Thursdays 21/08/08 Bathampton AA Over 55's and Disabled - Bridge Pool

Like a vintage wine the Bathampton Huntstrete venue (pictured top right) is getting better and better with age. The over fifty fives (also fondly referred to by John Bradford as "The Coffin Dodgers") sees yet another good turn out of thirty anglers, weather good too, you might have even thought it summer time!

I drew peg 18 which is usually a good Skimmer peg with some big Carp to be had in the right hand margin. I fed corn with a bit of 4mm hard pellet at 6 metres (ten foot of water here) for the Skimmers. Then straight on to the top set for the Ronnies. Compared with yesterday the Ronnies were much bigger. On time after 90 minutes the Carp moved in over the caster. A foul hooker confirmed this, out on the paste and a 12lb carp in the net. This is how my match went on - a few Ronnies and then a quality Carp. I landed eight carp for 74lb 10oz and weighed 11lb 14oz of Ronnies for a total weight of 86lb 8oz. This gave me second in the match and second in the Silvers and a pick up of £25.

With ten minutes to go a latched in to another Double figure Carp and after twenty minutes the hook pulled. This fish cost me the 100lb. However, this still would not have been enough to beat the worthy match winner Terry Bruton (pictured bottom left) who weighed 134lb from peg 30. Terry fished shallow pellet waggler (apparently 26 inches deep - exactly) with hair rigged 10mm hard pellet.

I thought I would published the attached from the Bathampton website - Terry will remember this - The D Bruton is son Dave and the M Nicholls is my son Mark, we were pegged next to each other and Dad Terry landed a big Tench to win the day (lower right) - nothing changes!

ECERPTS FROM COMMITTEE MEETING 20 YEARS AGO (JULY 1987)A quite/quick meeting (for a change) Claims for “specimen-fish” awards received:- All caught at Hunstrete Lake – Tench, 6lbs. 15ozs caught by Mr. T. Jump;Eight tench between 4lbs and 6½lbs caught by Mr. T Carpenter. Carp of 21lbs. 1oz caught by Mr. B. Rose.(Then, as now, Hunstrete was/is a superb fishery. Fourteen pairs fished the Dads and Lads match at Hunstrete Lake.Top weights: D. Bruton 6lbs. 1oz; C. Williams 5lbs. 8ozs; Jason Shirley 3lbs. 4ozs; Mike Nicholls 3lbs. 3ozs.(Twenty years on and this event, now known as the “Old-Uns and Young-Uns” is even more popular).Also, Mike Nicholls is still a regular prize winner in club matches, but these are in the Over 55’s matches – time waits for no man!).

The Silvers was won by Colin Golding from peg 31 with 15lb 8oz of Skimmers.

Full Result:

1. Terry Bruton 134-0-0 peg 30

2. Mike Nicholls 86-08-0 peg 18
3. Bob Tilley 69-12-0 peg 16

4. Ian Sheppard 51-12-0 peg 32

5. Mike Smith 31-14-0 peg 5

6. John Bradford 29-13-0 peg 24

Top Silvers:

1. Colin Golding 15-08-0 peg 31

2. Mike Nicholls 11-14-0 peg 18

3. Bill Ferris 9-08-0 peg 23

3. Bryan Sheppard 9-08-0 peg 8