Twenty three anglers travelled far and wide to fish this year’s Angling Trust National Championships for Anglers with Disabilities at the picturesque Preston Innovations Boldings Pools Fishery near Bridgnorth on Sunday 8th June.
The lake fished a lot harder than for the Ladies National Championship on the previous day. And so, as often happens under such conditions, it was an unfancied peg that threw up the winner. Peg 11 on the middle of the spit is where John Holmes, fishing for Woodhouse Angling Centre, drew and he concentrated on a marginal swim up against some reeds. Feeding and fishing with maggots, 4m down his peg he caught steadily throughout the match, placing barbel and carp up to 8lb into his nets. At the end of the match his 27.775 kg was well ahead of the second placed angler to give him the National Championship crown for 2014.
Mark Russell, fishing under the Drennan Leicester Tubertini banner, drew on peg 20, fed caster initially at 13m and then later in the margins. Fishing red maggot on the hook also accounted for barbel and carp to 8lb and a total weight of 16.600 kg. Steve Nethercott from Farmborough, Somerset was fishing his first match for over a year and was very pleased to finish in third place with 15.375 kg. Drawn on peg 2, the first peg on the spit, Steve fished sweetcorn down the edge and caught carp up to 7lb, most of them coming late in the match.
It was a generally tough match for most, but a lovely lake and venue for this particular match. The Angling Trust would like to thank Ed, Sue and Mark Turner and their staff for making it an enjoyable day for all.
The Angling Trust would also like to thank Theresa Lewis who donated the new National Championship shield for this event for the winner.
Top 6 individuals
1st John Holmes – 27.775 kg
2nd Mark Russell – 16.600 kg
3rd Steve Nethercott – 15.375 kg
4th Philip Morris – 11.125 kg
5th Dennis East – 8.950 kg
6th Charles Smith 8.925 kg
Next year sees this match move to the Lake View Fishery at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire on Sunday 7th June.
