Eighty anglers braved hurricane-force winds to fish the Marie Curie Cup, organised in conjunction with the Pike Anglers Club on the Great Ouse at Ely.
But officials ordered the all-out barely half way through the match for safety reasons, after watching competitors struggle with gusts of more than 60mph.
Rods were blown from rests and umbrellas turned turtle in winds which made standing on your feet a battle.
Just two fish were landed, both by juniors. Leanne Bradbury, 13, from Wainfleet, near Skegness won the overall event and the biggest pike, with an 8:02 fish on a dead roach.Local lad Scott Verdon, 12, came second with an 8lb zander, which was also the biggest – and only – zander caught.
Before the prize giving Dick Culpin, regional organiser for the Pike Anglers Club, told competitors: “I think you were bloody marvellous to stick it out as long as you did.”
Melanie Ford, from Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: “We’ve raised over £ 1000, which is just fantastic.
“It’s such a shame it had to be the worst day of the year but everyone’s been really generous.”
Marie Curie Cancer Care has decided to make the event a national one, with a final on the Great Ouse next November after a series of qualifying heats around the country.
Qualifiers are provisionally arranged for:
Sunday, November 10 – Inns Lake, Rickmansworth, Herts; Kennet and Avon Canal, Avon.
Sunday, November 24 – Silver End Pits, Kelvedon, Essex; Bradwell Lakes, Beds.
Sunday, December 8 – Broad Colney, Herts.
Sunday, February 9 (2003) – Grendon lakes, Northants.
Sunday, March 2 – Suffolk Water Park, Ipswich; Wyboston Lakes, Cambs; River Soar, Leics; Swanton Morley Pits, Norfolk.
Further information from Melanie Ford, on 01223 416405 or go to www.mariecurie.org.uk/predator.
