Steve and Simon raise the Angling Trust & Canal & River Trust Canal Pairs Championship 2016 trophy

Seventy countrywide partnerships lined the towpath of the Staffs & Worcs Canal from Penkridge to Acton Trussell in Staffordshire for Saturday’s grand final of the Angling Trust & Canal & River Trust Canal Pairs Championship 2016.

Conditions were autumnal but calm and mild and with very little boat traffic the canal was gin clear. Individual winner, Canvey-based Peter Durrant drew peg 28 in A Section at the bottom end of the mobile homes in Penkridge where he caught roach all day with the odd skimmer and topped it off when he latched into one of the resident carp and banked the pristine 16lb caster-tempted common which propelled him into the lead with an unassailable 11k 170g.

Local anglers knew there were carp living in this area but they are very rarely caught. Well done Pete! His partner and big brother Rob Durrant got his head down on peg 48 in B Section at Acton Trussell to scale 2k 690g and win his sub section which was enough to see them pairs second with 127 points.

Calf Heath rod Steve Dudley and oppo Cannock-based Simon Nickless, both Sensas Black Country, topped the pairs podium with a commendable 140 points out of a possible 146. Simon was on peg 60 in B Section in the bay at Acton Trussell where he pole-fished chopped worm and caster for 4k 460g of roach, perch and skimmers. Steve had all skimmers on poled red maggot at peg 48 in A Section at Penkridge to return 8k 500g for match second, ahead of Michael Marsden’s 7k 520g.

Congratulations also to Les Waldron and partner Michael Gorry who were pairs third with 115 and well done to Conor Browne and Paul Holding for coming fourth with 114. “It was great to see anglers from all across the country represented in the prizes, exemplifying what a fair and exciting competition this is. Well done to everyone who took part and a huge thank you to Wolverhampton AA for the use of their waters and organising such a successful event also Calf Heath Club for their hospitality,” commented John Ellis, Canal & River Trust National Fisheries & Angling Manager.

The trophies and prizes were presented by David Kent from the Angling Trust and Canal & River Trust Chief Executive Richard Parry.