Source: Angling Trust
After a few days’ heavy rain and fluctuating river levels, 60 anglers arrived at Hereford on the River Wye to fish the first day of the RiverFest 2014 final to find the river slightly over 7ft but falling.
With conditions set to improve as the match went on, anglers were optimistic about their chances and gathered for the all-important draw. Those drawing above the bridge on Saturday would draw below it on Sunday and vice versa. Following the draw the bookmaker immediately made Dave Harrell, Sean Ashby and 2013 Champion Andrew Murphy favourites.
With the river carrying a lot of colour many anglers opted to target barbel and utilise substantial feeders up to as much as 8oz just to hold the bottom. The barbel obliged with good numbers showing from most sections early on in the match.
Steve Sadler, on peg 53, found four good fish that gave him a lead he wouldn’t relinquish and a weight after day one of 30lb 11oz. Mick Vials on peg 38 amassed a net of 23lb 9oz to put him in second place and former World Champion Sean Ashby, on peg 39, also found the fish and put together a net weighing 21lb 9oz but his approach was very different. After landing a decent barbel Sean then set about catching 700 bleak with short whip tactics. Below the old railway bridge Shaun Rampling found himself on peg 93 and bagged 22lb 5oz of barbel to finish the day in fourth place.
On day two the anglers found that the river had dropped 1ft overnight and was carrying slightly less colour. All of the talk focussed around Steve Sadler’s 7lb 2oz lead and who, if anyone, could catch him.
As the river dropped many anglers opted for float tactics picking away at roach, dace, perch and odd chub. Barbel did not feature as strongly as the previous day but onlookers were treated to a masterclass in how to land big fish on light gear when Roger Wakenshaw on peg 86 hooked into a large fish and after playing it for 20 minutes landed a 20lb 11oz carp, much to the delight of the crowd who gathered around him. That fish would see Roger win his section with a weight of 30lb 8oz and take the prize for biggest fish of the final.
As the hooter signalled the end of the two days a big crowd gathered to watch Sean Ashby weigh in an excellent net of 23lb 13oz and the tension grew as stewards worked their way down to peg 61 and Steve Sadler who produced a weight of 18lb 8oz – enough to be crowned RiverFest Champion 2014.
Angling Trust Ambassador Dave Harrell commented:
“When I set about creating the RiverFest competition last year, I was pretty confident that river anglers from all over the country would want it. The time was right to create a high profile, big money event like this and I’m absolutely delighted and proud with the way it has developed.
The Competitions Team at the Angling Trust has done a fantastic job on the administration side of things and the organisers of the qualifiers have also been hugely instrumental in making RiverFest a success. Without these people the competition couldn’t have happened so, on behalf of the 1,200 anglers who entered the qualifiers, a big thank you goes to them.
I will continue to work with the Angling Trust when required in the future and between us I am certain we will make RiverFest even bigger in the years to come!”
Result
1st Steve Sadler 49lb 3oz
2nd Sean Ashby 45lb 7oz
3rd Paul Bick 42lb 12oz
