Gale force winds, hail and rain made Sunday’s qualifier at Gold Valley one that many will gladly put behind them.

However, the conditions did not prevent Darren Millis (Angling for Heroes) putting in a strong performance and placing 105lb of carp on the scales, over 45lb clear of second place Grant Albutt (Daiwa Dorking) with 59lb 8oz.

Having drawn peg 99 on Middle Lake, Darren made the most of the unused peg on his left and caught close on the pole early before switching to the bomb. Meat or corn on a size 12 kept fish coming and a switch back to the pole at the end of the match saw a few late fish added to the net.

Having fished many qualifiers over the years, Grant Albutt was gutted to have come second yet again. Fishing peg 116 on Syndicate Lake, Grant landed carp up to 14lb by using the method and waggler with pellet on the hook.

Third place went to North Devon Match Group angler Thomas Downing, who caught 53lb 8oz of carp from peg 50 on Gold Lake fishing pellet on the method feeder.

With a full list of 61 reserves it was disappointing to see eight empty pegs in this qualifier. Although five anglers had informed the organiser that they could not make it, a further seven anglers did not give any notification. With only four reserves present there were several good pegs left undrawn at this popular event.

Results:
1st. Darren Millis 105lb 0oz
2nd. Grant Albutt 59lb 8oz
3rd. Thomas Downing 53lb 8oz
4th. Gavin Todd 53lb 8oz
5th. Darren Connock 35lb 11oz
6th. Ben Bentley 33lb 15oz
7th. Paul Bell 32lb 0oz
8th. Simon Clark 31lb 4oz
9th. Geraint Powell 29lb 8oz
10th. Geoff Ringer 29lb 4oz