Our first charity match of 2005 was the annual Stalham Charity Match organised by Val and Barry Burlton of the Stalham Club and held in aid of the Air Ambulance Service, with a small donation also being made to the Stalham Playgroup.
A massive success, the event was attended by 121 anglers and raised £1639.00 for the charity on the day.
The weather held for the majority of the event, with a quick soaking just before weigh in, but spirits were not dampened with a total of 2,656lb of fished weighed in at the event, equating to an average catch of over 21lb across all venues (including Melton Ponds).
Winner on the day was Barford Tackle sponsored Jim Barrowman with 174lb, consisting of 35 carp up to 8lb from peg 4 on the Barford Match Lake.
Jim fished a pole rig, baited with potato hook bait, fished well up in the water, whilst loose feeding Barford Pellet.
Jim continued to keep the fish on the feed by loose feeding small amounts of additional pellet whilst playing each fish - a technique which kept the fish in his swim throughout the match and helped him achieve a clear winning margin.
Second place across all the lakes was taken by probably the least prepared of all 121 anglers on the day. Andy Baker (Oddfellows AC), still dressed from the night out before, and looking slightly the worse for wear (see below!!!) arrived with tackle (well remembered Andy!) but no bait, and a dash round a few friends was required before the draw commenced!!
Fishing peg 7 on the Match Lake, Andy came a creditable second with 118lb and was followed in third by club companion, Glen Mason who landed 109lb 2oz from peg 15 on Colton Lake.
Top overall places and top catches from each lake are shown below:
| 1st | Jim Barrowman (Barford Tackle) | Match Lake | Peg 4 | 174lb 2oz |
| 2nd | Andy Baker (Oddfellows) | Match Lake | Peg 7 | 118lb 0oz |
| 3rd | Glen Mason (Oddfellows) | Colton Lake | Peg 15 | 109lb 2oz |
| 4th | Rob Hitchins () | Match Lake | Peg 21 | 98lb 9oz |
| 5th | David Gooch (Norwich) | Colton Lake | Peg 16 | 77lb 4oz |
| 6th | Bob Bradford (Fox Match Triangle) | Match Lake | Peg 23 | 75lb 8oz |
| Jim Randell (Future/Whizzo) | Top Lake Winner | 20lb 14oz | ||
| Mick Bartrum (Angling Direct) | Pleasure Lake Winner | 64lb 0oz | ||
| Tony Skyring (Oddfellows) | Melton Ponds Winner | 74lb 04oz | ||
Pictured below, the top finishers receive their prizes from Peter Mendham
From left to right: Second, Andy Baker (Oddfellows), Winner, Jim Barrowman (Barford Tackle), Peter Mendham, Barry Burlton (Match organiser), Third, Glen Mason (Oddfellows).
Congratulations go again to Barry and Val Burlton for organising the Annual Stalham Charity Match. All their efforts were well rewarded.
This event is looked forward to by all that attend each year and is an important date in many anglers diaries.
