Intersite Challenge Match

The FISHINGmagic Team – From left top: Fred Bonney, Phil Hatton (Capt), Dave Johnson, Wendy Perry. From left bottom: Stu Dexter, Bob Watson, John Conway, Graham Marsden.

So I put my name forward and somehow wound up as captain of the squad, (mostly by default, nobody else was daft enough to do it). The whole event was being organised by Dave Webster of the ‘maggotdrowners’ site, all I had to do was find a team for each of the three legs, North, Midlands and South. That didn’t prove too difficult and by the time the date and venue for the first match was announced I had a team ready and raring to go.

Overall winner was Bob Watson, FISHINGmagic

The first leg was to be at Woodlands Fishery near Thirsk in Yorkshire, a place not many of us knew much about. A few of the team managed a scouting trip or two and it soon became clear that we would be on a typical commercial carp water. Not a style we were used to but what the hell, it was only a day out. By the week of the match we had a rough idea of baits and tactics and the team seemed happy.

I don’t know about the others but the night before I was a bag of nerves. Even though I wasn’t down to fish myself I still prepared my gear, just in case someone couldn’t make it. I spent Friday checking things, my tackle, the weather, the car, the weather again.

I had planned to leave home around 6.30am to get me there for 8.15 or thereabouts. However, I was too excited to sleep much and found myself on the road well before 6.00. I arrived at 7.15, an hour early and took the chance to walk the two lakes we were to fish. Conditions were quite good, there was a light breeze, a nicely overcast sky and it wasn’t too cold, there were fish topping in some areas and all in all it promised a good days fishing.

Section winner Stu Dexter, FISHINGmagic

People began to arrive in dribs and drabs and by 8.15 most of the team had shown up, with the exception of Stu Dexter who had the furthest to come and Dave and Graham who by this time were half-way to Newcastle for some reason. By 8.30 we were all there and we sat down for a hearty breakfast and a good natter.

The draw was made at 9.00 and once the team had their pegs we made our way to the two lakes we were to fish, Curlew and Wagtail. We had around an hour to get ready and as usual, it wasn’t long enough. Ten thirty arrived and we were off! Ironically I missed the start, I was back at my car getting some cage feeders for Wendy.

Not surprisingly little happened at first, forty anglers and assorted spectators moving around on the banks had put the fish down and it was a good half-hour before people began to catch. I started walking round, chatting to the team and trying to sneak a look at who was catching and how.

By the end of the first hour most of the team had caught but no one was really doing the business, then again none of the other competitors were either. This wasn’t the start I had expected but there was plenty of time yet.

Dave and Graham hold up Graham’s mousehole riddled keepnet. It cost him a few fish but not enough to make any difference to the team result.

It was clear by the end of the third hour that we were in for a bit of a grueller, the team were beginning to lose ground on the others, everybody had caught but with the exception of Bob Watson nobody had netted a good fish. Overall there was little sign of the expected 40lb+ weights we had read about from previous matches and even the more experienced matchmen were starting to ‘scratch’ in an attempt to build some kind of weight. At that point I thought that 10-15lb would be enough to win.

The last two hours flew past, Fred netted two good skimmers and Bob had another good carp, the rest of the team were still working hard but with little reward. Wendy and John had both been broken by good fish, Geoff, Dave, Stu and Graham were still picking up the odd ‘bit’ but the regular match fishing experience of some of the other teams was starting to tell.

For me the last hour was our best. By this time Bob had had two more good fish and was looking to put around 18lb on the scales, as far as I could see nobody else was doing as well and I was confident of at least one section win. Stu fished a great last hour and doubled his weight, whilst the rest of the team just stuck at it. Paul Scattergood, a name familiar to some of you, thought that a bloke in his section might have 40lb but I was doubtful; I hadn’t seen anybody that busy and put it down as yet another feeble attempt to wind us up. When I found out what a bad match Paul was having I was quietly pleased, after all the stick he had handed out to us I took a perverse pleasure in his misfortune. What goes around, comes around, as they say.

Bob receives his winnings from organiser Dave Webster

Back at the draw Bob received his due acclaim (and the cash), Maggotdrowners won first place and we were placed last, although by only a very little difference in points scored, and suddenly it was time to go home. After all the build-up and anticipation, it was over.

All in all the day had gone well, Dave Webster had done a great job of organising the event and nothing had gone wrong, (apart from Dave and Graham’s little side trip that is). I suppose the result could have been better but the main thing was that everybody had a good time and that was the whole point really.

I can’t wait for the next leg at Stockton in June where we are not that far behind we can’t make up the deficit.

Special thanks to our team for a superb effort, Dave Webster for putting the whole thing together, Woodlands for their help and excellent facilities, (apart from the ladies toilets, Wendy), the other teams for their friendly welcome and all those who took the trouble to wish us well. Oh, and Graham for the snazzy new FISHINGmagic caps.