Local pub team Four Ashes AC went one better than their Division Three runner up position on the Staffs-Worcs Canal in 2008 by taking the Angling Trust Division Two National Championship winning title in style on the Erewash Canal from Cotmanhay to Trent Lock, Derbyshire. Captained by Paul Turner, the Wolverhampton based squad tore the match apart with a great percentage of high points section scorers in their 444 points match winning total. Keeping the emphasis in the West Midlands, Birmingham based Sensas Dams and Lock were the runners-up with 427 points whilst Maver North West slotted into third place with 391 points. Paul Turner paid tribute to his team and said, “The lads were basically left alone to sort out their own pegs; we found out plenty in practice, especially the areas to put chopped worm in and the areas not to. While I have the chance, on behalf of all our Four Ashes AC team I would like to thank the Angling Trust for their top organisation, – it really is a thankless task.”
The Division Two Individual Champion on the day was Steve Winter (Maver Bait Tech). Steve has had a lot of top results recently and it comes as no real surprise that he once again put in a superb effort to top the five hundred and fifty entry with 9kg 80g. Steve, a Boston based printer, drew peg K1 by the garages on Lock Lane. With continuous pegging in this area it was not an end draw but Steve set off at a blistering pace, netting a 6 oz rudd first on squatt. When he reached 120 fish he went on to his chopped worm line which was solid with perch. He had a good run of them, some to over 1 lb and a 2 lb 8 oz tench thrown in for good measure before things petered out. A lady on the far bank told Steve that she feeds the roach on a daily basis on his peg right by a lily pad. With the match well into the fourth hour he fed a bit of hemp in the said area and with an hour to go put together 5 – 6 lbs of roach to complete a fantastic day and a fantastic win with 9k080.
Runner-up Steve Ashcroft (Railway AC Sale) had an incredible start on E50 at Sandy Bottom. He tried an experimental put in with worm and his float dived under and bream number one was soon in the net; this happened the next two put ins as well! He then had to feed and picked off odd bream and skimmers to end up with 8kg 880g and a close second place. Next to Steve was Dave Yardy (Eastern MG) who picked off a few bream from the same shoal, to end with 6kg 500g. Craig Mather (Reddish AC) slotted into fourth place from K27, Lock Lane with 5kg 800g of tench and skimmers on worm.
Individuals. Steve Winter (Maver Bait Tech) 9kg 80g; Steve Ashcroft (Railway AC Sale) 8kg 880g; Dave Yardy (Eastern MG) 6kg 500g; Craig Mather (Reddish AC) 5kg 800g; Neil Mallinson (Wakefield AC) 5kg 600g; Mark Brennan (Preston Innovations Thatchers) 5kg 370g; Aaron Morton (Measham and District AC) 5kg 220g; Dave Shults (Team Raiders) 4kg 450g; Phil Turner (Tackle2fish.co.UK) 4kg 360g; Wayne Swinscoe (Maver Bait Tech) 4kg 240g.
Ten teams were promoted to the Angling Trust National Championship on the New Junction Canal, Doncaster on Saturday 6th August 2011, they are; Four Ashes AC 444; Sensas Dams and Lock MG 427; Maver North West 391; Newton Le Willows AA 386; Maver Bait Tech 384; Macclesfield Waltonians 370; Wellingborough Nene AC 366; Tri-Cast Highfield 364; Sensas North West 359; and Browning Central 356.
