| Originally we advertised this match for phase 2, but a couple of days before the event I spoke with Billy Makin, Mark Perkins and Geoff Musson. Between them, both Mark and Geoff run plenty of open matches on the various phases so I always seek their advice as to what pegs to put in. It was suggested that we move the match to phase three as it had been producing better sport of late and that every angler was in with a chance of some fish. Avon had been producing some decent nets and was probably in the better form, whilst Derwent was capable of doing some damage although to be fair not in the same way as the Avon, but as this was a pairs match then the emphasis was on the pairs result and not an individual performance.
With 13 and a half pairs booked in ( yes I know. . .one fished as an individual, although some were later also accused of this) the better pegs on the two pools were placed into the draw, with each pair being able to place the angler on the chosen pool as at the Docklow match.
All eyes were on the pairing of Mark Perkins and Andy Findlay. Mark knows the water inside out and so does 'Fin' for that matter! Mark was to go on Derwent with his lesser-known partner trying his luck on the Avon, and so to the draw. Andy Findlay to the bag and out come peg 6, not a bad peg only the flier! Apparently the local lads tell me he has a habit of drawing the flier and has a bigger golden sticky hand than our Grant if that is possible. Mark drew peg 13 on the Derwent not a bad draw either by all accounts, not an out and out flier, but a decent peg all said and done.
A six hour match time was fixed and off we went to our pegs for the off at 10 o'clock. I had drawn peg one on the Derwent with Clive Nixon, my partner having a go on peg 7 on Avon, THE FLIER next to 'Fin'. Not a bad draw for either of us. With our Police Nationals on the complex just around the corner in September, this was to be a learning curve for both Clive and I and also two of our other team mates, Dick Tranter ( remember Dick. . .he is the one who calls Tony Keeling the Train Driver?) and his partner Dave Hawkes. Dick has just taken possession of his new Daiwa 210 pole, well new lets just say that he has owned it for a few weeks now but was waiting for a nice dry day before he would take it out of the pole tube, you know like the prestige motorcycle that is only taken from the garage when the weather is right. That is the 210 owned and admired by Dick. (bit of jealousy coming out there on my part!. . . .Ed)
Ten o'clock arrived and the match began. The Avon living up to all expectations with fish being caught from the off, the Derwent was a bit slower but the signs were that this was to be a good match. The six hours seemed to fly by, (just like it does at work. . .Ed) and before we knew it was time for the all out, but not before Billy had arrived on the scene to give us some banter. Poor Mark Perkins, up to an hour to go he had approximately 6 lb of fish, whilst 'Fin' was sacking on the Avon and did Billy let him know! Likewise he told 'Fin' who was also impressed, but Billy being Billy made things a little more interesting winding them both up. First he told Fin that his mate had packed up and gone home, then he was telling Mark that Fin was looking for a new partner as he believed he was being let down and so it went . .Oh and to cap it all Billy told Fin he wasn't to receive any money for winning the match as it was a pairs, true but that seemed to stir things up a bit more!
Anyway to the results. Andy Findlay won the match with 63 lb 15 oz of paste caught carp, orfe and any other specie that you can mention. Andy Smith was second from peg 16 on Avon with 46 lb, third was Jason Neath of Shakespeare fame with perhaps the performance of them all with 48 lb 6 oz, 40 lb of which were barbel! Ken Hitchmough took the best weight on the Derwent with 34 lb 1 oz from peg 24, with John Kent taking second best pool weight with 31 lb 11 oz from peg 11. Third on pool was Neil Fisher with 29 lb 8 oz from peg 15. Everyone caught fish with the lowest weight being 6 lb 2 oz. Everyone had the most enjoyable day with the pairs winners being Andy Smith and Neil Fisher. Our congratulations to them for a tremendous performance. Full pairs result as follows:
Andy Smith / Neil Fisher. . . . .5 pts
Andy Findlay / Mark Perkins . . . .7 pts
Paul Smith / Rob Perkins . . . . 9 pts
Ken Hitchmough / Mark Newton . . .10 pts
Dick Tranter / Dave Hawkes . . .12 pts
Trevor Jeans / John Kent. . . .12 pts
Clive Nixon / Gary Plant . . . .13 pts
Steve Brown / Jason Neath . . .13 pts
Scott Smith / Stan Taylor. . . 13 pts
Andy Day / Anthony Billam . . .18 pts
Dave Green / Paul Mee . . .20 pts
Graham Weston / Ron Brown . . .25 pts
Scott Foxhall / Des Phillips . . .25 pts.
Andy Smith and Neil Fisher
receiving their trophies. |
