FISHINGmagic editor and northerner Graham managed to pick a venue equally as difficult as Linear Fisheries’ Smith’s Pool, scene of the first leg in May, with Cheshire’s Boundary Water Park unwilling to give up it’s better fish. 
This was a species match, with points for each different species caught, and a couple of good ‘uns came in but, as at Smith’s, it was the small fish that made up most of the catches. On the plus side the weather was better. With only 12 fishing, due to the no-shows from List members who originally said they would come, the event wasn’t the best fish-in organised to date, but we all had a good time.
The North, this time, had the day, winning both team and individual honours, but it was a more even contest than the 1st leg. (Graham said I would put in excuses like the north side had 7 fishing while the south had only 5, but I won’t because that would be ungracious).
Overall team scores were North 214 points, South 173 points. Jon Moores took the individual win with 64 points. His catch of four species, including the second biggest fish of the day in a 3lb 8oz bream, and a crucial 3oz rudd, which was the only one caught, and hence earning 17 points.
Mark Tullett followed up his 1st leg win by taking second place with a four species catch worth 54 points and is hence overall individual winner. Graham and myself shared third with three species and 51 points, Graham picking up a roach x bream hybrid and me the solitary gudgeon of the day in amongst the otherwise common roach and perch.
The best fish of the day went to the North’s guest angler Michael Brown with a fine 6lb bream. But with the bream, carp and pike being generally uncooperative, it was just small roach and perch for everyone else, except Dave Preston who was the only 2nd leg blanker and gets the wooden spoon.
Finally, Eddie ‘Sweet Prince’ Bibby wanted 17 points for the 1/2 oz water snail he caught. This has, however, been disallowed for cheating. Not because it was a snail and not a fish, but because it started out as a frog. As he kissed the frog, the Sweet Prince whispered, “Turn into a water creature as beautiful as the best looking woman I could pull” – and he got the snail! He was expecting at least a catfish. Hard luck Eddie.
Team Results
2nd Leg North 214 South 173
1st Leg North 101 South 233
Overall North 315 South 406
2nd Leg Individual
1st Jon Moores (north) 63
2nd Mark Tullett (south) 54
Joint 3rd Dave Cooper (south) 51 & Graham Marsden (north) 51
5th Michael Brown (north) 43
6th Stuart Bullard (south) 30
7th Paul Colclough (north) 24
8th Mike Fidler (south) 23
9th Dave Colclough (north) 22
10th Paul Williams (south) 15
11th Eddie Bibby (north) 11
12th Dave Preston (north) 0
Overall Individual Top 3
1st Mark Tullett (south) 108
2nd Dave Cooper (south) 82
3rd Graham Marsden (north) 65
A big thank you from the FISHINGmagic Mailing List to Dave Cooper (Cooperman) for organising the match.
