The draw was at the new Frys Club on the old Chocolate Factory site at Keynsham which is now all housing due to Kraft (plastic cheese makers) buying then closing the Factory and moving the operation to Eastern Europe leaving a lot of local people unemployed.
I believe there were 86 booked in and it was nice to see some of the more well known local senior anglers attending this match rather than fish the Commercials.
From our Team there was only Sam, Jack and myself fishing this match.
Old friend and Secretary of the Bristol and West of England Anglers Federation as well as the local British Legion Angling Club read the citation at 08:00 with the formal silence.
The draw then got under way with registered disabled anglers drawing the allocated disabled pegs first then it was the rest of us. Sam was near the front and Jack and I were not far from the end.
The river was supposed to be spot on after the rain in the week but it was colder.
Newbridge would be the favoured area to draw due to the pace and colour of the water so a big weight was expected.
I drew 76 which was permanent peg 88 up the Crane so was not looking forward to the walk. Jack drew 81 which was in the bay above the High Wall. We had know idea where Sam drew as he was off like a shot.
It was only as short drive to the parking area near Keynsham Angling Centre and I was soon unloading the van along with a number of unhappy faces.
I decided to lighten up as it was a fair walk over two fences so the trolley would have to be broken down. Fair play though at each fence everyone helped each other pass the gear over the fences.
Matt Challenger was a few pegs above me and I think he should enter the Worlds Strongest Man Competition next year as I have never lifted a rod bag and holdall that has been so heavy.
Finally got to my peg and it didn't look that good, it was way down a steep bank with a couple of foot holds dug out and was extremely slippery. Rich Lacey who was also above me took a look and advised me to sit up on the bank a bit.
I did get down it the water and it was just above my wellies (yes got a wet foot again).
I set the rigger platform up and although it too a long time it was more comfortable.
Given the time, fishing was 10:00 - 15:00, I only had time to set up a Feeder Rod. To be honest due to the tree above me and being in a bit of a bird cage that was the only option.
I had plenty of worm and caster plus some maggot and a couple of tubs of lobbys. There was a tinge of colour in the water, not too much and it was quite pacey across by the boats.
I decided on a line just on the edge of the main flow and a 30 gram feeder held there nicely. the business end had a size 14 drennan feeder hook to 0.15.
After a couple of chuck with a lobby head on the hook the tip rattled and a 5 oz perch was swung to hand.so blank avoided.
I missed a bite next cast. Out again and another bite, hit it right this time and it felt a little better and netted a 10oz skimmer. Exactly the same next cast and another small skimmer.
After about 90 minutes Rich came down for a walk, I don't think he had caught at this point but he said Matt had chucked the feeder out and continued to set up his pole when he looked up the tip had gone around and he had a bream!!!
After another hour or so Rob Jones who was below me came up for a walk. He said he hadn't had a bite! He walked on up and when he returned he informed me Rich had a bream but Matt had now caught a carp around 6lbs...ffs....
I plugged away but was not getting any bites from when I had the last small skimmer.
About 14:00 I heard a smash in the nearside left margin and there was an otter sitting over the branches of a tree lying in the water. I went for the camera but it went back in the water, swam over the top of my keep net and disappeared.
That was my match over, 4 bites in the first hour then nothing.
Matt came down with the scales, he had weighed 11lb 8oz, he also had only a couple of bites but a couple of them resulted in quality fish as well as that rare carp.
Matt with his carp which went 7lb plus
Rich had went early and not weighed. my three fish went 1lb 6oz, the angler above me weighed 11oz and Rob below me DNW. My 5 peg section was won with 2 lb plus so was worth sticking to the end just in case.
Back at the Club it soon became obvious that Newbridge had fished well with all the big weights coming from there.
1st Kev Boltz 59lb 1oz
2nd Craig Pinkett 37lb 10oz
Craig with one of his bream
3rd Andy Curry 32lb 5oz
4th Tim Ford 23lb
5th Andrew Cranston 21lb 7oz
Young Andrew with his catch, he can't go wrong at the moment
6th Martin Barrett 20lb 14oz
7th Dean (the bream) Harvey 19lb 12oz (3 bream)
8th Neil Taylor 18lb 8oz
My good friend and travelling partner for Ireland Steve Vernon was not far off the money with 3 bream for 17lb plus, well done mate (draw bag).
In the raffle I won a Sensas Polo Shirt, is this a sign?????
Sam and Jack also done rubbish but it was all about the draw today.
£1700 plus raised for the British Legion.
I went down on the River Tone in Taunton on the Tuesday following and had a nice day fishing the stick float for a 10lb plus mixed bag plus 2 pike one of which took double red maggot in 2 foot of water.
Thats it for me Match wise until the 17th December (Clevedon Club Xmas Match) as I have a few weekends away and a holiday coming up.
