Coventry’s Wayne Sharman enjoyed one of the biggest wins of his match fishing career when he walked away with the Midland Angler of the Year title.

But it was the tightest of finishes, with the Lane’s Tackle employee getting the verdict by just an ounce over Garbolino’s Darren Cox – the third time he’s been runner up!

This was the sixth running of the event which I set up myself when editor of Midland Angler magazine, and each and every year has seen it take place at the superb Barston Lakes complex run by Nigel Harrhy.

The match is split into two three-hour events on the Big Lake, which has been in great form lately with up to 60lb of skimmers needed to win club events.
Darren put himself in the pound seats by winning his section in the morning, and then finishes second in section in the afternoon. Wayne did it the other way around and it all went to a weight countback, Wayne getting the nod by the thinnest of margins with 43lb 10oz to Darren’s 43lb 9oz.

Matt Hall finished third overall with four points and Andy Neal, who finished second in this year’s Fish O Mania final to Mick Bull, also had four points to finish fourth.