VERULAM ANGLING CLUB

 

MATCH REPORTS – covering 29-6 to end of season (March 2001)

 

Evening League - Smallford 29/06/00

The second round of the evening league saw a small turnout at Smallford, but nevertheless the fishing was consistent with John Tee taking top slot with a mixed bag of 7.10.8 from peg 22. Peter Fell took second place from peg four with an all skimmer bag of 7.2.0. Trevor Davies was third with 5.8.0 from peg 10. This venue is rapidly improving as a match venue with the large numbers of skimmers that are now averaging 6-8oz, pike also seem to be less of a problem than they have been in previous seasons.

 

Ladies, Juniors and over 60’s - Frogmore 01/07/00

The first of this years matches was held at Frogmore on a bit of a dull , damp Saturday morning. Four ladies, four juniors and five over 60’s had the choice of pegs on the match lake. First place in the ladies match went to Sue Jones with 13.8.8 including a pole caught carp of 5.13.0, six carp were also lost which, if landed, would have led to an impressive bag indeed. Pat Waugh took second place with 3.1.0 of mainly Rudd and Roach.

 

Top “veteran” on the day was Harry Gately with 2.9.0, which again would have been improved upon, if hooked fish had been landed.

 

Ernie Arrowsmith took premier position in the junior section with a pole-caught bag of 9.5.0, Jenny Kiddle took second spot with a nice mixed bag of mainly roach and rudd for 3.6.0.

 

These matches are run on a very informal basis and help and coaching is not only allowed but also encouraged, it is important that the next generation learns how to fish properly and respectfully yet is also important that they catch fish and maybe win a small prize. The next match is at Riverside Road on September 2nd. Draw at 9am.

 

Top Twenty invitation Castle Ashby 02/07/00

Disappointingly only ten members took up their invitation to this match, which as the pegs are pre-booked and thus prepaid was a little annoying and costly to the Club. On the day everyone caught fish but not in the quantities that we had hoped for, top weight went to Roger Brown with 11.2.0 of carp on surface fished mini-marshmallow , Len Cooper took second with 9.0.0 carp caught on the same method as the winner.

 

Evening League Round Three Riverside Rd 06/07/00

Following the previous record-breaking match the expectations were high. Ray Cormack ,  proudly displaying his new cap ,  was clearly the man to watch at the drawbag . His luck deserted him as he drew well away from the noted roach areas. Top weight on the day was John Tee, for the second match running, from peg 39 with 15.0.0 of roach and crucians. Trevor Davies was second with 14.2.0 including a carp of 4lb from peg 1 . Martin Funnell took third place with an all roach bag of 13.8.8 from peg 30.

 

Heyford Fishery , 16/07/00                                     

 

       A good turnout of 28 attended this match , many enjoying a good breakfast in the restaurant first. Howard Pringle, fishing his first match for the Club took first place with 24.14.8, a real mixed bag which included carp, crucians and even a small barbel! Mick Chappel was second with 10.7.0 and Derek Wooldridge filled third spot with 10.0.8.A number of carp were hooked and lost but the smaller fish were noticeable by their absence this year.

 

Felmersham/Radwell, 30/07/00                               

 

Our first trip of the season to our stretch of the River Ouse above Bedford saw sixteen members experience some varied sport. Roger Brown was top man on the day with 6.11.0 which included the best chub of the year so far at 3.10.8,Pete Fell was second with 6.2.0 including a specimen perch of 1.13.0.Third place went to Andy Munday with a mixed bag of 5.6.8.Weed made the Radwell stretch very difficult  and those who elected to fish the section were limited to just ounces. The seasons’ best dace of 0.4.8 was taken by Mick Chapell as part of his 5.1.0 bag.

 

Tingrith Fishery, 06/08/00                                      

      

A disappointing turnout considering 30 pegs was booked on Orchid lake. Weather was almost perfect but for the strong wind blowing down the lake towards the causeway (where Stan Kiddle was pegged).

 

Everyone caught fish but like many waters, knowledge of the ‘in’ methods helped. Winner on the day was P Emery who was pegged last on the west bank in the reeds and waggler fished breadflake for a mixed net of 21-9 of carp and tench. Only a pound behind was Stan on 22-9-8 who backed up his tench and carp net with about 8lb of rudd. Stan was unlucky to loose a tench on the whistle in a hidden snag. Dave Aris was third with 18-11 so all very close.

 

Riverside Rd. 13/08/00                                          

 

This match was rearranged following the enforced closure of one bank at Smallford, leaving too few pegs to accommodate a match. A good turnout of 29 were rewarded with some very consistent sport with the top fifteen all taking over 5lb.Stewart Arrowsmith continued his winning streak at the venue taking 21.14.0 from peg 30 with a real mixed bag including carp, crucians and some of the bigger skimmers, all taken on maggot or chopped worm. Mark Jones took second place with 12.13.8 from peg 17, mainly skimmers on soft pellet. Terry Rumsey was third with 11.11.0 which was boosted by a tench of 3.5.0

       This match was also the second round of the Knockout trophy and the results were as follows:

 

       Len Cooper 6.11.0     beat Ray Cormack 3.12.0

       Pete Holmes 4.8.0             beat  Mick Hosier    3.8.0

       Fred Taylor 3.11.0     beat  Lee Chittenden  2.3.0

       Mark Jones 12.13.8    beat Dave Dent (did not fish)

       Kevin Wilder 7.7.0      beat Pete Mooney (did not fish)

       Pete Fell   7.0.0        beat Rod Lee   3.6.8

       Stewart Arrowsmith21.14.0 beat Keith Hemsley (did not fish)

       Bob Scott 6.5.0         beat Andy Roe  5.2.8

 

Riverside Rd. 02/09/00 Ladies, Juniors and Over 60’s.

 

The venue fished consistently for this second of the three match series. Top weight overall went to Sue Jones from peg 11 with a mixed bag of 13.3.0 including a couple of tench over 2lb.Terry Rumsey took second place from peg 18 with 9.2.0 of mainly crucians and small tench. Pat Waugh was third with a nice bag of crucians from peg 39 on the lilies. Disappointingly there were only two juniors, Darren Cragg took the honours with 5.13.8 and Ernie Arrowsmith was second with 4.15.8.

 

       Ladies

Over 60’s

Sue Jones        20+20=40

Ron Wood        18+14=32

Pat Waugh        18+18=36

John Roper       16+16=32

Shelia Miles       14+16=30

Dennis Bateman 12+10=22

Clare Waugh     16+0=  16

Terry Rumsey    0+20=20

 

Harry Gately      20+ 0=20

 

Clive Smith        0+18=18

 

D Jonas           14+ 0=14

 

R Lee                0+12=12

 

The junior Championship is fished over six matches throughout the season including this series of three.

 

RIVER LEE HERTFORD. 10/09/00

 

The actual venue for this match was altered at the last moment on the advice of the bailiff for the Lee Valley Consortium as the original section at Ware was totally unfishable due to weed. The new section was the stretch behind Tesco’s. For most of us there would have been more fish in Tesco’s, if we had have all bought two tins of sardines our weights would have probably doubled. To say it was generally poor would be a slight understatement. For those of us who stuck it out to the end the bulk of the catches were very small roach and bleak. The only person to catch any quality fish was George Dovey(!!!) who had a tench and two perch for 2.5.8, he was narrowly beaten into second place by Roger Brown who had 49 fish for 2.7.8. Len Cooper squeezed into third spot with 2.2.8.

 

G.U.C “ THE GLOBE” SECTION. 29/10/2000.

 

Heavy rain during the preceding week left more water in the surrounding fields than in the canal it seemed. The weather stayed dry (probably due to the fact that Kevin bought his brolly with him for a change!) but the wind was verging on gale force for most of the day. The match turned out to be one of two halves as they say. The halves were determined by the pegs drawn, pegs one to eight were near the pub totally out of the wind and in the area where all the fish are known to be, pegs nine to sixteen weren’t!

 

Roger Brown took first place with 6.15.0 from peg 6, mainly skimmers with a few roach as well. Paul Bangs on peg two had 4.15.8 and Peter Fell took 3rd from peg sixteen(!!) with 4.0.8 (but he did have some far bank shelter)

 

GRAND UNION CANAL  PARK POUND WATFORD 25/11/2000

 

Following the decision of Watford Piscators to make this pound available for Club bookings the Club visited the venue for the first time in about ten years. A good turnout found the canal looking good, a hint of colour and a few far bank features to aim at. After an hour all early enthusiasm had gone with very few fish being taken and no sign of the famous chub that are known to inhabit the stretch. Things didn’t pick up until the first boat went through creating a bit of flow thereafter a few more small fish were taken. Bonus fish were vital to frame and the only two taken were by Mark Jones and Alan Bootland, both with Bream about 2lb.

 

1.    Mark Jones         4.7.0

2.    Alan Bootland      2.12.0

3.    Kevin Wilder       1.9.8

 

 

GRAND UNION CANAL  TRING STATION. 03/12/2000

 

Again we were forced into a venue change due to the never ending rain, the Thames at Staines was deemed unfishable. the section of  LAA canal at Tring station was selected as the alternative.

 

The weights were disappointingly low with no bonus fish being taken. Dave Dent took first slot with 3.1.0 of roach and perch mainly on double pinkie, Len Cooper was second with 2.3.0 and Dave Cragg took third with 2.0.0 which included the biggest fish of the day – a 12oz skimmer

 

Riverside Rd. 4/02/01      

 

This match was rearranged from the flooded River Tove (surprise, surprise!!).Twenty anglers fished but very few fish were caught, with newly stocked carp forming the bulk of the weights.

 

A Dodson  8.4.0

L Cooper   7.9.0

R Brown    4.6.8

S Kiddle    4.4.8

 

G.U.C Harefield 18/02/01

 

With no rain for nearly a week hopes were high. However the canal resembled the River Thames at its best!! Most packed up well before the end and only one angler caught, a chub of 0.13.8 enough to win £98 in pools!

The fortunate angler was Stewart Arrowsmith. The semi-final of the knockout between Len Cooper & Kevin Wilder was a draw.

 

Angling Times Supercup vs Barnet vs Broadwater AS  25/02/01

 

This knockout match was fished on the pits at Broad Colney on a cold snowy morning. The fishing was poor with many blanks and only tiny fish being caught. The home team took advantage of the home draw to record a comfortable victory.

Barnet D.A.C     22 pts

Verulam A.C      16 pts

Broadwater A.S  11 pts

 

A Home venue will no longer be required for this year.

 

Riverside Rd   4th. March 2001.

 

Twenty-seven members attended this, the final match of the season. The match was also the Frank Nutely Memorial Trophy and the final of the Knockout. As is now the norm a breakfast was served prior to the match and for many, as is also becoming the norm, it was the only bite of the day. The fish were very tightly shoaled in the middle bay with the newly stocked Golden Orfe showing well along with small skimmers.

The biggest fish of the season was taken by Peter Fell, a carp of 9.12.8, taken I understand by dangling a bunch of maggots in front of its nose as it swam past!

 

Peter Fell         9.12.8

Mark Seymour   7.11.8

Mick Hosier       4.13.8

 

In the Knockout Final Stewart Arrowsmith and Kevin Wilder fought out a memorable (?????) draw and will fish a replay in the near future.