The first Angling Trust & Canal & River Trust Canal Pairs qualifier for this year took place on Saturday 1st July on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal with 20 pairs booked on.

The match was split into two distinct sections – A being the “steep drop” at Jacksons bridge, Lydiate and the Kings Arms, Haskayne.

Daz Shaw from Bury drew the unfancied end peg of section A and like everyone else found it hard going, not having had a bite for the first hour and a half. At this point he changed from roach/bream tactics to eels down the track. Within 15 minutes he had his first eel and soon followed it up with a hybrid and then another three eels.

By this time it was clear he was doing well in his section so it was all down to his fishing partner Boydan Krupnyckyj, who was pegged on the straight in the car park at the Kings Arms.

By the end of the day, Daz had six eels and the hybrid and Boydan had four eels, one of which was 2lb 8oz. As a result they both won their respective sections and came overall first and second in the match to give them a perfect 2 points and a comfortable pairs victory and automatic qualification to the final on 21st October.

The second pair to automatically qualify for the final was Jan Verbruggen and Shaun Paddon with a superb 6 points.

Top Pairs results;
1st D Shaw/B Krupnyckyj – 2 points
2nd J Verbruggen/S Paddon – 6 points
3rd D Martin/A Marsden – 10 points
4th C Birchall/S Wharton – 12 points
4th M Wilson/C Whalley – 12 points

The next Canal Pairs qualifier will take place on the Forth & Clyde Canal on Saturday, 15th July. Spaces are still available and if you would like to book on please ring 0115 822 4532.