Dams & Lock Match Group took the title of the 2008 NFA Division Three Champions fishing on Saturday 16th August by using all of their relative local knowledge to secure victory on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal.

The match was fished under calm conditions, with only a slight wind and overcast in parts during the day, so the 380 anglers who took part started the day’s fishing in optimistic mood.

The team from Tamworth, Staffordshire was delighted with the conditions which helped the team finish the match with a huge cushion over the rest of the field ending with 300 points, 27 points ahead of their nearest rival Four Ashes AC. The team that fished the match included Robert Chambers, John Fowler, James South, Derek Jackson, George Neat, Steve Gibbins, Ant South, Kevin Adderly, Paul Rouse and team captain Terry Yearby who finished with a combined weight of 16.280kg. Team member Steve Gibbins was their highest placed individual angler in 18th place, fishing peg 24 in F section landing 3.100kg worth of fish.

Four Ashes AC finished in second place in the team classification with 273 points and a combined weight of 14.600kg. The team also hailed from the West Midlands region, had a decent level of knowledge on the venue and had a great individual placing with Stanley Ward finishing 8th with 3.860kg.

The third placed team was Ted Carter Preston who finished just behind Four Ashes with 270 points and a superior overall weight of 17.640kg. The team also had three anglers each scoring 36 points, and Colin Brunt was their highest placed individual angler finishing in 5th place with 4.660kg.

In the individual classification it was local angler, Tim Noake from Worcester who beat off over 379 anglers to claim victory on his local water. The Worcester National team member finished the match with 8.590kg and won his section by over two kilograms. The team themselves finished back in 15th place, however, there was more joy as they had another section win from Gary Smith in A section.

Tim who has been a member of Worcester National Team for four years commented, “I had a good start, just trying to catch what I could in the first hour and get some bonus fish while feeding the squat line looking to improve the catch rate.”

Second place in the individual classification and section win went to Phil Johnson from Sandback who fished for Sensas North West weighing in with 7.480kg from peg E38. The third placed angler on the day was also from the North West, as Steve Ashworth of Fox Match North West weighed in with 6.750kg.