The YORKSHIRE BAIT CO BIG BASH MATCH REPORT
Garbolino Lindholme Lakes
Wednesday 6th. May 2009.
Wednesday 6th. May 2009 saw 215 anglers assemble at the Garbolino Lindholme Lakes Complex, for this year’s Big Bash “main event”.
This year the event had a new main sponsor, and a massive thank you goes to Rob Hitchins and his Yorkshire Bait Company, who provided “goody bags” for every section winner, plus some spares to be sold off in aid of the charity at the end of the match, and yet more to be included in the customary after match raffle.
Rob also donated 3 x £150 golden pegs , and said if they wasnt won then half of the money would then be donated back in to the charity pot , (which they wasnt)
This year’s line up included 5 times World Champion, Alan Scotthorne and his wife, ladies World Champion, Sandra, plus ex-world champion Tommy Pickering, past Fish O’Mania winner Rob Hitchins Andy May, John Allerton and a host of other “big name” anglers, together with “venue experts”, regular open matchmen, club anglers and pleasure anglers.
This is one of the few chances where the average club or pleasure angler can compete with the real heavyweights of our sport, and thanks go to these stars for giving up their time to support this very worthy cause.
A return to the rolling draw for this year’s match ensured all anglers had drawn and were set up at their pegs well before Lindholme owner Neil Grantham’s call for all to assemble and be given the rules for the day.
Once completed, all anglers were back at their pegs, and ready for the “all-in” at 10.30 am.
The “all-in” was announced with the traditional double blast from Neil Grantham’s shotgun, and venue ace Steve Rothery was quickly into his stride, making the most of the fancied Bosnia peg 71.
Unable to fish the pole due to the wind, Steve opted to fish the method feeder with a 6mm banded pellet, and caught from the off.
Elsewhere on Bonsai anglers were getting into fish, and this was obviously the lake to draw.
Anglers on Oasis, Laurels, Willows, Strip, Loco and Beeches were finding the day harder, with the huge shoals of carp in these lakes proving reluctant to feed, and silverfish being the order of the day for many.
Bankside rumours were that Steve Rothery and Tommy Pickering were emptying Bonsai Lake, and one of them was likely to break “the ton”, and so it proved, with Steve taking the match honours with 108lbs 9oz to Tommy’s 68lbs 13oz from peg 18 on Bonsai.
Elsewhere on Bonsai, section winners were Jim Leach on peg 23, with 33-03, D Warnes on peg 47 with 44-13 and D Bausa off peg 49 with 35.15.
Oasis Lake section winners were, M Rodger on peg 2 with 56-09, John Allerton on peg 27 with 33-13, B Harrington off peg 39 with 22-14 and P Webber from peg 67 with 29-11.
Laurels Lake had section winners from peg 16, John Emmerson taking 16-07, peg 25, P Christie with 36-05 and peg 61, Pete Riley with 19-09.
The three sections on Willows were won by P Cross from peg 19 with 24-04, Brian Clay on peg 39 with 18-05 and John Kenning at peg 54 with 12-05.
Strip pond had two sections, and these were won by M Bailey from peg 4 with 40-00 and C Newton off peg 22 with 25-03.
The two sections on Beeches were won by R Kaye off peg 16 with 30-09 and L Halliwel off peg 30 with 53-04.
Loco Lake also had two sections, and these were won by Rob Hitchens off peg 15 with 44-10 and D Dumbrill off peg 40 with 16-06.
In total, 2,392lbs of fish were caught by the competitors that weighed in on the day, which shows what a fantastic venue this is.
After the match the customary raffle took place, and with Neil Grantham’s unique banter, it was sight to behold as the £4000.00 worth of raffle prizes went to the lucky winners.
Steve Rothery was presented with the new “Big Bash Cup” by Steve Akal, Managing Director of Stephensons Investigations Ltd. who have donated the trophy for the event, and it will be engraved with each winners name every year in the future.
The usual after-match banter was in full swing, and there was ribbing of 5 times world champion Alan Scotthorne, who failed to weigh in, and who was soundly beaten on the day by his wife Sandra who weighed in 17-01 for third in her section.
Steve Rothery was relieved to hang onto his win after seeing Art Hilmi on peg 70 struggling for bites, so Steve generously lent him a couple of method feeders, and then watched Art catch a fish a chuck and go from nowhere to 3rd. in section with 37-01. This summed up the spirit of the event.
In many ways, the match itself was secondary to the reason it is fished, and £5100.00 was raised on the day for the charity, Breast Cancer Care, with more money expected to come in over the next few days the total is expected to rise.
Special thanks must go to all the team who work with organiser Kev Allen, as this event would not be possible without their dedication and hard work.
Details of next year’s match will appear on the Big Bash website (www.bigbash-forum.com / www.thebigbash.co.uk) in the future,
and remember, the Pairs Match is scheduled to be held at Lindholme Lakes on Saturday 10th. October 2009.
with only 200 pegs available for this its sure to sell out .
Make sure you book on and get your deposit in early to avoid disappointment.
Contact Kev Allen on 07878 706752.
