15th March - Conway WL10

All calm at Conway and the whole lake was ours after John the owner took heed of our moans having let all the day ticketers on last time.....and god can we moan......we have Captain Moanamaximus in our ranks (alias JG/Bagpuss)!! On the league front there were still 3 possible winners and lots of the places still up for grabs with only the best 5 to count and lots to drop (nightmare working it out afterwards on the day though!!!).

Having not fished well all winter we left the first two pegs past the tree out and you guessed it the winner came from the next peg with Steve Brew fishing 17.5m long back towards the white buoy for a real mixed bag that included no less that 17lb of goldfish in his 44.6lb net all taken on pellet either shallow or on the sunken island at 4ft. Jeff Granthan drew 1 passed the rock and caught shallow a couple of carp, a few F1's and some big roach for 42.4lb and enough to take the winter league title with 8pts. Ian Simpson needed to beat Jeff but fell just short with 35.3lb with a few bigger carp up in the water but no F1's and only a smattering of roach making all the difference. Ian's third spot though crucially gained him one point to tie with Rob Dickenson for second in the league and on count back it went 3lb in Ian's favour.

After the match John the owner laid on a buffet and some beers whilst we presented the payouts for the leagues top 14, as always paying out everyone who supported at least 5 matches and there were lots of close battles from Sonny pipping H and John Heald for 12th to Rick pipping Keith by a point and Dave Grimes doing the same to Dougie for 5th having only fished 5 as well.

Conway was not at its best this winter but we managed 2096lb at an average of 16lb per angler slightly down on last years 19lb per angler.......the challenge now is to find a local venue that will still produce those averages next winter, thats not going to be easy.......Rick over to you, my votes to alternate Conway and a.n.other more local venue for 10 matches with best 5 to count as we still fish it in the bad weather!!

Result
1st - Steve Brew - 44.6lb
2nd - Jeff Grantham - 42.4lb
3rd - Ian Simpson - 35.3lb

Winter League Champion = Jeff Grantham with 8pts (3 wins, 1 second, 1 third)

10th March - Brookside (Kingfisher)

A great turnout with 21 despite three or four regulars being away on Spring League duty but the fishing did not match the turnout. Kenny Stuart showed his class on his first outing for a while and took the win with 22.5lb. Rob Dickinson secured some late fish to snatch 2nd with 15.2lb from Kenny Pickup in third with 14.8lb.......two Kenny's both picking up, now there's a first (privately Kenny told me he was fed up carrying his partner!!!)

Result
1st - Kenny Stuart - 22.5lb
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 15.2lb
3rd - Kenny Pickup - 14.8lb
Sec A - Keith Williamson - 10.6lb
Sec B - John Heald - 11.7lb
Sec C -Colin Cook - 7.9lb

3rd March - WL9 Conway

Before I start a big thank you from Rick and Steve Brew to Trevor who arrived after the match, suited up and managed to sink this time (and we thought he was a floater not a diver!!).He returned to the surface excaliber like 3 times in different pegs with sections in hand!! - Well Done Trev!!

Last but one match and the top 3 in the league drew in a line on the bottom end so it was going to be interesting. With the water surface having what can only be described as that 'nervous' look of fish just under the surface Ian S started shallow with meat and pellet and snared 3 big carp and a decent F1 to take an early lead but then it rained and with Rob and Billy also going shallow the carp were gone......

Jeff Grantham did his usual 'moan for England' and went round begging and borrowing maggots saying there's no carp we he had drawn and he was gonna roach it!! Anyway to cut a long story short, we want our maggots back, Jeff found the carp and F1's shallow late on and won with 56.9lb and was absolutely flying at the end.

Steve Brew drawn opposite the point had picked up carp after they clearly had backed off the bottom 3 pegs and by fishing long and with space around him, he kept a few coming to weigh 54.2lb for second. Ian Simpson's early carp gave him enough of a lead to hold on to 3rd with 42.1lb with Billy and Rob Dickinson about 10-12lb adrift.

With one match to go Jeff has jumped to top spot on weight only from Rob with Ian S and Billy a further 1 and 2 points back but its virtually all come down to the last match. If Jeff, Rob or Ian win, they win the league, if Billy wins it depends what the places are. Even 5th and 6th is close with Dougie, Steve B, Dave Grimes, Rick, Keith, Ian L all still in the mix given the points you can drop.

After the final match, John the owner at Conway will be sorting a buffet and beer and we will payout everyone who has fished/supported 5 matches as per previous years!

Result
1st - Jeff Grantham - 56.9lb
2nd - Steve Brew - 54.2lb
3rd - Ian Simpson - 42.1lb

25th February - Mouldsworth Mere

Not much of an update on this one as I wasn't there but I hear Jeff spawned a few right lumps late on, two fish for 25lb that sort of moved him out of sight rather than just ahead. Dobbing bread and resting it from time to time using pellet on another line seems to have been the tactic.

Rob Dickinson continued his good form with second and 24.4lb which included a fair few silvers and skimmers. Billy Gore took third with 21.5lb after another island draw and no doubt hauling them over the top of the lilies.

Result
1st - Jeff Grantham - 58.8lb
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 24.4lb
3rd - Billy Gore - 21.5lb

18th Feb - WL8 - Conway

No ice, as that had melted into the lake but it was back to wild winds and very heavy rain as we arrived and rigged up. The wind was swirling wildly and no-one seemed to be safe and only a brave few got the brollies up.

Dave Grimes pegged by the bush on the left as you go on just got his head down and roached it at 3 and 6m and ended up sneaking it with 25.0lb. Rob Dickinson drew the bottom end and fished long with pellet for carp. Sonny initially showed him the way with two big early carp but Rob managed to snare a few of his own to end up 2nd with 24.8lb. Sonny just missed out on the places weighing 16lb as Billy Gore sneaked a few late fish from one past the boulder including some better skimmers and even a tench in his 17.1lb total and third.

In the Winter League standings Rob D maintains no1 spot with 9pts from Ian S who moved up to no2 with 11pts and Billy Gore 3rd with 12pts. Jeff Grantham and Dave Grimes are both hovering in the wings with 15pts & 14pts so its going to be close with just two matches to go and everyone able to drop results bar Dave Grimes..

Result
1st - Dave Grimes - 25.0lb
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 24.8lb
3rd - Billy Gore - 17.1lb

4th February - WL7 - Conway

First ice breaking duties of the year at Conway with only one peg free of ice at the far end and Jeff Grantham drew it......probably just as well as he would moan and want everyone to clear his peg 'a la saughall' if he hadn't!! It was certainly thicker on the right and towards the carp park end but by 10.15am we had 11 fishable pegs with some clear to 13m.......oh and Jeff's were he could have fished the bomb if he had needed to!!

Needless to say with the lack of disturbance Mr Grantham went on to what turned out to be an easy win with a 45.9lb mixed bag of carp, F1's and skimmers on pellet and JPZ's. He did have an early scare as it was slower in the first half and Ian Lloyd, first passed the staging on the right, was admitting to 10 carp and some silvers at the half way stage on 4mm pellet with Keith Williamson, on the staging, also into carp on the 6m line. Ian Lloyd's fish had dried up and only a few in the last hour meant he had to settle for 2nd with 35.9lb. Keith took a well earned 3rd with a 26.6lb mixed bag just holding off Rob Dickenson who weighed 23.8lb but lost a real hippocrocopig just short of the net under the ice that could have got him 2nd it was that big!!!

Overall it fished okay considering we had to break upto an inch of ice from most pegs but the roach were all but absent and it was strange seeing skimmers and F1's again at Conway.......its been a strange year there with no real pattern other than its inconsistent!!!!

three rounds to go and its getting tight with Rob moving into the league lead and Jeff joining the top 4 with just 4 points seperating them.

Result
1st - Jeff Grantham - 45.9lb
2nd - Ian Lloyd - 35.9lb
3rd Keith Williamson - 26.6lb

WL6 - Conway - 21st Jan

"I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your pole in" seems to be the theme at Conway as the gales returned and more pole sections went for a swim along with a floater, sorry diver......but more on that later.

Ian Simpson drew one past the point and couldn't get the roach to settle but stuck with carp and pellet to snare 9 mainly F1's and some skimmers to add to his roach to weigh 27.9lb to just pip Billy Gore who drew first past the staging and stuck to 6m for his now customary dog roach net along with some carp for 26.2lb and second. Dave Gentile was 2 past the tree on the left and snared a few late carp to add to his silvers for a respectable 21.4lb net and third place.

It really was a grueller with heavy rain and wild conditions which resulted in Steve Brew having 6 sections of pole go in.......4 were rescued before that glug glug glug feeling ensued and Conway swallowed his Tourney Pro 4&5 section. It happened as we were packing up and Steve knew we had Trevor already in the water as our club diver with all the gear, air tank, flippers and the works already in the opposite side looking for Ricks 12m section from a fortnight ago........Trevor was walking up and down feeling for the section for a good while before trying to dive down for a closer look.......problem was he didn't have enough weights on and simply splashed around on the surface........after a bit of barracking he gave up and tried to no avail for Steve's section as well. Conway really is proving to be the pole graveyard with at least 4 x no4's, a no5 and a no9 that WBAC have lost this year.

Result
1st - Ian Simpson - 27.9lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 26.2lb
3rd - Dave Gentile - 21.4lb

14th Jan - Mouldsworth Mere

Greeted by the first few real white out this year it was always likely to be a hard day and for most thats exactly how it turned out. The venue looks super fishy and there are some great fish but they take some catching.
Jeff Grantham mastered the conditions at the top end on the left bank fishing long pole and pellet for an odd carp and mainly skimmers and roach net for an easy win with 20.5lb. Billy Gore drew the island with the sunken lillies and went 'banzai' again fishing in amongst the lillies but managed to extract 12.4lb for 2nd. Rob Dickenson took third with a mixed bag again on pellet for 5.7lb from the deep water on the left bank.
Sections were a little low with Rick Keeley taking the island section with 4.5lb having trashed rig after rig in the lillies. Ian Lloyd took the right bank section with a hard earned 2.8lb having never seen the sun all day behind the hill.....he was blue at the end of the day. Ian Simpson took the left hand section with 9 carp including 1 lump of a 1lb for 1.8lb.....mainly small stuff!!!!

Result
1st - Jeff Grantham - 20.5lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 12.4lb
3rd - Rob Dickenson - 5.7lb
Sec A - Rick Keeley - 4.5lb
Sec B - Ian Lloyd - 2.8lb
Sec C - Ian Simpson - 1.8lb

WL5 - Conway - 7th January

Another windswept day in the valleys and 11 brave souls (stupid fools, you pick!) were at the draw for Conway. With recent form being so varied and not knowing whether to go for roach or carp it seemed to be everyone simply wanted a draw out of the wind for a comfortable days fishing but that was not to be the case for many.

Ian Simpson was left with the final peg in the hat and it was on the bottom bank out of the wind with Graham Aveyard who eventually drew somewhere other than Peg 1!! Ian started with his customery roach up and down in the water approach at c11m but they were not playing and the stamp was very small on maggot with very few better samples. After Billy Gore and Rob Dickinson had caught some mid match carp on pellet Ian decided to sit it out at 14.5m for the last two hours on pellet taking odd better roach and skimmers along with four vital carp to record 24.0lb and a second win of the series.

Rob Dickinson drew well, as is becoming the norm, next to the point where the concrete tower is and managed to secure second with a hard fought 22.7lb of pellet caught roach and skimmers and four or five carp. The point has just not woken up this year at all yet. Jeff Gratham was in the brunt of the wind one down from the old staging on the right hand bank and struggled for a few roach at 6-8m until the wind eased enough for Jeff to go 16m+ to the island where we had five carp in the last hour to take 19.6lb and third spot.

Only two other double figure weights suggests Conway is not as prolific in 2011/2 as previous winters with no F1's caught and very few skimmers again. The weather clearly didn't help and Rick Keeley had a match to forget and then some. He had his 13m ProX section blown straight in and nearly lost the 4/5/6/7 when that also went in.......he managed to save that but only just and in doing so snapped the no7.......an expensive day in the swirling wind when you also add a broken landing net pole to the list of "Keeley Katastrophies"........lets hope 2012 improves mate!

Result

1st - Ian Simpson - 24.0lb
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 22.7lb
3rd - Jeff Grantham - 19.6lb

WL3 - Conway - 3rd December

Conway seems to be a little unpredictable of late but the wineer was far from unpredictable. Rob Dickenson walked it sticking to his tried and trusted pellet for half a dozen carp and some big roach for 30.4lb off the staging peg.

Ian Lloyd looked out of it after struggling for roach, 2 to the right of the staging, until the last hour when he spotted some bubbles over his pellet feed and went on to plunder 22.7lb in no time for second........if only there was another hour Ian may have hit 50lb! Third and mister consistent was our newly crowned Angler of the Year, Billy Gore with 20.7lb of roach and an odd carp from opposite Ian.

Result
1st - Rob Dickenson - 30.4lb
2nd - Ian Lloyd - 22.7lb
3rd - Billy Gore - 20.7lb

WL2 - Conway - 19th November

Back to Conway for the second round and alround a much tougher proposition with the carp proving elusive and the roach also unwilling to settle it was a scratch around for a few roach and skimmers and hope for a bonus carp or two for many.

Rob Dickinson topped the frame with 35.0lb, pegged next to the point Rob found nothing feeding towards the point and caught on pellet at 11m in open water. Billy Gore took second pegged by the gate as you walk in on the middle bank he had a mainly roach net with just 1 carp for 26.7lb with some real 'dog' roach down the edge of all places late on. Jeff Gratham drew opposite the point and went long at 17.5m with paellet and snared a few carp and with roach to add took 3rd with 23.4lb.

Result
1st - Rob Dickinson - 35.0lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 26.7lb
3rd - Jeff Grantham - 23.4lb

12th November - Meremoor

With this being such a shallow lake it was always going to be interesting in November but after the October match with such good weights hopes were high as the average fish are a good size.

Ian Simpson made the most of the wind off his back to fish 18m towards the island and a bed of lillies managing to win the carp fight with the said lillies 8:5 to weigh 36.1lb of maggot caught carp for the win. Rob Dickinson struggled for several hours before a few carp arrived and 8 fish later weighed 26.7lb for second on the pole and pellet in open water. Keith Williamson swapped and changed before we managed to find a few carp on the maggot feeder to take 3rd with 15.3lb.

Rick has booked this again for 2012 but earlier in the year as clearly a 3-4ft venue that is virtually all carp is not great for November.

Result
1st - Ian Simpson - 36.1lb
2nd - Rob Dickinson - 26.7lb
3rd - Keith Williamson - 15.3lb
Sec A - Rick Keeley - 8.9lb
Sec B - Steve Glimour - 11.4lb

WL1 - Conway - 5th November

With the point out all the talk was who would be pegged either side. Dougie Walsh and Ian Simpson took those honours and spend 5 hours egding ever closer and further together towards the point peg to no avail.....the carp just hadn't moved off the shallower island bar area yet!!

Jeff Grantham drew the shallow bar and from the middle bank fished 17.5m and pellet to extract 54.6lb of carp, F1's and a some roach. Billy Gore fished with banded pellet to take carp, F1's and some big early roach from 2 pegs down from Jeff for 41.1lb for second. Rob Dickinson drew the bottom bank and persisted with the pellet landing some decent carp on light gear to record 3rd place with 35.2lb

Conway was not at its best with silver weights well down, fewer skimmers and only pockets of carp but still great to see you float going under as it gets colder!!

Result
1st - Jeff Grantham - 54.6lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 41.1lb
3rd - Rob Dickinson - 35.2lb

22nd November - Gorsty

We were greeted by Gorsty at least a foot down after work to repair the far bank had dropped levels and it seemed to disrupt the usual busy fishing with even the silvers seeming to be a little put off with less water over their heads.

Andy Walsh made what feels like a guest appearance this year and despite a bad back/neck to contend with he stuck to the feeder for a hard earned 18.3lb of small carp for a well deserved win. Billy Gore continued his tremendous form this year with a mixed net on both pole and tip for 17.5lb followed by 16.9lb for Ian Lloyd.

Result
1st - Andy Walsh - 18.3lb
2nd - Billy Gore - 17.5lb
3rd - Ian Lloyd - 16.9lb

8th October - Partridge - Spey/Marsh

Well it was wet, and god did my coat stink!!!

After clearly forgetting to dry it out when I took it out of my bag the usual Preston Drifish blue had turned a white/milky greeny/grey and the smell was rank. I lasted 20mins before chucking it up the bank in the rain to have a wash!!

Ian Lloyd managed to find some larger samples tight to his inside margin and extracted enough for an easy win, although a fair few managed to reach the sanctuary of the next platform. Dave Gentile and Ian Simpson had similar approaches with very little over but managed to snare a few better fish for 15.2lb and 15.0lb for 2nd and third.

I had a great view of the leg end tat is Dougie Walsh as he lost fish after fish down the margins and across....he should have easily won but the fish showed no respect finding platforms, going behind his keepnets, diving in the rushes and reeds.....his peg was like a tackle shop at the end!

Result
1st - Ian Lloyd - 22.7lb
2nd - Dave Gentile - 15.2lb
3rd - Ian Simpson - 15.0lb

1st October - Meremoor

Well a new venue for Wirral and with only a small turnout we took one of the two lakes on offer. Shallow throughout on Lake 1 and predominatly carp with vitually everone having an island to chuck to as well as open water, margins and even lillies it looked the part.

Ian Lloyd managed to bag 91.8lb on maggot down the margin with many making the sanctuary of the reeds only to have the hydro kick in and winch them back through. A top diplay by Lloydy and another big weight as he moves towards the Matchman of the Year title.

Rick Keely took 63.2lb form the inside marginal lillies and a few up in the water in the open for second with Graham Aveyard third with 59.3lb. After starting fash with some early method fish Graham's swim slowed and he managed to sneak a few on the pole to secure third.

With a 39lb average per man including John Heald's blank after disappearing very early (and buggering up my margin line as he packed up) it was a good match with 48lb needed for 5th.

Result
1st - Ian Lloyd - 91.8lb
2nd - Rick Keeley - 63.2lb
3rd - Graham Aveyard - 59.3lb

Sept - Glebefest 2011

Well the long awaited Glebe weekender arrived and overall the records tumbled for a second year with 3000lb of fish caught over the three days (2500lb last year). But with only 2 just breaking a ton it was all about the backing weights this year as the 5m line was difficult for most and the margins were hit and miss.

The draw for Day One threw up some interesting draws. Ian Simpson on Peg 1, an end peg, not the best one but definitely worth a few and Jeff Grantham on 30....the flyer.....to be fair its a marmite peg and Jeff hates it having done 2 ton's but also had 2 blowouts on it previously!

As the match progressed the usual 5m corn line was struggling and the feeder wasn't great either. Rob Dickinson resorted to pellet it at 12m and managed to keep the carp coming in the second half for a well deserved 105.3lb win. Micky Flanagan drew in the 20's and had most of his fish on the feeder with a few late margin lumps to boost his total to 85.7lb for second. Jason Jones stuck to the longer pole lines and secured 3rd with 63.1lb.

No mention, you notice, of the end pegs that the early banter had suggested might win it. Ian S had a nighmare as the builders doing Roy Marlow's house and garden decided to landscape the margins around peg 1, build a path way (you could feel the vibrations) and plant some trees (30ft trees using a huge digger) oh and watering it with digger buckets from the lake. 42lb later, a headache and 9th overall wasn't great.......but how did Jeff fair, no landscaping, no diggers, no vibrations and no fish!!! ...29lb and 13th in the match and its 3:2 to peg 30 against Jeff (can't believe he says I'm a draw bag when he has had it 5 times now!). Overall 882lb caught at 42lb average.

Result - Day One
1st - Rob Dickinson - 105.3lb
2nd - Mick Flanagan - 85.7lb
3rd - Jason Jones - 63.1lb

Day two and the talk was of a high draw away from the landscaping but we needn't have worried the builders didn't work sat (why couldn't I draw it on day 2!). Peg 1 went to Alec Rioch and marmite peg 30 stuck in Graham Aveyard's grubby mitt.

As the day unfolded it became a similar story with longer pole doing the business and the 5m line struggling. Most had learned a bit from the day before and 1121lb was weighed in at 53lb average. Jeff Gratham got a draw in the middle away from his nemisis (peg 30) and he fished long pole for exacty 100lb. Second went to Pete Walsh with 88.9lb from peg 20, mainly at 5m and Dougie Walsh took 3rd with 76.5lb. Fish of the day was a 13lb grass carp that Ian Simpson had that came in like a sack until netted then went absolutely ballistic!! On the day 10th had 52lb and it hadn't fished at all well compared to earlier in the year.

Oh Peg 1, Alec managed 38lb but Graham on Peg 30 weighed 16lb and came 21st.....told you its a marmite peg....now he hates it as well.

Result - Day Two
1st - Jeff Grantham - 100.0lb
2nd - Pete Walsh 88.9lb
3rd - Dougie Walsh 76.5lb

Day three and a new test for most as we moved onto Lakes 5,6,7 with 7 being the favoured draw this year, or so we were told. Another 1002lb (48lb average) came to the nets but it was Lake 5 that fished best with some real lumps and tales of those that got away (Ian Simpson lost 3 estimated at 15lb+ in the last hour alone taking hook lengths then straight through rigs and then entire elastics with them!). With 6 end pegs there are always lots with high hopes for the day and so it turned out.

Jason Jones who had won the Ronny Ashbrooke pairs over the previous 2 days with Mick Flanagan went even better and won out right from end peg 85 on Lake 5 with 90.5lb caught at 12m and down the margin. Lake 6 was won by Ian Lloyd from the Little Girls end peg (86) with just 65.5lb as Lake 6 fished tough and Rick Keeley took Lake 7 from another end peg (98) to weigh 83.1lb and break his best match weight for the second time in two days!! (looks proud but dim to me!) With 12th place weighing over 47lb the backing weights were again good.

Result - Day Three
Lake 5 - Winner - Jason Jones - 90.5lb
Lake 6 - Winner - Ian Lloyd - 65.5lb
Lake 7 - Winner - Rick Keeley - 83.1lb

Ronny Ashbrooke - Pairs Winners - Mick Flanagan & Jason Jones - 5 pts (293.12lb)

So overall despite being later in Sept, the Glebe broke the club records and we will be back in 2012 but hopefully earlier in Sept. Dates will be confirmed in December and a book opened with 3 days planned again.

And Jason said the carvery is great value at £3.85 for a plateful!!!!!

27th August - Old Hough

Twelve attendees with a few of the 'Wirral Raiders' away bagging at the Glebe and the rest boozing at Chester Races.

Rick Keeley run out the winner with 18.8lb finishing more than 3lb ahead of a close fought battle for second and thirs with Jason Connah 15.4lb just pipping Dougie Walsh 15.1lb to the place. With 3 blanks and 2 other weights below 10lb it was clearly a hard day and hard fought weights from the top three.

Result
1st - Rick keeley - 18.8lb
2nd - Jason Connah - 15.4lb
3rd - Dougie Walsh - 15.1lb

3th August - Weston Canal

After a late switch from Stretton and Belvedere, we were assured the canal would fish well and we were treated to probably our best match of the year with nearly 750lb weighed in and 35lb average with no less than 9 x 40lb+ and 15 x 30lb+ weights.

Rob Dickenson took the win after claiming he had 50lb he weighed 75.6lb of mainly carp caught down the edge on meat along with a few barbel at 5m for what turned out to be a comfortable win. Ian Simpson (not fishing the feeder this week) took second with 58.3lb after switching from meat to pellet and top 3 in the margins started to catch Rob but too late. Billy Gore used a little less meat this week and managed 3rd and retained his lead in the Angler of the Year and closed the gap on the Matchman of the Year with a 47.9lb net of carp and barbel albeit it he only just pipped Ian Hughes (not the yozzer variety the welsh one!!) who had a late run of better carp to weigh 47.8lb.

Sections went to the venue experts John Heald 44.1lb and Dougie Walsh 46.5lb both fishing meat in the margins and taking carp and barbel. I must also mention Jason Connah who weighed 38.6lb and for his efforts only got 1 point and the other 5 anglers who weighed 30lb+ who never even got a point!! Good close fishing and seems a very fair venue at present.

Result
1st - Rob Dickenson - 75.6lb (peg 38)
2nd - Ian Simpson - 58.3lb (peg 10)
3rd - Billy Gore - 47.9lb (peg 48)
4th - Ian Hughes - 47.8lb (peg 8)
Sec A - John Heald - 44.1lb (peg 14)
Sec B - Dougie Walsh - 46.5lb (peg 32)

6th August - Larford Speci

A lower than normal turnout for Larford no doubt as a result of the increased fuel costs but with WBAC funding the peg fees for this long trip it still meant 17 turned up to be greeted by a serene and still Larford complex........now thats a surprise normally blows a hoolie!!!

Graham Aveyard kept things really simple leaving the field in his wake, with a superb 97.6lb catch. Graham dropped the method and red boilie short to both the pole line and probably 25-30m for a succession of bream and 'hawses' weighing nearly 35lb of bream alone.

(Picture .....not the first time we have trailed in Graham's wake then!!!)

Billy Gore managed second with 52.15lb again all to the method after filling it in on the pole and not even getting a bite. When I say filling it in, it was a Billy Two Hats special moment as circa 30 tins of meat went in!!!!! No fecking wonder he never got a bite then but he still pipped Mick Flanagan who as usual at Larford sorted out a few and weighed 52.7lb again predominantly on the method (beginning to get the drift why I caught sod all.......I'm crap on the method!!).

Sections went to Ian Lloyd with 34.7lb again method but short and Jeff Grantham 46.7lb including a near 15lb mirror that 'flanaganed', sorry dwarfed a much bigger ghostie he lost at the net. Overall our best combined weight of the season so far but not to the usual Larford standards. I'm sure no breeze and the Larford festival on the preceding 5 days didn't help

......along with my own hugely lacking ability on the feeder in general (gonna have to practice this one day........when I'm really bored and have no paint to watch dry!!!

Result
1st - Graham Aveyard - 97.6lb (peg 10)
2nd - Billy Gore - 52.15lb (peg 52)
3rd - Mick Flanagan - 52.7lb (peg 22)
Sec A - Ian Lloyd - 34.7lb (peg 11)
Sec B - Jeff Grantham - 46.7lb (peg 20)