Sunday 28/09/1969 - Angling Times South West Winter League - Limpley Stoke to Barton Farm

My first ATSWWL match for Ridgeway AA was fished on the River Avon from Limpley Stoke through Avoncliff to Barton Farm (Tithe Barn as it was know back then). The venue was needed to accommodate 120 pegs for the ten teams of twelve anglers competing. The league was contested by the following local clubs:

Bathampton
King William IV
Swindon Talisman
Silver Dace
Golden Carp
Portcullis
Flower Pot
City of Bristol
Ridgeway AA
Bath AA

The match is still clear in my memory. I dropped Dad off on the roadside of Barton Farm (Avoncliff Holt). I drew the opposite side just below the life belt. When I finally got to my peg (this must be one of the longest walks on the River) to my amazement, across the river exactly opposite me was Dad! What are the chances of that?

Barton Farm was pegged both banks back then. We had drawn next to City of Bristol and Chris Rolfe (pictured right with 6lb River Axe Bream caught Dec 2008) arrived at the next peg upstream of me, opposite his team mate and close friend Mike Jones (pictured lower right fishing a Huntstrete evening match in 1972). What are the chances of that?

At this time Mike Jones was without doubt the best river float angler in the South West; I personally would say Southern England. I must confess I was in admiration of Mike – he was awesome. But, I took this as an opportunity to watch and learn.

I have found writing what happened next between Mike and Chris difficult without all the expletives (after all it’s a family blog). But here goes.

Mike set up a waggler and cast his float within two feet of our bank, right next to Chris’s keep net. Mike followed this up with a cry of “that’s half way”. Likewise Chris had set up a waggler and as Mike was finding depth down the middle Chris cast across his line to within 4 foot of Mike’s bank. The inevitable happened and they got in a tangle and after a few minutes of tug of war and cussing, they both had to re-tackle. Mike wasn’t happy.

Mike always advised to fish the river line with the greatest flow. We all caught Roach with Dad having 2lb, I had 3lb 8oz, Chris had 5lb. Mike Jones did his usual framing act with 10lb of caster caught Roach.

I can’t remember the team result other than Ridgeway were no match for the likes of City of Bristol and Swindon Talisman, both were the top teams contending for the top spot and a final in Ireland.

After this series Dad decided to retire from winter league fishing. I was asked to fish for the Golden Carp Team - Captained by Colin Golding.


The City of Bristol Team did qualify for the final in 1971. It was fished on Saturday 22 May on the River Shannon near Limerick (City of Bristol winning Team pictured below - middle - can you recognise them today?). 

The team finished second overall losing out to the great Cofton Hackett Team.Cofton Hackett team weighed a total of 276lb 131/2 oz. Bathampton weighed 210lb 91/2oz. Both were new team records for the event. Austin Clissett making the difference with the first ever TON with 101lb 6oz. Mike Jones for Bathampton was second in the match with 70lb 121/2 oz which also became the second highest match weight. Bathampton team full result follows:

Topper Haskins 1-09-12
Mike Jones 70-12-8
Gordon Jones 12-10-12
Bernard Jones 6-11-0
Nicky Iles 28-07-0
Graham England Nil
Dave Taylor 15-14-0
Henry Gonsalves 51-05-0
Pete Carpenter 1-10-0
Malcolm Murfett 2-15-0
Les Evans 0-1-4
Gordon Stones 9-09-0

Total 201-09-08

So much different from the finals now on the Nene – absolute disgrace as a premier match venue, what river needs Bloodworm and Joker to get a bite!!