A crisp September morning greeted the 25 youngsters fishing our annual Janaway Cup event.  This was the last of our regular Saturday coaching sessions and is run as a pairs match.  Every peg had a keepnet in the water ready for the off and at 9.15 the match got underway.  Rules are simple- catch as many fish as you can before 11.30 and the event would be decided on total weight.  The cold start meant fishing was tough and the usually obliging small roach and rudd proved hard to get.   Even the tench were on a go-slow.  In the end it was skimmers and crucians that fed the best.  Ben and Esther Corke on peg 5 set the pace with a couple of crucians and some roach.  Ben and Esther have been fishing with us for a couple of years and Ben in particular as desperate to win.  However, the pairing of Cameron Eadie on Peg 3 and Frank Owen on peg 14 provided some stiff competition.  Cameron had one crucian and Frank was putting together a steady string of small roach and the odd skimmer.

Ben added a third crucian to the Team Corke net but looked worried as news filtered through of a last minute tench for Frank.  All 25 youngsters followed the scales round the lake. Ben and Esther weighed in 4lb 4oz with their three crucians and bits.  Cameron had over a pound with his crucian so it all rested on that last minute tench.  When young Ben saw the tench his face beamed- it was only about half a pound.  This, coupled with the skimmers and roach went nearly three pounds for Frank but not enough to beat the Corke family crucians.

The Janaway cup is fished for every year in memory of Chris Janaway, a local lad and young doctor who was tragically killed in a road accident in 2007.  The cup comes complete with a packet of jelly beans (the fishing treat Chris enjoyed as a boy) and was presented by Mr and Mrs Janaway.

With the presentations done we enjoyed a great BBQ- thanks to Dan, Wendy, Brian and Bill who organised all the food.   This was a great end to what has been a fantastic summer of coaching. My thanks go to all the coaches who are a fantastic team and work hard to make these events enjoyable for everyone who turns up.  Thanks also to all the parents and kids who enjoy their fishing and stick with it even when bites are hard to get.

Kids & Dads, Richardson Lake
13th May 2017

It was great to see 7 pairs turnout for this Dads & Lads contest on Richardson lake. Interest centred on who would draw the current form area around the dog-leg, as this has been favoured in many of the matches recently held. Pre-match favourites, Team Ewing, arrived late so had what was left in the bag, unfortunately it was not exactly what they requested!

The ones fortunate to draw well where the Etherington pair, Paul and son Ethan, who pulled pegs 10 and 11. For some strange reason Ethan chose to fish in peg 10 while dad was left with peg 11 and no doubt had a glint in his eye afterwards!!! True to form, as the match progressed it was clear that Paul was starting to put together some fish on the waggler and maggot, while Ethan was struggling. Paul changed halfway through to the pole and continued to add fish after fish, eventually racking up a sizeable weight. When the scales arrived, Paul put 44lb 6ozs on them and Ethan supported with 15lb 9ozs, giving them a grand total of 59lb 15ozs and the winners trophy. As is the custom on these Dads/Kids contests, the parents get nothing, except bragging rights, while the 'kids' get the prizes!

Way behind the Etheringtons where pre-favourites Team Ewing, with a pretty equal catch each from pegs 4 and 5. Daddy Ewing weighed in 11lb 4ozs of bream and tench on the bomb, while miniscule Michael Ewing had 9lb 14ozs of bream and crucians on the pole and worm, giving them a total of 28lb 3ozs. Close behind them were Team Casbon, on pegs 19 and 20, and once again it was dad who led the way. Ian had some nice tench and a bream for 21lb 11ozs on the bomb and maggot while Daniel managed to chip in with a 2lb 2oz bream, to make a grand total of 23lb 13ozs. In fourth place where the Team Evans, who weighed in 21lb 2ozs of tench and bream from pegs 1 and 2. I'll leave you to imagine who had the heaviest weight!!!

A great contest for most, but it was nice to see young Jessica Carter return to our matches as the last time we saw her was as a winner of the Johnson's match in 2015. We hope she doesn't feel too despondent and comes back into the junior match scene where she can properly show the lads how it's done.

Hope to have the video soon in the Media Zone...watch this space!

Match date and venue change

Please note that the Junior match on April 22nd has been brought forward to April 15th on Hill Pond, as the AGM is on the 22nd. Apologies for error.