Matches 2025

2 November 2025 Memorial match - Grove Pond

A very low turnout.

Only six anglers turned out to fish the memorial match, bringing its future into doubt, to add to this the results were patchy, to say the least.

Joe Bowman took top spot from peg 2, he set his stall out for bream and stuck to his guns despite a poor first half of the match, ending with 17lb 1oz of bream. When I first heard the results and that Peter Powell had taken ten carp from peg 9 I thought he would have walked it, but they were all small (some very small) and he finished second with 11lb 13oz.

Third was Nathan Steele, who only just made it in time for the draw, with 1lb 1oz of bits from peg 7.

Only four of the six anglers weighed in and commiserations go to Mick Hendry and Tony Brooker for their dry nets.

5 October 2025 10th Aggregate - Grove Pond

Just one ounce separates the top two.

Just one ounce separated the top two anglers on the day, Steve Ferris had 16lb 15oz from peg 16, closely followed by Peter Powell who fished peg 5 and recorded 16lb 14oz, picking up 21 points in the act. Third was Andy Moody with 11lb 3oz from peg 2.

Eleven anglers fished on a breezy but dry day and nine weighed in.

This year has been remarkable in that the entire match calendar has been got through without any postponement due to flooding, frozen pond, Thames water digging up the road or any other mishap. Bringing the entire calendar forwards to ensure there was time needed should any rescheduling be required was, it seems, a great success. It also meant that all aggregate matches were fished whilst the water was warm and the fish more inclined to feed.

The two away matches, Whitehouse & Cheriton farms, produced 736lb between them (248lb & 488lb respectively), considerably more that the other eight matches combined.

It was tight at the top - right to the end.

It was nip and tuck right to the last match and only 5 points separated the top four anglers.

Congratulations (again) to Matt Andrew who took the trophy with 155 points from his best 8 results (dropping matches 3 and 7 with 32 points collectively). Peter Powell was only 2.5 points behind with 152.5 points. He only fished 8 matches so was not in a position to drop any bad results. Match 6 on 10 August, where he picked up 14.5 points for eighth place meant he was always playing catch-up after that, but a couple of fish, here and there, on the last day may have seen a different outcome.

Third was Tony Brooker with 151 points and Steve Ferris fourth just a single point behind with 150 points.

21 September 2025 9th Aggregate - Grove Pond

Welcome to autumn

The nights are drawing in and we had the first frost of the winter, followed by a cold clear day and an easterly breeze, not ideal conditions but none the less twelve anglers made it to the draw.

First on the day was Derek Wilby who had a mixed bag including a few bream for 18lb 10oz. He was 6lb clear of Peter Powell who was on peg 21 with 12lb 3oz a pound ahead of Andy Moody with 11lb exactly from peg 5.

Despite coming in 5th on the day Matt Andrew heads the leaderboard with 154 points, just 3 ahead of Tony Brooker (who was 7th on the day). These two are pulling ahead of the chasing pack, 3rd place is currently held by Andy Moody with 135 points.

Please be aware that these totals are for the best 8 matches (dropping the lowest points value from the 9 matches).

6 September 2025 8th Aggregate - Cheriton Farm

Fish galore

Well, that was a good day's fishing. A completely new venue for the club and well worth the visit, the day stayed dry, if a little breezy but reasonably warm.

The water level was well down, as it is everywhere this year, and a couple of anglers set their stall out on dry gravel that would normally be a foot under water.

It was a shame that only nine anglers fished the match, the pond could accommodate a few more and allow the club to break even on the match fees, maybe when the results are known it will whet a few appetites for next year.

And with that - onto the results. There was a real tussle for first and second between Tony Brooker and Peter Powell both of whom had Andy struggling with the scales as they had three nets each and put over 90lb each on the scoreboard. Tony Brooker won the match with a mainly feeder caught 95lb 14oz (only two fish short of a ton), two or three fish behind him was Peter Powell, his 90lb 4oz was caught long-shallow.

Third was Martin Bennett who caught well in the last hour in the margins and had two nets out for 62lb 2oz.

There was no weight below 26lb and the average was over 54lb per angler.

This lake could be described as "well-stocked", there were carp everywhere and a handful of pellets in the margins would have the water rocking and carp tailing out as they hoovered up the free offerings, however, getting them to take a bait was nigh on impossible.

As your reporter I must keep an even viewpoint but those blasted margin carp drove me to distraction, however, I defer to Matt Andrew as the most frustrated angler on the venue that day, apparently getting through ten pole rigs as the wind played havoc with his pole tip and presentation. He takes the award for the most number of "f***s" in one sentence, at one stage I counted six.

Tony Brooker's excellent day's fishing gave him top points and he has closed the gap on Matt Andrew at the top of the leader board to 16 points, Matt has 151 and Tony 135, but that's eight matches in and from now on the lowest points are dropped from the aggregate total. Andy Moody is now in third with 124.5 points leap-frogging Steve Ferris who didn't fish on this occasion.

24 August 2025 7th Aggregate - Grove Pond

There's a new kid on the block

Twelve anglers arrived full of hope for this match under ideal conditions, warm, a gentle breeze and overcast but these conditions didn't last as the skies cleared and the temperature soared.

Congratulations go to a new member Jonathan "Robbo" Roberts who, on his first ever match with the club, took top honours from peg 8 with a mixed bag for 14lb 4oz. Peter Powell was just a pound behind putting 13lb 5oz on the scales at peg 20. Third was Andy Moody taking 13lb 1oz from corner peg 15.

There were no dry nets but a number of decent (or foul-hooked) carp were lost, Matt Andrew on peg 21 showing the rest of the field the way to go, losing at least 3.

Ray Rolfe's 8lb 8oz included a cracking bream of 5lb 13oz, just an ounce short of the best this year, which was Joe Bowman's 5lb 14oz fish.

Also, Martin Bennett has reminded me that I didn't report his roach of 1lb exactly that he took in the match on 10 August. I here make amends for that oversight.

Matt Andrew stays at the top of the leader board but has dropped a few points and his position, with 133 points, is not as unassailable as last year's at this stage.

Matt is twenty points clear of second and just two and a half points separate the following three anglers, Tony Brooker has 113 points, two points clear of Steve Ferris who, in turn, is just half a point ahead of Andy Moody.

10 August 2025 6th Aggregate - Grove Pond

That's a little more like it

Another scorcher of a day, with clear skies and little breeze a tough matchj was expected but noone told the fih and they fed better than they have done in a match for quite a time.

Fourteen anglers fished and only one, Des Bushnell, didn't take anything to the scalesman, this was a shame as Des has been absent from the matches this year and probably could have done with a confidence booster. The total weight was 126lb averaging 9lb per angler.

The winner on the day was Matt Andrew in corner peg 10, he had three empty swims around the corner in front of him, he caught well from the start, his mixed bag included a few carp and a tench for 37lb 6oz, nearly 20lb clear of second.

There was a close battle for second at the north end of the pond with Ray Rolfe in peg 1 taking 17lb 11oz just pipping Steve Ferris in peg 20 with 17lb 5oz.

Halfway through the match there was the horrible sound of splintering carbon fibre as the top section of Phil Mansbridge's pole shattered.

Matt Andrew remains on top of the leader board with his win in this match extending his lead, he has 118 points which is 19 points clear of Tony Brooker who has gone up from third to second, third is now Steve Ferris. Gerry Austin has dropped two places from second to fourth.

26 July 2025 5th Aggregate - Whitehouse Farm

Low water - but feeding fish

I could almost go back and misquote the ancient mariner (again) - "water, water nowhere". The lake was well down even on its usual summer levels and anglers were staking keepnets out a long way to find enough depth.

As it turned out the lack of water didn't stop the fish from feeding and this was, overall, the best set of results from this pond in a few years, nine members fished for a total of 248lb, an average of over 27lb and as can be expected, decent sized carp dominated.

Top weight on the day was Joe Bowman who started catching from the start and never looked back, he ended the day with 56lb 7oz. Joe was well clear of second placed Tony Brooker who had 40lb 1oz closely followed by Peter Powell, less than a pound behind with 39lb 4oz.

The aggregate points list is headed by Matt Andrew with 96 points followed by Gerry Austin on 84 and Tony Brooker with 81. Matt's lead is less commanding than at this point last year and it's still early days. Lots can change yet.

12 July 2025 New Forest challenge - Orchard Lakes

High in a hot amd copper sky

the bloody sun, at noon / Right above the pond did stand / no biger than the moon - as Coleridge almost, but didn't quite, say - but you get the idea, the match was fished towards the end of yet another heat wave and despite a breeze picking up the mercury still managed to rise to over 30 degrees.

Ten anglers fished and the average weight was over 30lb, which, considering the conditions wasn't bad.

Top rod on the day, and I use the expression "top rod" literally, was Matt Andrew who took a creditable 71lb 2oz from peg 14. This was at the top end of the pond and had a lovely bay in the vegetation on the opposite bank. Matt put a method feeder out to this feature at the start and never looked back, taking carp regularly through the day, he didn't reach for the pole once for the full six hours. Second was Martin Bennett (who was to the right of your honourable correspondent) with 53lb 8oz, a pole caught mixed bag but mainly carp.

Third was Tony Brooker in peg 22 with 46lb 2oz

This meant that I was "next-pegged" on both sides, never a nice experience in a match but with the silvers crown to compete for I took the honours with 15lb 3oz of crucians, barbel, roach, ide and a couple of skimmers from peg 24, just pipping Steve Ferris on peg 10 who took 14lb 10oz of silvers.

29 June 2025 Committee Cup - Grove Pond

Hot, hot, hot

The dawn was clear and bright, barely a cloud in the sky and very little wind to cool things down. Those of us on the west bank had no protection from the rising sun and just had to take it, when the sun got to Matt on the east bank with half an hour of the match to go he complained bitterly about the heat - did our hearts bleed? What do you think?

Anyway - to the fishing, the match was won by Derek Wilby with a mixed bag including bream and a few of the new stockie carp for 21lb exactly. Matt Andrew (despite his complaints about the heat) was second with 14lb 3oz, mainly bream, from peg 20. Just 2 pegs along, in the corner of the pond on peg 22 was Bob Alder who had 13lb 2oz of carp taken tight to the bank.

Nine anglers fished and all weighed in, the average was over 10lb.

It's off to the New Forest for the next match and that is also forecast to be hot - and there's no shade anywhere but good catches are expected anyway.

15 June 2025 4th Aggregate - Grove Pond

It's tight at the top

A healthier turnout than the last match, 15 anglers fished and the regulars welcomed a new member Mick Hendy who managed a respectable first outing at tenth place.

First on the day was Joe Bowman with 8lb 2oz from peg 2, closely followed by Tony Brooker on peg 15 with 7lb 9oz, he was just 2 ounces ahead of third, Nathan Steele, peg 3 and 7lb 7oz on the scales.

It was pleasing to see that there were no dry nest although a few anglers really struggled for a few ounces, there were a couple of small carp taken and a few bream showed up.

For the overall rankings Steve Ferris remains in pole position despite dropping a few points and has been caught by Matt Andrew, both have 78 points but Steve is top by virtue of a greater weight but only 1lb 4oz separates these two anglers. Third is Gerry Austin on 67 points.

1 June 2025 3rd Aggregate - Grove Pond

A more even match

This was a much more even match than the first and second and all anglers weighed-in, however, only 10 members fished.

Top of the tree on the day was Ray Rolfe rise with 10lb 10oz from peg 19 which included a tench of 2lb 15oz, which is in the running for the tench cup this year. Exactly 1lb behing Ray was Tony Brooker who took 9lb 10oz to the scales from peg 7 and, almost exactly 1lb lighter was Gerry Austin who was third with 8lb 11oz from peg 3.

In addition to Ray's tench there was another fish weighed in contention for a cup, this was a 10oz roach taken by Tony Brooker

In the race for the aggregate trophy Steve Ferris leads the way, his two earlier second places and a fourth in this match giving him 61 points. He is closely followed by last year's winner, Matt Andrew who has just two point fewer on 59. Gerry Austin is in third place with 55 points

18 May 2025 2nd Aggregate - Grove Pond

Rising water temperature

This rise was triggering the carp into their annual amorous liaisons so generally they were out of the equation for a meaningful contribution to the weights. It also made pegging a little akward as the spawning sites were avoided. However, the weights were better than the first match and the competition for the top places was closer but there were still 4 Did Not Weigh (DNW) amongst the 13 anglers.

Last year's champion, Matt Andrew, on peg 19 took top honours with 16lb 2oz, Less than 2lb behind, with 14lb 4oz was Steve Ferris on peg 6 and 3rd place was Nathan Steele with 10lb 3oz from peg 9.

It was nice to see a lovely 1lb 3oz crucian, taken by Tony Brooker, Andy Moody took an 11oz rudd to the scales, both fish are leading contenders in the specimen cups.

There's no commentary on the overall standings as it's a bit early to make reasonable statements.

4 May 2025 Blind Pairs - Grove Pond

Incorporated into the 1st Aggregate

Conveniently an even number of anglers fished, making it easier to draw the blind pairings.

The results were decided by adding the points on the day for each member of the pairs. Derek Wilby and Joe Bowman took the title with 41 points (19 and 22 points each respectively).

Just 3 points behind, in second was Matt Andrew and Stuart Harrop with 38 points (20 & 18), third place was filled by Gerry Austin and Danny Dance.

There was some controversy regarding the allocation of pegs for disabled anglers and this was addressed at the meeting on 6 May. It was decided that, rather confine disabled anglers to the 3 pegs (3, 4 or 5), there would be a discussion with the match secretary before the start and all pegs that are accessible for the individuals would be included in the draw. However, in all match matters, the match secretary's decision is final.

4 May 2025 1st Aggregate - Grove Pond

Including Blind Pairs

The first match of the new aggregate series and 12 anglers turned out for a clear day with a cold northerly wind and the fishing was hard. 2 anglers failed to bother the scalesman but Joe Bowman stormed the day with 17lb 15oz from peg 3, consisting mainly of bream.

Steve Ferris was second with 6lb 4oz from peg 18 and Matt Andrew (last year's run-away champion) took third spot on peg 16 with 4lb 15oz.