Verulam Angling Club

Match Result

 

Date      :      13th December 2009     

Venue    :      Riverside - Christmas Match          

Match    :      Championship #13

 

Commentary by Stan: Please indulge me for this one because it is difficult doing write-ups having won the match and trying to be humble and modest. But I do think I earned this win...although it needed a large dose of good fortune just to be certain. Riverside is my favourite VAC venue and being just one mile from my door I try to keep in touch with it's moods and also ensure that we have no unwelcome visitors (cormorants).

 

That explains why, this week, I'd walked around the venue about four times, working out peg numbers, talking to members etc. With 42 booked in it was always going to be tight and always going to be hard and I was constantly looking for that extra 'edge'.

 

In the end it certainly turned out to be a tough one with just 18 weighing in out of the eventual 40 fishing. In fact, if it were not for the new stock of small carp and roach the number of blanks would have been much higher. Sounds bad but typical if you check back on previous results.

 

On the subject of blanks, having suffered three Christmas blanks in a row a few years back I was, as I said, looking for an edge. Bloodworm and Joker is often seen as a magical bait that will catch when the fish will look at nothing else so a match pack was ordered and I made up several very light (0.8mm) rigs for the roach and a 'heavy' rig of 0.10mm hook length and 20 hook in case the skimmers and little carp moved in. Caster, worms, pellet and every other bait was ready, just in case.

 

Following Brian's usual great breakfast feast the draw got underway and, with just a few left in the bag I dipped in and pulled out 24. I was very happy with this as it was near where I practiced, has plenty of features and is at the far end where (last week at least) all the fish were shoaled.  But my confidence slowly evaporated as nearly four hours passed without a bite. Not just for me but for all those around me. Somewhat in desperation I put four bloodworms on the 'heavy' rig and lowered it tight to the reeds in about 3ft of water. When the float buried I had to blink just to check. A swift lift and yards of white hydro poured out as I found myself attached to something heavy and angry. After about 15 minutes I had gained control and, in the clear water, two foot below the surface in front of me I could see a large carp going around in circles. A deep and steady scoop and she was in the net...about 7lb..result.

 

Two minutes later and I was in again. A smaller fish this time and easier to control. Soon a 4lb'er was in the net. Now I was 'bagging' so swapped to a 'proper' carp rig - 0.16mm line, 16 hook and purple hydro. I lowered this in at the tip of the 'trout point' to my right at 13m and soon another carp took a liking to my bunch of five b/worms and a caster. It would seem that the heavy pull of the purple hydro makes the fish pull harder as this one buried itself deep under the reeds. But it was small at about 3lb and was soon out and in the net. That was it...no more bites up to the full time whistle.

 

Elsewhere, those who had carp fell into two camps. Alan had two and Dave and Neil had one proper fish each (strange that all the carp landed today where commons) whereas Barry, Malcolm and Matt had a few small 6oz stockies. Allan Baymen on the Golden Peg hooked and lost two lumps....on pinkie rigs (doh!) and, best of the silver fish bags, was 3rd placed Dan Patrick whose 6lb 1oz was mostly small rudd. Richard Wheatland needed just one small roach to win his section.

 

The match was concluded in the traditional way with the much appreciated mulled wine and mince pies plus the VAC Christmas Draw and a well supported raffle. Plus £120 was raised for charity. Thanks everybody and see you next year.

 

A Merry Christmas and Tight Lines in the New Year from Brian, Stan, Kev, Roger and Nick - the VAC Match Committee.

 

POSITION

NAME

WEIGHT

POINTS

COMMENTS

1

Stan Kiddle

14.06

100

 3 carp - peg 24

2

Alan Gardner

6.09

95

 2 two carp - peg 59

3

Dan Patrick

6.01

90

 silvers - peg 46

4

Dave Parrot

6.00

85

 one carp and a skimmer - peg 39

5

Paul Bangs

5.06

80

 silvers

6

Neil Anderson

4.03

75

 1 carp, 1 roach

7

Barry Hurley

2.06

70

 6 small carp plus silvers

8

Matt Young

1.14

65

 5 small carp

9

Malcolm Jefferies

1.09

60

 4 small carp

10

Steve Axworthy

1.06

55

 1 skimmer

11

John Moss

1.02

50

 

12

Tim Jones

0.11

45

 

13

Phil Daniel

0.08

40

 

14

Pete Roll

0.07

35

 

15

Bob Gray

0.05

30

 

16

Brian Lakin

0.05

25

 

17

Richard Wheatland

0.01.8

20

 

18

Josh Blavins

0.01

15

 

19

Jay M

DNW 

1

 

20

Keith Speer

DNW

1

 

21

Roger Smith

DNW

1

 

22

Andy K

DNW

1

 

23

Nick Darke

DNW

1

 

24

Micky Fortnam

DNW

1

 

25

Colin Earle

DNW

1

 

26

Daryl Jones

DNW

1

 

27

Reg Mees

DNW

1

 

28

Allan Bayman

DNW

1

 

29

Kevin Laird

DNW

1

 

30

Phil Daniels

DNW

1

 

31

Kevin Hawes

DNW

1

 

32

Eric Wilding

DNW

1

 

33

Alan Moss

DNW

1

 

34

Bob Hendry

DNW

1

 

35

Derek Bartlett

DNW

1

 

36

Joe Collins

DNW

1

 

37

Mark Jones

DNW

1

 

38

Ray Peteford

DNW

1

 

39

Reg Johnson 

DNW

1

 

 40

 Ron Plumb

 DNW

1

 

 

 Total Weight