Preston Innovations UK Champs Final Result

Jon Arthur has successfully held onto his title to be crowned the Preston Innovations UK Individual Champion for a second year! Not only that, Jon did it in convincing style by scoring a maximum four sections wins and 40 points. He wins the £4,000 winner¹s cheque plus the coveted clarat jug for his victory.

In doing so, Jon became only the fourth angler to win the event twice, after Alan Scotthorne, Tom Pickering and Jamie Masson. Jamie and Jon are also the only two anglers to ever win the title with a maximum points score.

Going into the final round he needed to come no lower than third in his

section to take the title and fancied his chances after drawing Peg 1 on a very difficult Front Deans. Using a mixture of pellet, meat and worm tactics, Jon managed to win both his section and the lake with 64lb 3oz.

That catch consisted of 14 carp to 7lb plus 15lb of silvers. The pressure was increased even further with the presence of the Sky TV camera crew filming the day for a future Tight Lines television programme.

The worthy match winner on the day was Garbolino-backed England international Darren Cox. He made no mistakes from Peg 48 on Back Deans using a mixture of worm, caster and corn for 94-8-0, winning him £1,000 in the process. That result also pushed him right up the leaderboard to take the overall runners-up prize with 35 points.

Second on the day, was Steve Cooke(Garbolino/Ringers) with 93-0-0. Steve drew Arles Peg 12 and fished a pellet feeder to the island, alternating between meat and pellet on the hook. A fitting third place went to the hard-working competition organiser Tom Pickering (Preston Innovations) on Back Deans Peg 34. Tom¹s 90-0-0 catch consisted of 15 carp caught at five metres and up the edge with worm over corn.

This is the seventh year that Preston Innovations has generously sponsored this prestigious event and the top 12 anglers in the league all picked up winner’s cheques. Andy Moors and Neil Machin both tied with Darren Cox on 35 points but Andy just got the nod over his traveling partner to clinch third overall and £2,000.

Check out Tight Lines on Sky Sports for exclusive footage of the event.

Jon’s full story will be exclusively revealed in Match Fishing magazine.

Round 4 Individuals

1st Darren Cox, Garbolino 94-8 (£1000)

2nd Steve Cooke, Garbolino/Ringer Baits 93-0 (£500)

3rd Tom Pickering, Preston Innovations 90-0 (£400)

Overall Results

1st Jon Arthur, Match Fishing/Shakespeare Superteam, 40 Points (£4,000)

2nd Darren Cox, Garbolino, 35 (£3,000)

3rd Andy Moors, Mosella Garbolino, 35 (£2,000)

4th Neil Machin, Garbolino/Dynamite Baits, 35 (£1,000)

5th Steve Rothery, Daylite Baits, 34 (£840)

6th Stu Ballard, Fosters of Birmingham, 33 (£740)

7th Steve Ringer, Shimano/VDE, 33 (£600)

8th Tom Pickering, Preston Innovations/sonubaits.com, 33 (£500)

9th Adam Rooney, Garbolino/Kamasan Starlets, 32 (£450)

10th Chris Hill, Mosella Garbolino, 31 (£400)

11th Rob Wootton, Middy/Dynamite Baits,  30 (£350)

12th Andy May, Ultima UK, 30 (£300)

Jon’s Road To Victory:

Round One

Venue: Heronbrook Fishery, Slindon, Staffordshire

Peg: 32, Bridge Pool

Position: Lake and section win

Weight: 80lb 8oz

Species: Barbel, chub, F1s, carp

Method: Chopped Worm and caster to far bank

Round Two

Venue: Willinghurst Fishery, Guildford, Surrey

Peg: 8, New Pool

Position: Lake, section and match win

Weight: 253lb 15oz

Species: 40 carp to 12lb

Method: Corn and hemp in margins

Round Three

Venue: Woodland Lakes, Thirsk, North Yorkshire

Peg: 15, Wagtail Lake

Position: Lake and section win

Weight:63lb 15oz

Species: 18 carp to 5lb

Method: Paste in open water

Round Four

Venue: Woodland View Fishery, Droitwich, Worcestershire

Peg: 1, Front Deans Pool

Position: Lake and section win

Weight: 64lb 3oz

Species: 49lb of carp and 15lb of silvers

Method: Meat and pellets in open water