Richard Chapman from Burton on Trent booked his place in the Fish ‘O’ Mania grand final with a 92lb 8oz winning catch at the Colemans Cottage qualifier.
Richard drew peg 5 on Copse Lake – the same peg that produced last year’s winner – and fished across to the island with maggot bait to take carp to 10lb.

The 92 competitors braved a cold easterly wind that, coupled with a frost the two previous nights, kept weights down on all the lakes.

Optician Patrick Cooper from Felsted, fishing for Shimano/Dynamite, fished maggot and caster short at peg 5 on Wood Lake to net carp to 8lb plus F1s for his runner-up net of 82lb.

Third place fell to London firefighter Thomas Sexton, fishing under the London fire service banner, who landed carp to 10lb on 6mm hard pellets at peg 22 on Wood Lake for 77lb.

Ben Emery landed a mixed net of 71lb from Copse peg 16 for fourth spot while Simon Colclough (Browning) caught 69lb from Pathfield peg 22 to finish fifth.

Angling Trust would like to thank Gerry and the staff at the fishery for all their help.

RESULT
1. Richard Chapman 92lb 8oz
2. Patrick Cooper 82lb
3. Thomas Sexton 77lb
4. Ben Emery 71lb
5. Simon Colclough 69lb