That name is Dan Patrick. Dan has made excellent use of some good draws on some big weight venues and barring any major upsets appeared to have the championship tied up by November. Paul Bangs and Kevin Marslin, last years defending Champion, put in a strong challenge at the death but the weights were not there to make up the points deficit.

There were highlights and lowlights as usual but this year they seemed a little more extreme. Smallford and Rolfs’ Lake provided the highlights with Riverside Rd being the downside with regard to matches this year. The weather was kind to us all with a long hot summer but the winter was severe with a number of matches affected by snow and harsh frosts.

Smallford hosted the first match of the season and the much sought-after draw of peg 37 was drawn by Brian Lakin who made no mistake with a bream and tench bag of 48.15.8 including a tench of 5.10, five other weights of over 20lb were taken mainly bream on the feeder. Riverside Rd was poor by its own high standards in the summer with both matches relying on odd carp to make up the winning weights with very few silver fish being taken at all. One new venue for the club was Woodland Farm at Quainton, a small private commercial fishery near Aylesbury that surprised everyone with lots of fish. Carp and Rudd were taken at an average of over 15lb per man, Neil Anderson recording 30.11 to top the field and take an early lead in the championship.

The ever-popular evening series was won this year by match stalwart Bob Scott, narrowly pipping Stan Kiddle on the last match.

Dan’s charge for the Championship picked up steam in August when thirty-two members fished Rolfs Lake, a venue well renowned for its carp! Dan topped a trio of weights over 100lb with 108.8.The top twelve all weighed in more than 50lb.The 108.8 sets a new Club record for the heaviest bag of fish in a five hour match.

Our lady, junior and over 60’s members have their own series of matches on local lakes and this year Clare Waugh just pipped her mum Pat for the Ladies Title, Matthew Lakin retained his junior Champion status and Harry Gately took the ‘veterans’.

Felmersham proved to be disappointing, both for the fishing and the attendances. The river was exceedingly difficult to fish the first match with duckweed and fallen trees making much of the water unfishable, both matches needed only 7lb of small fish to win.

The canals have not produced any of the shocks that we have had in recent years. Sport has been consistent but nothing exceptional, boat traffic in the summer and clear water in the winter has all contributed to lower returns than previous years. The one highlight of the canal matches was Tim Jones, winning two and not finishing outside the top six on any of them. 

The second trip to Rolfs Lake produced another weight over the magic ‘ton’ this time for Ray Cormack who sneaked it with 100.8.0 which was enough to beat Paul Bangs into second place by 3lb.

Fortunately for Ray, on one of his rare appearances, he had drawn the “Golden Peg” and his win earned him an additional payout of nearly £200!

Neil Anderson finished the season as he began it with an unseasonable bag of tench and carp at Riverside Rd to take first place with just over 15lb but it was not enough to wrest the title away from the new Champion Dan Patrick.

The matches have been well attended this year with thirty-plus not uncommon in the good weather and still twenty-five in the winter, good numbers make it all worthwhile and it increases the ‘crack’ because above all we all turn out for a bit of fun and if we can catch some fish then it’s a bonus.

I would like to thank all those that have attended this seasons’ matches and especially those that have helped with pegging and weighing-in but my special thanks go to Peter, Ash and Brian my fellow Committee members who have made it all happen.

A date for your diaries June 6^th. The Champion of Champions Match will be held at Quainton.A list of qualifiers is available on the web site if you need any details please contact me and I will help if I can.

National

The selection process for this years National Championship Team , for the event being held on August 14^th on the Stainforth & Keadby Canal will be held following the AGM. If you wish to be considered for the team or are able to assist in any way please turn up on the evening or speak to myself or Ash prior to the night.