Pete is driving the taxi albeit all wrong!"
10.15am - call from Billy, their back at the Stourport cafe, need more food for the journey seems tobe the conscenus, fresh directions, a quick p*ss and their off again
10.30am - ALL IN is called
10.35am - A taxi arrives at Larford to rapturous applause!! Stourport to Larford 3miles in two hours five minutes!!!
11.30am - Billy and Pete (who we had drawn an end peg for) drop in for the first time and its "fish on" for Pete
3.30pm - 4 hours later Pete's not stopped, weighs 73lb, beaten by 1 fish and moans "I got it all wrong today, is that a new 4 hour match record?"

Needless to say Billy has decided to borrow John Heald's motorised trolly next time as it does 4 mph!

Great laugh, great fishing, but such a long way to fish 4 hours.......for some!!!