| The sixth Talkangling Match that we have run this year didn't get off to a very good start. I had arranged for the draw to take place at The Bulls Head in Wolvey, near to the venue, only to find that on our arrival the place was shut. NO BREAKFAST! A few of the lads decided to try and find an alternative eating place and disappeared looking for the roadside catering van or a nearby cafe to fill their faces. There's nothing worse than turning up at a draw hungry with the expectation of food only to have your hopes dashed. It can make the day a very long affair indeed.
Anyway fourteen anglers turned up for this morning match, so it was decided to use Avon pool only. Avon had apparently been fishing its head off and so again we were all looking forward to a good days fishing. My apprentice, Andy Findlay, (ahem) also put in appearance to try and get his hat trick of victories on these talkangling matches. What an angler this guy is, I'm sure he was a fish in a previous life. To say he is a perfectionist in his angling ways is an understatement. Just watch him in action and you will understand what I mean. If he is not happy with something then it will not happen until he is. The attitude of 'that is near enough' will do, just doesn't exist. It has to be spot on or else.
The draw was made at 8.30am and off we went. Fourteen anglers on the Avon meant people had some room, and with Mark Perkins knowledge of the water everyone had a good peg to have a go at. The weather was good although we did have the odd shower or two but these soon passed and the sun was shining once again. We had asked Billy for a six hour match on the morning, but an agreement on five and half was reached. A good man that Billy Makin.
So the match started at 10am. I had my apprentice two draws away from me on peg 25. I was on peg 20 with Steve Duffy between us on peg 22. The only other anglers I could see were Andy Smith on peg 18 and Mel Hodgson on peg 16. Mel got off to a good start taking a few early fish and so did 'Fin' the rest of us were playing catch up although it wasn't long before we were all into a few fish and the day was set.
I will tell you a name to look out for in the not to distant future, and that is Samantha Perkins. This girl is only 10 years old and already possesses angling knowledge that can put a lot of senior anglers to shame. Full credit to her father, Mark. I just hope she continues with the sport because she is a star in the making.
Billy came down to watch my apprentice and before long the usual banter started. Dick Tranter, who had come to watch because he had BOTH arms in plaster as a result of a fall from his works motorcycle, was the first to get the brunt of Billie's tongue and this was BEFORE Billy arrived. You see, Dick phoned Billy the previous night to have a chat about our forth-coming national and the end of the conversation went something like this. Billy "Will you be here tomorrow then Dick?" "Yes" replied Dick "But I can't fish" "I know" came the reply from Billy "How do you know I can't" enquired Dick, thinking he must know about the accident, "Because your a Brummie!" came the quick witted reply from the old canal maestro. Well, I can't print what conversation they had next but needless to say it wasn't exactly polite. Back to the match and Dick was up for getting his own back and was soon giving as good as he got with Billy not short of a few words.
The five and half hours flew by once again, and it was time to weigh in. Billy took the opportunity to pay a visit to Clive Nixon's peg, peg 4, to have a go at 'this nancy pole lark' whilst Clive handled the scales. Here is the full result:
Andy Findlay 53lb 15oz (I'm teaching him to well)
Paddy Morley 38lb 14oz
Steve Crocker 36lb 14oz (Section)
Mel Hodgson 34lb 4oz (Section)
Gary Plant 33lb 11oz
Mark Perkins 33lb 7oz
Bob Smithson 25lb 8oz
Clive Nixon 25lb 6oz
Steve Duffy 24lb 13oz
Dave Townsend 22lb 6 oz
Neil Fisher 19lb 8oz
Samantha Perkins 19lb 2oz
Andy Smith 17lb 10oz
Ike Ward 15lb 10oz |
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