Matches 2026

3 June - New matches organised

A set of home / away matches for teams of 8 has been organised against Sutton Courtney AC.

The home match will be on Sunday 29 November at Grove pond. The return leg will be on Sunday 21 February 2027 at a venue to be decided. Sutton Courtney have assured us that they can find a suitable, fishable river stretch.

17 May 2026 1st Aggregate and Blind pairs

Two matches for the price of one.

Crikey, with a bargain like this we should be in the supermarket business, get two matches and only buy bait for one. Not that much was needed as the fish didn't really want to play ball.

Fourteen anglers fished and there were four dry nets.

For the 1st aggregate match the winner was Nathan Steele with a mixed silvers bag for 9lb 9oz from peg 20. Nathan made sure that all who would listen knew of his misfortune (and no one could ignore his despair) as he lost a number of carp in the process. Two pegs away in peg 22 was Danny Dance who moaned a few fish onto his hook for second place with 9lb 2oz. You have to feel for Steve Ferris pegged between these two.

In peg 3 was Peter Powell taking third place with 7lb 11oz, Peter lost a match-winning bream in the closing minutes as it jumped across the aerator rope ....twice.... breaking free and completely trashing his rig in the process.

This match doubled as the blind pairs match and the trophy went to Steve Ferris & Danny Dance (so Steve had some reward from having to listen to those each side of him all day). Between them they amassed 37 points.

There was a draw on 31 points from two pairs, Phil Mansbridge & Derek Wilby, and Matt Andrew & Rob Wilkinson. It is usual to separate those on equal points by weight but unusually both pairs took a combined total of 7lb 8oz so honours are awarded equally.

3 May 2026 Committee Cup

There's method to the madness......or maybe not!

The inaugrual match of the year saw 11 invited members descend on the pond. This was also the first use of a later draw and extended setup time (there's now 90 minutes from draw to all-in). This was appreciated by most anglers and did allow a more leisurely setup.

Matt Andrew  drew the flier peg 1 and won the match with a mainly bream haul of 24lb 6oz, his catch included a small carp and a couple of decent roach/bream hybrids.

Second was Steve Ferris in peg 3, his 23lb 1oz total was boosted by a 10lb carp, taken on a size 18 and 0.12 (3lb) hook length, so either very skilful or a jammy so-and-so (your call). Steve was 10lb clear of Tony Brooker in third place with 13lb 14oz from peg 7.

As to the method in the madness, your esteemed correspondent decided to fish the method (and nothing else) through the match, not a single bite was forthcoming! It galls me to say that young Mr Dance was quite correct when he said that the method doesn't work in matches. Lesson learnt - it'll be the pole next time.