It must have been written in the stars for Daiwa Gordon League at this year’s Angling Trust Division One National as they were crowned champions on Lancashire’s Leeds-Liverpool Canal – because they won it the last time it was held on the venue!
That was over 20 years ago, and whether you believe in fate or not, as far as winning the match goes, it was all about the fishing on what was always going to be a testing venue.
Scoring 123 points across their 10 anglers, the new champs ended just four points clear of silver medallists Drennan NW, Preston Innovations Delcac taking bronze with 130 points.
Individually, Lobby’s Tackle man Shaun Bryan got the nod in a peg-to-peg battle with Drennan Leicester’s Paul Sanderson in D section, weighing 15-950 against 12-250. Third was claimed by Drennan Barnsley skipper Lee Kerry, also in D section with 9-800.
For Gordon League, it was about finding the method for the canal, and that was fishing for bonus fish early and late topped up with small fish on a groundbait approach. Consistency was also key on what was a fairly average set of pegs, with no section winners, but no disasters either in the scorecard.
“We’d put in a lot of time and have tried as a team to be more professional,” said victorious skipper Mark Treasure. “We’ve brought in new anglers such as Ed Warren, Dan Ashington and Scott Geens to add experience to the squad, and it’s paid off.”
“We even stayed at the same hotel we were in when we won it before, and kind of joked we’d win it again,” he continued. “We certainly had an affinity with the canal. Even though it’s miles away, it suited us. Now we’ve got the World Club Champs to look forward to and the Feeder National shortly. To do the double would be incredible and at the moment, we’re thinking ‘why not?’”
Shaun’s first match win for five years isn’t a bad one!
It’s been a long time since Shaun Bryan won a match. Five years to be precise, but if you’re going to get back in the saddle, why not do it by taking out the National? Why not indeed?
The former Gloucester rugby star weighed 15-950 of bream and skimmers at peg 37 in D section at Appley Bridge, a small turning bay that had produced a big winning weight in one of the practice matches.
He shared the bay with Paul Sanderson who also cashed in with 12-250 of bream and skimmers on peg 36 for second.
And even though the peg had form, when we’re talking bream, they don’t always feed and that was Shaun’s main concern. It was never in doubt though, a good middle of the match propelling him to the gold medal.
“The peg looked perfect, but you always have the doubt that the fish might not have a go,” Shaun revealed. “After starting short for some small fish, I moved out onto the long pole with the old Gloucester Canal bait of a piece of worm tipped with a maggot or pinkie. Immediately I had a big skimmer and from that point it was really good for a couple of hours.”
“When it faded I couldn’t help but feel my chance might have gone again as I was second on the Trent a few years ago!” He explained. “At that point Paul next door chucked a little feeder out and had a bream on it. I’d set a rod up so followed suit and caught too! That gave me a little boost and I ticked over from there.”
“I still can’t believe that after not winning a match for years, I’ve gone and won the National! Not a bad way to get back into it!”
