| Following on from the last open we had at Docklow, this match seemed to be more promising. A couple of weeks had passed us by and it was hoped that the fish had finished spawning and were ready for some sport. The weather was great with the sun shinning and everyone was full of expectation.
Mike and Josie were busy preparing breakfasts for those that wanted it and from looking at the amount of washing up they had to do it was a fair few! Simon was busy in the tackle shop making himself a fortune as usual and Steve Wood put in a bleary eyed showing having had a heavy session the night before as is the norm when you stay at a fishery with a pub on site, or for that matter a pub within a fifty miles radius, unless of course your name is Simon 'I've been up longer than you' Bozward who goes to bed at about 8pm on an evening.
Anyway having been a sell out only 22 pairs turned up for the event. Disappointing really when you consider we were only turning people away that week. Why people don't have the courtesy to tell you they are not coming is beyond me.
As this was a pair's match we were as usual running two matches within one. Each pair could place their angler on either the Match Pool or the Snake. Two draws were then to take place that would be the same as any open. Luck of the draw would then decide each angler's fate. If you drew crap and your partner did then so be it. If you both had a good draw then so be it. But how often do you see that?
Clive Nixon was my partner and after the opening round of the charity league, whilst we were discussing tactics over a couple of beers in my local hostelry, we flipped a coin. Clive won and had the choice of pool. " I want to go on the Match" " why" I asked. "Cause I do and it's gonna fish it's head off, that's why" "and what about the snake?" " Don't care that's your draw" So it was to be. My mistake? Not making it the best of three!
On the morning of the match, Clive was looking after things on the Match Pool and I was looking after things on the Snake. I had the last peg in the hat peg 4. Now young Johnny Knight being the gentleman he is left it in there for me as he was the last but one to draw. He walked away mumbling something to himself. Couldn't quite hear what it was but it had a lot of F'S in it. Now peg 4 they tell me has won its fair share of coin down there. Having never fished it before I enquired as to where the fish live on the peg. 'Right over, got to go right over' came the replies from the people in the know. Brilliant armed with that knowledge off I went to the peg. Clive had drawn peg 24 on the Match. This peg had also won some coin of late, ask Giles, so we were both full of optimism.
Having had a late breakfast the start was put back to 11am to allow Grant and his partner Pete Wedgebrow to get to their pegs. You see they had so much food inside them after the breakie, I thought they were staying till Monday! We decided the event would be of a six - hour duration and off it went. Now on peg 2 to my left was that famed canal angler Tony Cook. On peg 8 to my right was big Dave Smith. Both venue regulars. Cheers for the info lads!
Tony has got a great sense of humour as was shown when he started cracking jokes. He quipped in his Black Country accent. " My mate is frightened to death of horses, but his missus persuaded him to have a go on one. Well would you believe it as soon as he got on the stirrup broke and the poor bloke ended up on the underside of the thing with it going berserk. He reckons he could have been killed if the shop keeper hadn't turned it off!" And so they rolled off the tongue. Cotton wool in the ears doesn't block all noise you know.
The snake fished relatively hard with talkangling reader Steve Seaborne leading the way home with 29 lb 4 oz. Second place went to Tony with 21 lb 6 oz, whilst third man was Welsh angler Paul Filmore with 21 lb. Me? 6 lb 9 oz. Tell you why later!
On the match Frank Dixon romped home with 103 lb 7 oz. Second place went to West Mercia policeman Pete Jones with 45 lb 6 oz. I felt sorry for Pete because he ran out of bait with two hours to go and apparently was matching Frank fish for fish! Third place went to Rob Jones with 42 lb 15 oz. Clive? Won his section with 40 lb 10 oz. Sorry mate, but as I say more later. Grant weighed 28 lb 7 oz off the flier, well he keeps drawing the same peg, I think it's stuck to his fingers. Should know how to fish it by now!
Back to the pub to work everything out. I had decided that as the event was a pair's match then the emphasis should be on the pair's and not on individual results. Having said that I would pay a small section prize every 4 or 5 anglers. Can't be fairer than that. So for winning the match individually Frank collected £20 section money!
Results worked out and the winning pair with 40 points out of 44 was Paul Filmore and his partner Rob Jones. Second placed pairings went to Mark Stevens and Tony Cook with 38 points. Third place was a tie Pete Jones and Mick Lawley with Mark Burns and Chris Walters on 36 points. Weight decided the outcome with Pete and Mick edging it by 3 lb 5 oz.
Section winners on the match pool were: Rob Jones, Frank Dixon, Clive 'Cause I do' Nixon, Mark Stevens and Rich Hoskins.
Section winners on the Snake: Tony 'Have you heard' Cook, Eric Davis, Colin Wedgebrow, Steve Seaborne and Paul Filmore. (See next Page.)
It just leaves me to say a big thank you again to all that supported the event and to Mike, Josie and Simon for their hospitality.
Oh I nearly forgot. Presentation over and I was chatting to Johnny Knight. Conversation went something like this. " What you had off peg 4 then? " " 6LB" "6 lb, how did you fish it?" " Right over like I was told" " NAH you need to go out a little way on a platform and fish tight under the inside tree to your right. It's full of fish!" " ***~~*!!@@@**" Was my reply. Thanks Lads!!!
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