Conditions looked perfect. A light breeze and light cloud cover for the start. As the café rapidly emptied I got the lowdown from the Hallcroft staff. The lakes had been fishing well and weights approaching 100lb would probably be needed to win. With sunny conditions expected for much of the match the fish could well be up in the water, with the bigger fish from Bridge Lake or Moat, but more consistent action from the smaller fish in Canal. Time for a walk round.
I don’t match fish, but every time I watch a match I marvel at the levels of concentration and effort that goes into compiling a big weight, it’s a bit different to me casting out and relaxing on the bedchair!
As the match progressed it was obvious that the assessment I’d been given at the start was spot on, and I watched some hectic action on Canal pond before moving on to Bridge where I saw a couple of decent double figure carp test the gear to the limit.
4-00pm and I followed the weigh-in before making my way back to the café, for a delicious buffet meal, they know how to look after the anglers at Hallcroft! Food finished it was time for Robin Morley (Daiwa Director Sales and Marketing) and Sandra Scotthorne (Daiwa Coarse Angling Consultant) to present the prizes.
In first place overall was Andy Everall. Andy fished pellet, meat and paste into the margins for carp to 8lb. Andy was fishing Bridge Island Peg 1 and his top weight of 98-12-0 meant he came away with a G20 Pole.
Other prize winners were …..
Andy Bacon fished Bridge Outer Peg 58 for 83-1-0
Daniel Brydon fished Canal Peg 14 for 78-5-0
Colin Spencer fished Moat Island 67 for 76-10-0
J Thornley fished Canal Peg 18 for 72-0-0
It was time to say fair well’s and thank you’s at the end of another great dealer day. The weather had been kind to us, the lakes on good form, as they say, a good day was had by all, I’d certainly enjoyed it, and I’d not even been fishing!
