The Angling Trust report:
This year saw an increase of competitors taking part in the Angling Trust British Pike Final on the 20ft River, and Glassmoor Bank on Whittlesey AA’s waters with a total of 225 entrants. However, difficult weather conditions greeted the competitors with an overnight frost and then rain settling in for most of the morning of the match.
Darryl Moore from Hinkley won the championship with two pike weighing 22lb and 14lb 4oz from peg 132 on the 20ft to give him an overall winning weight of 36lb 4oz. Runner up, Tony Billson, was only 2oz behind the winner with a total weight of 36lb 2oz with two pike of 17lb 14oz and 18lb 4oz from peg 296 on the 20ft – managing to catch his last pike with only a minute of the match remaining! In third place was Chris Preen of Bicester with a single fish of 18lb 2oz from peg 286, also on the 20ft.
Fish catches were slightly down on previous years but the number of competitors made up for any disappointment, showing that the championship is going from strength to strength.
Result
1st Darryl Moore, Hinckley – 36lb 4oz (two fish 22lb and 14lb 4oz) Peg 132 on 20ft
2nd Tony Billson, Essex – 36lb 2oz (two fish 17lb 14oz and 18lb 4oz) Peg 296 on 20ft
3rd Chris Preen, Bicester – 18lb 2oz (one fish) Peg 286 on 20ft
Top Lady – Jean Lloyd, Mansfield – 2lb 4 oz (one fish)
Top Junior – Lucy McCourt
