The nationally renowned Boddington Reservoir was the host for the third qualifier for the AT & CRT Stillwater Championships. Overcast conditions and gentle winds met the 41 anglers that had made their way from around the country to the Northamptonshire bagging mecca.   

The top weight on the day and qualifying first from D section was Alec White on peg 86 with an impressive 90kg 980g (which incidentally breaks the 200lb barrier!). Fishing a busy match Alec switched between method feeder and straight lead at distance, also alternating between pellet and boilie on the hook to keep carp coming to 15lb.

Second overall and also qualifying for the final at Boddington was Richard Bedder. Richard put together a substantial 73kg 360g from peg 100 which also qualified him from E section. Richard also caught on the method feeder at range.

In third position was Terry Winstone who also found conditions in E section favourable. Terry amassed 69kg 920g in the five hours which was once more made up of carp to 13lb on the tip.   Thanks to CRT support staff in the shape of the Pilkingtons, Dick and Shelia.

Incidentally the 12th July also marked the Canal & River Trust’s fifth birthday and in celebration Shelia had baked a wonderful cake in the shape of fish. The cake was gratefully accepted by the anglers back at the presentation after the event. The next round is at Boddington once more on 26th July and  tickets are still available to Angling Trust members.

Picture: The 10 qualifiers

The 10 qualifiers from each of the sections were:    

Section First Weight (kgs) Second Weight (kgs) 
A Mark Jennings 59.850 (peg 14) Chris Hill 23.880 (peg 3)
B Lee Carver 24.860 (peg 62) Mathew Threlfall 24.260 (peg 65)
C Mark Morris 38.400 (peg 80) Richard Broadway 33.780 (peg 75)
D Alec White 90.980 (peg 86) Philip Copley 47.520 (peg 84)
E Richard Bedder 73.360 (peg 100) Terry Winstone 69.920 (peg 94)