Pewsey back on the cut with the Ladies

Its good to ask and there is no shame in it.  Certainly I have had to do it a lot recently as I just don't remember stuff.  It has had a positive effect on my fishing too.  Going back to the basics and keeping it simple has resulted in three picks up in a row.  My old pal Martin has struggled recently and whilst I had no advice except to keep it simple; I gave him a tray of canal rigs and suggested he try them today.
Ladies bridge and a combined championship match and match against Kintbury Angling club.  We heaved our kit up hill to the Bridge and surveyed the freezing mist curling of the canal.. The crunchy icy frost after the coldest night so far this autumn made for a slippy path how would it affect the fishing?

The draw had all the hall marks of banter and laughter that makes the fishing so good.  There was a little distraction when we heard of the sad news of the loss of a Kintbury angler this last week to cancer.  We were sad to hear and gave our commiserations to both family and club.  Lets hope his rod is bent double into a fish in that heavenly river in the sky.

As always the draw was all about drawing the bay to stand a chance in the match. One of the kintbury lads needed a short walk as he walked with a stick. He was offered 1 or 2 and drew 1.  I asked for a short walk too, on the grounds of being mentally disabled.  Universal laughter died down and it was made clear that 90 percent of the blokes in attendance were mental.

The bay is the place so any peg between 3 (preferably 4) and 10 (although I wouldn't have minded 11 a good peg outside of the bay.  As it was though, I drew 2 !!!!!  Close but no cigar.  A reasonable peg in spring and summer but not so good as the year goes on.

Okay so not in the bay. No worries head down and just try to beat the Kintbury bloke to my right.  It was a full 16 mtrs to fish the far side. So I set up and had a number of simple options.  However, the day did not go to plan.  First the cows in the field behind me decided it would be a bloody good idea to chew on the end of my 16 mtr section of pole which was overhanging the field fence a little.  Then a bloke came along and allowed his dog to crap directly behind my peg .  Apparently did the same behind Chris peg a s well.on both occasions refusing to clean it up.

I never had a bite for the first hour but I did have tangle after tangle and ruined rig after another. I caught leaf after twig after branch before eventually hooking a Ruffe. People were starting to catch proper Bream in the bay.  My three closest competitors in the Championship, Brian Shutler, Simon Burden and Mark Russ had all drawn on good pegs in the bay and started to make it pay

Alan Gibb on my left had two big Bream in a row for around 5 lb.  I piled in the chop worm in the hope of drawing a few of the big slabs my way; but to be honest there wasn't much hope of bringing them my way they don't normally come down the narrows.  Morgan was now into a big Bream which unfortunately he lost as it flipped on the surface.  Good to see our junior anglers connecting though.

3 quick Perch for me on the worm line but they had no weight.  It was a beautiful late autumn day and I had the change to watch and hear the Herons in the trees opposite and  watch the blue flash of the kingfisher and its metronomic plop, plop as it hunted successfully through out the day.

All very nice but with the boys in the bay bagging, I looked longingly left to see waggler rod after waggler rod bent at 45 degrees like a wedding guard of honour for the increasing canal boat traffic.  I was going nowhere and unless I could get a slab or two, I was never going to close the gap on my championship rivals.  I decided just to enjoy the day and practise my punch fishing.  This resulted in three more little roach.

Mike the Kintbury bloke to my right has had 2 bites and one fish and decided to pack up with 10 minutes to go, several other DNWs or blankers were walking buy in a rush to put a very tough day behind them and get home for the Rugby.

News was that everyone outside of the bay had struggled except for a couple up the narrows who had bigger fish and lost Tench etc.  Me I had 11 bites 11 fish I reckoned on 15 oz.

Team Russ (Marks wife and daughter) came by as they do on home matches and passed on some very pleasant well wishes for my health and seemed genuinely pleased I was back fishing.  I packed up and waited for the scales man.

It was good to hear all those in the bay had a good day; but outside of that it was a little dire except for Leo on the end peg - results below.  Alan and a few tiddlers to go with his two slabs and if not for those slabs I would have done him. He ho. I actually had 1 lb 2 oz .  Morgans lost slab had cost him as he was left with a few embryos to make up his 4 oz.

Brian , Simon and Mark had made the most of their bay watch pegs.

We headed back to the vans for a pay out session. I was ably assisted by Team Russ as they pulled me up the steepest hill to the top of Ladies Bridge.

As it was all down hill from there they wished me well an went on ahead.  When I got to the car park the final member of the team - Mark - passed on a mini muffin from his wife to ensure I kept my sugar levels up.

When I say mini, I mean mini. Sometimes the kindest thoughts are the small ones.  Shouldn't effect my appetite for tea either.  It was good to see the rigs had worked for Martin as he picked up section by default and super pools as Simon had not gone in SP.

Well done also Steve Dean section by default making the most of his bay peg.

As most of the Kintbury guys had struggled Pewsey had easily won the match, but this never dampened the post match Spirits as these terrific guys stayed behind to clap the winners and enjoy the crack.  Thoughts ahead to February and the return against Kintbury in the River Kennet.

So , to the usual suspects for the top three Money, Brian winning , Simon second and Mark Russ third.  As in the last three years it looks like October will cost me a top championship place.  Not going to give up but with missing last weeks Lake match and finishing with 7 points out of 15 today its a severe dent.

Next week back on the WX Winter League trail at Radcot.  See you there...

Wx Winter round 3 Lechlade - Thames tightens the league

Well that week whizzed by didn't it? I suppose it helps fishing mid week as well, but I gotta say I was looking forward to getting on another river.  Slightly apprehensive that my returning memory and slightly improved health would take a back step.  But you get nothing in life unless you challenge yourself.  I was quite enjoying the ipod blasting out a different selection in particular a bit of Meatloaf and "Its all coming back to me know"

Meatloaf is not everyone's cup of tea but from Bat out of hell in the mid seventies through to Bat out of hell 3 the monster is loose in 2006 Meat's collaboration with Jim Steiman has been one of the back ground soundtracks to my life.

Thought I better kill the vibes as I pulled into the meeting place as Meat had skipped to " I would do anything for love" was to risky.  Risky because as great as my fellow anglers are; mention I'll do anything for love and there eyes sparkle in a leery sort of way that makes you feel like you are the only virgin in the Blue Oyster bar............if you know what I mean. See below

Thankfully there was no "Paradise by the dashboard light" as we decided to get a wriggle on as parking at the draw venue is at a premium.  Once there the first task was a toss up between getting breaky down my neck or sorting out and distributing the teams bait order.    Think I need to say at this point thanks from all the team to Reids Tackle Salisbury, week after week its consistently quality bait.

I have no problem with this part of the day.  Pools are sorted, draw is underway and we wait with baited breath, and a little prayer to the gods for a flier.  I just wish the after match admin was quicker.  Shouldn't really complain as its good of Pete Gilbert to keep this league going for 47 Years, but the checking and rechecking and checking again drags on a bit.  Its just an opinion and I am happy to be shot down and told to get back in my box; but consider finish fishing at 4, weigh in 5 o'clock back to draw venue and results sometime around 630. Then an hours drive home unpack by 8 its a long old day. Still suck it up Princess.........

The peg everyone wants (above ) Lechlade bridge.  Today in my section, section C7.  Unfortunately, my peg was well up stream at peg 3.  Look at pic below my peg is a dot on the horizon.

Leo drew peg 3 for all of us, and we bomb blasted to our various locations with Brian Shutler just below Lechlade Bridge and Spanners above me in B section. My peg was pretty good looking and I was reasonably pleased although I couldn't see any fish moving.

If anything there were too many options with a long cast to a side stream opposite or perhaps the feeder / waggler to the blue boat pictured right.  I set up a 4 mtr, whip, stick float, waggler, and 14.5 mts pole line which was around 6 to 7 feet .  Shallow on the inside and far side and very shallow in the side stream.  The match started with a blinding ripping bite which was the first of 3 trout on the day.  The fish seemed to want a little ground bait  so I put in 5 balls 20 minutes after the initial one at the start.

This led to a run of gudgeon and the second trout.  Big baits like worm and and flake resulted in tippy tappy tugs.  So I settled into trying to find the right combo for the hook bait which after a while was clearly either two caster of two bronze. Red maggot or pinkie just bought Gudgeon or bleak.

Lee Pollard was downstream of me home venue for him. In fact he works in the tackle shop by the bridge, so just a long cast away.  So not so much of a home peg, more like his front door mat!!

He was lobbing a feeder against the boats opposite and was bagging on the tip with the landing net slipping in and out regularly.  Clearly he was setting the pace, with some chunky fish.

The match went remarkably quickly as I tried to overcome the small bleak and gudgeon and get a bonus fish.  The obligatory Pike was in the shadows of the swim with bleak leaping skyward to avoid his hungry jaws.. I did hook a bonus fish twice in two drop ins, but on both occasions the maggot rolled on the point of the hook and was spat out.  Would it cost me.....?

It became a battle of wits between me and Esox Lucius. It was put bait in, hook fish then zig zag the withdrawal of the fish as the Pike snapped away at the tail of the fish. Lee is in again and Mick Rosier above me are both in to big fish.  Damn it. Lee landed his and Micks thank fully was trout.  I couldn't see clearly Radcot Man Chris Bowen on Peg one by the footbridge; but he appeared to be bagging on the whip.

I just couldn't buy that bonus fish.  The stream opposite had nothing and appeared to be around 18 inches deep, the waggler line was a nightmare trying to get the bait down past the bleak.  So i changed tack put on a heavier rig and nailed the double bronze down with an olivette.

This seemed to work and I had a run of 4 oz Roach, about thirty seconds to go and I hooked a 6 oz Roach which - as the whistle went and I called fish on. Mr Pike took advantage of me and grabbing.  Played it for 2 minutes before losing Roach and the hook length.

To be honest it looked bleak, Lee had me I was sure, and god knows what super weights had come from the Bridge end of the section by the pub - normally 10 lb swims.  I had no idea what I had but guessed at 4 lb of little stuff.

My heart sank when I saw Radcots Chris Bowen lift out his net. About 6 lb of small stuff gudgeon , all whip fish, and a bloody dog of a Perch taking him to 8 lb 10 oz.  Swindon Mick Rosier next and again a bloody great bag of little uns.  I was in a spiral panic, and starting to think of excuses for my fellow team members convinced I was going to be on 1 or 2 points.

My net next and it was a massive shock and relief to see what I had amassed.  I was genuinely shocked to see below, I knew I had caught fairly regularly but was convinced the fish were smaller than they were.

On to Lee next and amazingly his fish were hollow.  Surprise surprise his bigger fish didnt have many others with them, so I had him by 2 oz, I wasn't expecting that.  I suppose it would all go badly wrong now as we were getting closer to the fliers opposite the pub.

Thank you god, the weights were not as big as I thought they would be and miracle on miracle I had another second in section the third this week!! and 6 team points.

Brian Shutler came through from the other side of the bridge to announce he had second in section too with 7 lb 11 oz. That's two seconds and with Chris Rushton adding a third the team had only dropped 3 points in 3 sections.

However as Spanners came through to give me a hand with my kit back to the van, horror stories of Bream bags over 17 lb and 12 lb here and 10 lb there meant Spanners had a third and I was unsure of Leo and Mark Russ.  After a quick round up in the car park it looked as if Leo and Mark had both struggled.  So it was down to how well Radcot and Swindon Teams had done.

I was bushed and asked to be excused the post match gathering and headed for home with Leo promising to call, with the final scores on the doors.

True to his word the Captain rang through and the results after three matches are as follows:

Radcot a magnificent 37 points on the day Total 99 points
Pewsey Blue              28 points on the day Total 98 points
Lechlade Dreamboys 28 points on the day Total 83 points
Swindon ISIS A         24 points on the day Total 82 points
Pewsey Red               22 points on the day Total 55 points
Lechlade all stars       18 points on the day Total 47 points
Swindon ISIS B         8 points on the day   Total 21 points

Next round in two weeks on Radcots home water.  Tight at the top.

Army match 1 Bishops Cannings - Dead stretch again and change of mind

Well should I stay or should I go still not 100% and with no Brian Shutler to nurse maid me I set out with trepidation.  Least it was closish to home , if I didn't feel well I could go home.  Besides couldn't let my mentor John Yoda Dewberry down (I'm in his team) and or my guest for the day Ian Spanners Spanswick. Spanners and I had to fly the Pewsey flag proudly after all.

Couldn't remember the way there, but someone suggested I use a TOM TOM, I couldn't remember what a TT was but my wife dug it out and we went through the instructions in the hope it would trigger some memories . It did that was last night, by the morning I couldn't remember how to connect it in the van. So decided to chance it and get underway. Got lost by turning off at Netheravon, but by the time I got back to main road 3 cars went by with fishing kit in so guessed they were going to same place and followed them  Result!!  One of them was Dave George;  John D's guest for the day and we had arrived at the Crown pub draw venue.

I hoped breaky would get rid of the slow walking through treacle feeling, so I was all over the fry up like a Tramp on chips.  The food helped and I was pleased to be able to put names to more faces than I thought.  It was good to see Lee Knight, Chris Glover and many others.

So to the draw and as I had drawn like Picasso for the team last year, I was nominated again.  By the time we drew the end pegs and fliers had gone, so I drew us mid section positions not good on a canal.

For me it truly was midsectionblues drawing dead centre of the 15 man section and centre of what is commonly known as the dead stretch over the swing bridge and turn left.  I needed to be near the swing bridge or the far end peg 15 to have a chance.

So I walked past Rocky and Mick Craddock near the bridge and trudged disconsolately to the peg you see below.  Eddy Edwards from the A team was on my right with the famous rushes and dead tree to fish too, so it was only getting worse; and just to finally crush any hope Craig Bate and other quality anglers, Neil Gaff etc were in my section.

That's the thing with Army matches, you have to work at it to just to get 4th or 5th in section sometimes.

So in exchange for a few caster Eddy(as he had waders) helped me level my platform and we set about the day.  I still can't remember what my normal set up system is so I was a little disorganised but I got there.

My plan was to fish punch and pinkie, but the colour wasn't right. In addition Eddy had hinted that during practise sessions for this match caster had done well for him.  Top that with my peg not being a good one I thought about choppy worm for bonus fish as any fish would be good on this hard stretch.

It appeared I had lost my choppy scissors, I had them this morning I am sure because they were in my worm kit when I gave John some worm. But they were gone now which made chopping up worm hard with a tiny pair of rig scissors. (found them in my goretex jacket pocket when i got home)

The match started and I envied the volume of features anglers had either side of me, plus they had sunlit canal I was literally in the shade and cold.

Guy on my left started the match by lobbing in three big balls of ground bait, and by the time I had finished trickling stuff in he was into his first skimmer.  Followed by what looked like a good hybrid Roach  of at least a pound! Bloody hell I thought I being smashed and we are only ten minutes in.  It was twenty minutes before I got a bite and I was well behind as Eddy and Craig were already slipping the landing nets out.

Oh my god I am being beaten up here, should I ball in ground bait like the guy to my right? or should I stick with the plan - which was bread punch and pinkie. So a change of mind and tactics.   I ditched the bread line and went over the choppy.  3 quick Perch around 2 oz a piece, and then nothing.  Least I was off the mark.

I decided to set up an entirely different line and fish caster like Eddy had practised , so one small ball of ground bait on the 3/4 line just up the slope dozen caster and caster on hook.  They didn't seem to want the darker caster, but did want the lighter ones.  So I decided to dig out the 50 or so bronze maggots left over from the river on Sunday.

I didn't look back it was one a chuck for an hour before it died again.  Despite the good starts either side of me, I felt I had drawn level at least.  A couple of boats through forced me across to the 2 foot line. Which resulted in a run of small Roach and Gudgeon.  Then that line became unfishable as the freshening wind had deposited a leafy soup on the surface.

It was a case of pulling back a bit for the 3/4 line and trying to scratch "em" out and when the wind made a gap in the far side leaves quickly dropping in over the baited 2 foot line and sneaking half a dozen fish before the leaves closed in again.  It took a great deal of deliberate concentration to get through the day and once again like Sunday mid match I became very sleepy. But a tablet leg stretch and quick pee kept me on my game.

I wasn't sad to see the end I had worked at it but it was a scratching grind, just hope I hadn't let the team down.  The net looked slightly better than I had thought and I don't think I could have got much more out of such a bleak swim - so did as well as could be expected.  No excuses, only lost one fish on a snapped 0.6 hook length.

A Section results sheet first; and my mate Ian (also mid section peg) had hoisted the Pewsey flag high by winning the section good on him.  With Nomads A Ivan second

B section next from the Bridge Pub up to the swing bridge.  Good weights in this section clearly the section to catch fish. Quick mention for another mate Lee Knight back on the bank after a break this Sensas Nomads lad has not forgotten how to fish.  But today with B section producing good weights there is no justice for my Mate John D 3 kilo 630 and 4TH in match but no pick up!!

B17 and 18 by the swing bridge once again producing as expected.  Well done and thank you to Ben Bentley as well for cutting out the swims and pegging to use the modern vernacular - Legend.

Finally my section, section C.

Thankfully I had scratched enough for good points for the team and picked up for second in section behind Mick Craddock. Have a nice warm feeling as well at pipping so many quality anglers.

A good day. I managed to get through another match, more memories came back on how to fish.  Spanners and I flew the Pewsey flag proudly and my Team Nomads B WON THE DAY.

Back on the Thames this Sunday with next round of the Wx Winter League at Lechlade.  Can't recall but the landlady at the draw pub has some assets, I'm told.  I am sure it will all come flooding back on Sunday, if not oh well it will nice seeing them with fresh eyes.

Stretchy elastic and tight lines to you all.

Pewsey - Wx Winter League round 2 Clanfield and coming back to life.........

Well its been a funny hiatus from fishing following my last outing a few weeks ago I felt a little unwell on the drive home and it was probably reflected in the abrupt blog for that day.  Traffic was horrendous on the way home; and following on from a long and drawn out results from the match made the day way to long.

Coupled with a distinct lack of food throughout the day I do my diabetes and me no favours at all, sugar levels were all over the place.  I went to my "cot" early that Sunday telling the wife I didn't feel right at all.

Following morning, the same as I gloomily went into the Monday morning Blues.  A couple of people noted I was grumpier than normal and from memory within an hour I didn't feel right at all.

Our first aider (Sara) was called and with indications the sugar had dropped to low I was force fed table spoons of honey , jelly babies fizzy drinks etc. From what I was told this did not work and when my face began to sag lower than an old ladies boobs, my words were slurred etc, a hasty call for an ambulance with colleagues fearing a stroke.

So after test for early onset dementia (still not conclusive) and M R I and CT scan I was released with some after effects not least a distinct loss of memory.

All the Doctors would say was that I had, had a neurological event. Sounds grand doesn't it. Trust me though I don't mind not remembering my wife's name; but I began to panic when I couldn't remember how to tie a spade end hook.  Or what the small numbers on the side of the float etc would or did mean. 

I could remember how to drive, but not work the kettle or toaster. Some friends who I have known for years or even so more recent friends looked familiar but their names eluded me.  Frustration was allayed somewhat by a call to the Docs who explained that there was a good chance the my twitching sagging face was the brains neurons trying to reconnect, and if I kept doing familiar things memories would return. 

It was clear though I wouldn't be going fishing for a while although I was determined to keep my place in this weekends team and set that as an unlikely target.

Kind visits from Leo and Spanners to my house helped to bolster memories fishing wise and my friend Dave Moody patiently sat with me and helped me remember how to tie a hook. Also taking me through photos of fellow anglers reminding me who was who.

A quick thank you for some of the comments of support from Cliff Dutton and others; and a particular thanks to my fellow blogger  http://silverfoxangling.blogspot.com/  to get encouragement from a man with a resume like his, has made my day.

This Monkey see, Monkey do approach was helping hugely. Still as today came upon me doubts were there. I feel a little slow, bit weak on my left side and have had to read my massive volume of fishing books to remind me how to fish, stick, waggler and flat floats on the pole.  Just hope it comes off.

As you know fishermen can be either a bunch of "self licking lollipops" with massive egos or some of the nicest people you can meet.  And thankfully these (Wx Winter League) guys and my team mates are the latter.  Proof of this is was my friend and close rival Brian Shutler. As I couldn't remember how to get to the venue, he made a quick to offer to ease the pressure for me on  the day by going out of his way to pick me up and get me there again.

So I sit with my Ipod in my ears with Pink Floyd (Division Bell)  in my ears I joined in with the track "coming back to life" rather apt really as I nervously edge my way back into the scene. When Brian arrives.

To the breakfast and the draw then, pats on the back and a couple of comments about sagging face looking as miserable as its always done.  A big thank you to Bob Garrett and all the guys who were as kind as could be, Mick Rosier on the next peg explaining if I need anything at all please shout.. Oddly it appears I owe everyone at least £20 or as much as a hundred!!!!! but even with my memory knows that's not true.

We reviewed our draw and with comments such as "if you do die Gazzer or have to give up fishing, Can I have your Tourny Pro X?" ringing in my ears I headed with Brian to perm peg 32 or B section 6.

Brian gives me a hand to get my kit over the barb wire and to the river edge.  Bit of a drop to the river where it was 6 feet at the edge sloping away to between 9 and 10 feet. The swim looked good with plenty of options; but still being slightly confused I couldn't decide what to do. In the end I fell back on what seemed natural and set up a stick on the normark and waggler on the drennan 14 foot acolyte. A 4 mtr whip for the tree on the right and 16 mtrs of pole to cup in the ground bait on the edge of the shadow two thirds across ( the only place with flow from right to left).

I couldn't remember what time the off is or how long the matches normally are; so I ring Chris for a bit of info.  He advised me of the detail and told me to try worm under the tree to my right.  Which was odd as I had already chopped the worm with that in mind.

So we started and I cupped in ground bait caster and choppy on the "seam" of the flow. One cup full under the tree and flicked the whip out. Perch first drop and then a cray fish.

Followed by 5 more Perch , none of which were of any size.  Two more Crays then nothing for 10 minutes, so flicked the stick over the seam but to be honest  there wasn't enough flow to pull it through. Still 4 nice little Chublets one after another was welcome.  So I thought I would try a big piece of worm and wham straight away and a Chubb of a pound things are going well.  Leo and Spanners had instructed us to catch 3 pound a piece for good team points; and I had about 1 lb and 3 quarters after an hour.

The big bait trick had only worked once and it was 30 minutes before I got another bite.  Several cold rural nights in a row had turned the willows either side of me a beautiful amber gold and a freshening breeze was dumping a fair size blanket of those golden nuggets on to the river. The river seemed to have stopped flowing so my new front door mat was a leafy one, making the presentation difficult.

Half way through and no more bites, I was finding concentration difficult and my body suddenly felt tired.  Coupled with the changing angle of the sun, I basked in autumn glow and started to drop to sleep.  A wobbly moment on my box shook me up a little and I decided to get of my peg have a pee, bottle of drink and a piece of chicken and ham pie.

Refreshed and awake, I reviewed my match so far.  After an initial good start I was a little worried I wouldn't make the target weight.  The whip line was empty, the stick line was now producing gudgeon after gudgeon. And after 30 or so I was concerned I wouldn't make 3 lb.  Another drink, and pee and a bit of chocolate. The changing angle of the sun meant I had to unclip the waggler and put on a black top waggler to see the bites in the silvery watery back ground.

But the change to the slightly faster water and long with the waggler proved fruitful, I remembered if you lose bites and one depth just change the depth and search for them.  So it was a lot of work swapping and adjusting but I was now eking out some chublets that were bigger than the gudgeon. With 10 minutes to go I caught a 7 oz Chublet which would help, and I felt I had done enough to get good section points when the whistle and all out came.

Brian Ballard a local "Ronaldo" popped over to see me and I could see from his face he had had a good day and was confident of the expected section if not match win.  So lets hope my 4 lb 14 oz (below) was enough for section by default.

Brian was back and we loaded the van with my kit.  We drove to peg 1 to see where I was in the section and the weigh in was just finishing, Brian indeed had smashed us all with 12 lb 10 of Gudgeon!!!! But I did have section second and a good 6 team points.  Added to Brian's win for C Section and seven points it was looking good.

Thanks to Steve Dean and Bob Garret for weighing in.  Leo came down from A section upstream to say whilst he had 4 lb a pound over the target weight he was mid section for points with the winner in his section having a 10 lb 2 oz Barbel to go with his 9 lb of Roach from this shallower popular section. I apologised to Leo and asked if I could be excused the after match team gathering and go home as I was bushed.

He agreed and left to check on the others, Brian and I made our move to go home but Brian's van had picked up a whining sound so we pulled into the results venue anyhow.  The others caught up and although it was to be confirmed the Captains Card looked good with 3 section wins 2 section second places and a mid section from Leo.

Not bad at all, with Spanners doing best with 11 lb + including Chubb.  Chris with a good weight including 3 clonking Chubb in the last part of the match.  Leo promised to ring later to confirm for me and the blog.  Brian too having a 3 lb Chubb in his 5 lb section win.

..........................

Sure enough Leo was good to his word.  We did indeed have the card above and the other following good news was :

1. Ian Spanners Spanswick had framed and got 3 rd place
2. I had indeed section by default with Brian Ballard taking 3rd in the match

The winner was Barbel man sorry didn't get his name or the pics of the other score sheets.  He had 19 lb + a good weight, on this cold day. Especially when you realise he caught the Barbel on a size 20 hook 2 lb hook length and single maggot.  Apparently the fish was hooked and took of stretching his pole elastic to the max and just before and right on snapping point it turned and swam back to his waiting landing net!!

We had a 4 point lead after round 1, and adding 36 points today the standings are now as follows after two rounds.

1. Pewsey Blue                70 points
2. Radcot                         62 points
3. Swindon ISIS A          58 points
4. Lechlade All stars       55 points
5. Pewsey Red                33 points
6. Lechlade Dreamboys  29 points
7. Swindon ISIS B          13 points

Next week on the Thames again for round 3 at Lechlade, there is a quite determination amongst our team.  We are not shouting about but we are determined not to let up and keep the pressure on these regular river anglers.  Lets hope I have made incremental progress on the health front, whilst not wishing to excuse my performance today.  If I was properly on my game I am sure I could have got more out of that swim.

See you there...........................

Late News thanks to Mark Russ for texting me the results