Barford Lakes Charity Matches

Annual Charity Match 2005 - Wednesday 10th August

Our seventh annual mid-week charity match went very well with 70 anglers attending. Amazingly, the weather was not too bad and we raised a nice amount of money for our chosen charities. Many, many thanks to all the anglers who took a day off work to support and fish the event and also to those who kindly donated raffle prizes (we had over 60 prizes - ranging from a DVD player to some scented candles!)

We were joined by my two favourite famous anglers, the four times world champion Bob Nudd and Sky TV's Tight Lines and Talk Sport radio's Fisherman Blues presenter Keith Arthur. Special thanks to both of them for adding to the day.

The fishing was fairly good although the top three weights were from the Pleasure Lake.

This year's winner came from the causeway and was our new tackle shop manager Daniel Brydon. Daniel won our very first charity match some 7 years ago and has recently started working for us as Manager in the tackle shop.

Daniel caught fish steadily throughout the match fishing pellet punched spud as hookbait whilst spraying a few 6mm pellets every 10 - 20 seconds.

Daniel had fish to 14lb and weighed in a total 145lb 11ozs. Recently Daniel has been more of a river angler fishing in teams and this was his first major match on a commercial fishery for some time and he's come back in style!

In second place overall was Paul Ashford (Jewsons AC) pictured below, who drew on the Pleasure Lake peg 4. Paul caught up-in-the-water on Spud whilst spraying pellet and weighed in 115lb.

Third spot was taken by Brian McKinnley (Bentley Angling) pictured left who was pegged on the point on the Pleasure Lake (peg 31). Brian found out just how crafty our day ticket carp can be when one 13lb carp didn't play ball and wrapped itself around the leg of the staging before he could net it. He had to get off his box and thread his top kit under the staging to free the carp and finally net it!

Well worth the trouble though as his efforts rewarded him with third place overall with 96lb 3ozs only 12lb in front of the fourth placed angler, Glen Burden (Barford Tackle). Pictured right, Glen had the top weight on the Match Lake from peg 8 weighing 84lb 9ozs.

5th place went to Jim Barrowman (Barford Tackle) who had 77lb 1ozs from the causeway on the Pleasure Lake.

Bob Nudd drew on peg 5 on the Top Lake, which he'd never fished before. He proceeded to win the lake with 66lb 3ozs - it never helps to be pegged on the same lake as a four times world champion!

2nd on the Top Lake was Steve Kindlyside (Unreliables) on peg 13 with 51lb 8ozs.

Colton fished a little patchy. When I went up to take some photos for the site I struggled to find an angler with a fish on! Although Nat Kopti (Nch Oddfellows AC) delivered the goods with this carp caught to order (see image above left)! Nat weighed 56lb 10ozs from peg 32.

It was Steve Rouse (Unreliables) though who won the lake with 74lb 9ozs caught from peg 12 (above right).  Cheers for the wave Steve!!

Second place on Colton Lake went to Alan Ling who fished down the edge on peg 2 and weighed 72lb 10ozs. Pictured above left looking very serious!!

Thanks to the Lion's Van for doing a good job at serving bacon rolls, burgers and teas before and after the match.

A special thanks to Kevin Kingston-Miles for getting LOADS of raffle prizes and a big special thanks to Mum and Dad for donating the lakes free of charge for the seventh year running!

This year's two main charities are groups that a couple of our local anglers are involved with. The Norfolk Young Downes Group who provide support and advice for families with children who have Downes Syndrome and the Clare School Special Needs School in Norwich is raising money for their light sensory room. A percentage will also go to the Barford Primary School.

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