Saturday 20/07/1996 - National Angling Championship - Division One - River Witham - Avon Angling Masterclass

Similar team different name. We had previously been sponsored by Sensas (the best sponsorship a team could wish for) and for reasons I either don't know or wouldn't understand anyway we switched to Masterclass who were manufacturers of Grounds Baits and for some reason there was always copious amounts available to us.

I was fishing in a teams of four match at Durleigh Reservoir and had drawn on the far bank and found myself next to Gary Etheridge. As we know Gary is not adverse in accepting a freebee, so my skullduggery kicked in and gave Gary a couple of bags of Masterclass GB - all I had with me. The current form on our bank was to fish waggler over GB and maggot for small Skimmers and Roach. Of course I knew the GB was absolutely crap and I wouldn't be using it, preferring the Sensas GB's. Anyway Gary and I had a bit of a waggler-off. Of course Gary tried the GB which gave me the edge with me beating him in the section. After the weigh in Gary ask what the hell was in the GB as it smelled like cough mixture. I said all the Masterclass Ground Baits smelled like that and suggested he shouldn't use it. I think my team came fourth overall that day. So there's more than one way to use a GB to your advantage. A good test of GB's is if the Mice won't eat it the fish won't either. The GB became a laughing stock amongst our team.

A few minor changes to the team for this National with some some late changes with Dave Micklewright, Bob Shephard  and Paul Whittaker filling in. 

The Team:

84 teams of 12 - 1,008 anglers would line the banks of the Witham.

Team wise we drew peg 82 and I was given section H which was just down from Tattershall Bridge an a bend . Bathampton AA our local rivalry team had drawn peg 69, finding myself on the same coach as Derek Coles who had draw H 69. The coach stopped on the road running along the bank between our pegs as Derek walked one way I the other. I arrived at the peg (pictured right with red dot) with the first thing I noticed was that judging from the condition of the bank the peg had been well fished as was most along the roadside. The road ran each way

as far as I could see which wasn't far as I was on the point of a bend. Set up the pole for Eels at 11.5 metres and the GB feeder. It wasn't long before I had my first 4 oz Eel which always settles the nerves on these big matches. I appeared to be doing ok around me, when a guy stopped behind me and asked how I was doing - no answer from me. He then went on to tell me he had caught two Bream form my peg the day before - great. After he left I fished the feeder with caster and Sensas Bream for a while catching only small Bootlaces. Finally gave this up choosing to go went back on the pole catching a few more better Eels. I felt I shouldn't have wasted time on the feeder, especially that late in the match, which cost a few team points I think.

I put 2 lb 12 oz on the scales for 50 points and a - could have done better.

The team did really well amassing 675 points for 12th overall. I reckon had we not had a team blank we could have got a in a medal position again - but that's fishing. Ian Spriggs did his usual winning his section. We beat a lot of good teams this day but more importantly we thrashed Bathampton AA.

This was to be our last National team match as very few fancied fishing the Stainforth and Keadby Canal planned for the following year.

The match was won by Rob Mitchell from peg D64 with a good weight of Bream of 52 lb 8 oz. 

Scunthorpe and District won the team title.

Result:

Saturday 01/07/1995 - National Angling Championship - Division One - Gloucester Canal - Team Bristol

This write up is more about memories rather than results as I don't have them.

In addition to fishing matches Andy Floyd and me had been regularly pleasure fishing the Canal. One such visit ended early when a swan frightened by a boat flew into Andy's pole snapping the number 5 section. Luckily he did retrieve the rest of the pole. No Swan was injured.

The next memory was a strange request from an unnamed angler whom had travelled with me. He was unpacking his kit outside his house when I was asked if I minded reversing over his pole which he had placed half in the road and half on the pavement. I finally obliged and on inspection found I had only managed to split the butt section! Drennan Team England if I remember correctly.

There were the usual big pre-national practice matches. On one such match I arrived at my peg (I cant remember where it was) and couldn't believe the state of the Canal in the area. Even though it was 14 foot deep It was covered in weed and gin clear. I didn't fancy it at all. I walked the section up stream finding the further I went the more colour and less weed I found, so a section win was out of the question. As I had given Andy a lift I decided to fish the peg. When I got back to the peg found on my right Tom Pickering, who I think just won £6,000 in Denmark and on my left Dave Thomas - two World Champions. After a chat I had soon put them in no doubt we wouldn't catch much - if anything. Fishing between the weeds I managed to catch two bootlace Eels before throwing the towel in and going off to find Andy. Dave Thomas had also packed up but Tom was still trying to catch more Bootlaces. Thankfully I don't think this section was to be put in the forthcoming National.

The team had been doing well in both matches and pleasure sessions, so had a strong team and thus all were looking forward to the National.

The Team:

On the day of the National as per usual I was handed my peg which I think was somewhere near Cambridge. Coaches weren't provided driving to our sections instead. Again team wise were were all left to fish our own match and I had been doing OK on Joker feed with Bloodworm/s hook bait. I fed the usual GB laced with Joker at 13 metres and fished either red maggot or Bloodworm or a combo of both on the hook. The lad to my right decided to fish the feeder all match at halfway he was blanking whilst I was regularly putting small fish in the net. He then caught a Bream and did say he was starting to worry he was going to blank. I had a feeder set up and had a chuck and whilst watching the motionless tip I realised that if there were any Bream in my peg I would catch them on the pole with what I was doing, however, in between would catch small fish thus adding to the team points. So the feeder was soon abandoned. The upshot was I did keep catching small fish - mainly Ruffe, alas no Bream. However, the lad next to me had I think five more Bream late on and I do believe he made it in the top 10 overall. I don't know what I weighed but believe I had good team points.

The team finished up a disappointing 32nd at least staying in the first division for the next years National on the River Witham.

Picture below of Glenn Bailey landing a Skimmer on his way to 4 lb 13 oz and 68 points.

Saturday 08/10/1994 - Nation Angling Championship - Division 2 - River Trent - Team Bristol

With the team having gained promotion in consecutive years we were now looking to make it from Division 2 to Division 1. Once again no practice or local expert help. Everyman for himself. However, we had three really good river anglers join us, volunteering to fish :

Rod Hill

Pete Phillips

Darren Gillman

We decided to travel up on the Friday morning and have a pleasure session off the match length. Andy Floyd travelled with me. I'm not sure where we fished but it wasn't far from the road where we parked. Andy and I selected to fish the Stick close in and caught lots of small fish - Gudgeon, Roach. However, Glenn Bailey fished the waggler well out and was catching some quality Roach to 1 lb. I had packed up and went and had a go on his waggler whilst he packed up. Had one decent Roach before I snapped the 1 lb hook length striking on a fish.

Not sure what happened on our pre-match drink in Nottingham. However, everyone was well hungover which was apparent by many not eating their breakfast. I thought Kev Boltz particularly looked the worse for wear

80 Teams of 12 - 960 anglers would line the mighty River Trent.

I was drawn peg L34. Which was between Holme and Winthorpe (peg shown with red dot).  Found the relevant coach and found myself sitting next to Andy Billington who was fishing for Mohmar, who had drawn peg 28. We had a good chat on the coach. When the coach stopped we found ourselves at the higher numbers of L section near M section. It was a long walk to our pegs with Andy having a bit further to walk than me. Arrived at my peg the river was running right to left.  To gain that extra downstream room I set up 1 metre above where the peg was placed as per Wayne Swinscoe's previous advice - all within the rules.

I noticed that all the anglers I could see had set up a heavy feeder rods and were practice casting 70 yards or so to the far bank - Chub the target I'm guessing. The rules only allowed using a bomb before the match and only casting a feeder during the match (should apply this rule on commercials nowadays). Both Ian Sprigg's and me had purchased Diawa 13 foot Porky Pig's for just this purpose with the reel line fitted with 6 lb shock leaders. So set that up remembering that Wayne said to hold the rod and to expect bites on the drop. However, it was very shallow over and wasn't convinced this would work. The angler downstream of me was having problems casting with one practice cast landing at my feet, made me jumpy after that, so kept an eye on him! He followed this up with a fair few crack-offs during the match. I also set a GB feeder for down the middle. The main flow was down my inside so set up and a 10 BB Crow Quill to fish at two rod lengths out where I had 12 foot of water. Never had time to set up the waggler.

I started on a maggot feeder and first cast I had a right drop back and thought I had missed it and after a long retrieve thinking there was nothing on the hook found a Gudgeon hanging on the hook. I carried on fishing the maggot feeder getting drop backs, every time thinking it was something decent, but only rewarded with small fish. I had been loose feeding the inside regularly with maggot and when a large Barge came down the middle we had to wind in so I picked up the Crow Quill and first trot down had a 2 lb Chub. Quickly followed another one about 1 lb. It went quiet so rested it and tried the GB feeder down the middle and had a few small 2 oz Skimmers. Spent the last hour on the Crow Quill and had two more Chub.

I weighed 7 lb 9 oz and discovered I was second in the section with 79 points. Walked back with Andy who had 1 oz less than me for third in the section. We were to meet up again in Denmark on the Embassy Pairs.

Back at the results and found that four of us was in the top 10 in our section and good backing points. We all waited with bated breath as the the team results were announced in reverse order. We were all elated to find we were third team overall - bronze with 665 points and promotion to the Division 1. More importantly we would be local on the Gloucester Canal. 

It was only whilst writing this that I relised we had beaten Trinders into fourth place. Just have a look at their team it's the who's who of match fishing especially the Trent.

Result:

Darnell Hoti AC took the team honours with 803 points With the match being won by Alan Simpson with 28 lb 5 oz of Chub.

Saturday 03/07/1993 - National Angling Championship - Division 3 - 16 and 40 Foot Drains - Team Bristol

None of us had previously fished this venue and didn’t enlist any coaching. As per usual it was every man for himself. I did some research and found that the 16, 20 and 40 foot drains were not named after the depth (thankfully), Width (much wider) or the fall across locks (flat landscape). The consensus was that because the Drains were built over 400 years ago the term “Foot” was not back then the unit of measurement we now understand and referred to the width by proportion between each Drain.

However, there was always plenty of Eels in these drains!

Andy Floyd travelled with me. I’m sure we stayed over night but can’t remember where or any of the antics team members got up to.

Team Bristol selected shown below.

85 Teams of 12 entered - 1,020 anglers lined the banks of these two drains.

I was drawn peg K 15 on the 16 Foot drain. No coach, instead found myself travelling by double decker bus. Tackle downstairs anglers up. I do remember just turning right on to the road that ran the length of the 16 Foot Drain and after a short drive we we were all looking out of the right side of the bus mesmerised by the number of Bream we could see up in the water. We were all hoping we had drawn there when someone spotted a peg and was indeed our section. The lad I was sat next to said that's my peg! The bus moved on a bit further and stopped. Unfortunately I had to walk away from this massive shoal of bream which were from pegs K30 to K37. I found my peg which was just below a bridge (pictured below with the red dot). It was about 100 yards from the Bream, but hopeful I might snare one or two.

My peg was right up against a bush to my right nearest to the bridge. Set up a feeder and an Eel rig for the pole. I plan to fish the feeder for 30-45 minutes as a look see. First thing was to put a big pot of white maggot in at 11.5 metres for my Eel line. Started on the tip with GB laced with caster in a Drennan feeder and double red on the hook cast 3/4 over. Whilst willing the tip to go round a family of Mink arrived by the tree. It look as if the young were being taught how to feed/swim. Never had any indications on the tip, but noticed the Mink had moved away and saw small fish topping under the tree. So I set up a shallow light rig to save a blank. I started to catch Roach fry one a bung. But felt it wouldn't lead to many points, so spent the second half of the match on the Eel rig catching the occasional Eel to 4 oz. It was extremely slow. I can't remember what I weighed or my points.

Got back on the bus sitting next to the same guy I came with who explained that when he got to is peg there was so many Bream up in the water all across the Drain he didn't know how he was going to put his keep net in the water without spooking them! The match winner came from peg 36 with 57 lb with six of these pegs coming in top 12!!

Got back to the headquarters and after a short chat with the team we started back home before the result was announced. Before we left Ian Spriggs who was in the next section down from me explained he set up a pole rig which he tried first, his float held up for some reason and did a speculative strike and found a 3 lb Bream on the end. Quite rightly Ian was expecting a good day, however, it was the only bite he had which was enough to come second in his section!

Driving back Andy and I tried to work out if we might have enough points for promotion. We concluded we did - just. I wont go into the details of Andy trying to call a recently deceased NFA official from my car phone in an attempt to see how we got on. We did indeed have enough points for promotion coming 10th and were delighted as we were eager to fish the division 2 National on a proper running river - The mighty Trent.

Result:

Saturday 12/09/1992 - National Championship - Division 4 - River Witham - Team Bristol

Three of us in the City of Bristol team were asked to join Team Bristol which were also struggling for team members, but like us had some good anglers and it made sense for me, Tony Rixon, Ian Spriggs, Pete Sivell to join them, with others transferring over later. Which meant this would be my third different National team, fourth if I count Bathampton non fishing Manager. We would be fishing Division 4 on the River Witham. 

Mark Jefferies arranged for some help from local ace Andy Finch. So because of work I would drive up and back in one day so took my son Steve with me who had just past his driving test to help with the driving. 

Arrived at the Witham where Andy was already set up and fishing. He explained his rig and feeding to us whilst catching Eels regularly in the 4 oz bracket. Basic Eel fishing bunches of white maggot over pots of the same. Tony Rixon and I love fishing for Eels and rushed off with our kit and was soon catching Eels one a bung. Not one Silver fish. Nice few hours before setting off.

We travelled up the night before and spent Friday night in Lincoln. For legal reason I haven't written about the night before these Nationals, I will leave this to others! All I will say is never share a room with Tony Rixon unless you get to sleep before him. Had my socks in my ears all night trying to drown out his snoring - heard nothing like it before or since.

On the day of the National 79 teams of 12 - 948 anglers would be lining the banks of the River Witham an old natural river and not a drain as some may think. I had fished a national on the river before – so not my first.

The Team Bristol comprising:

 Me

Tim Ford

Tony Rixon

Mark Jefferies

Mark Cook

Andy Floyd

Kevin Boltz

Glenn Bailey

Bob Shepherd

Paul Lombard

Pete Sivell

Martyn Woodington 

I was drawn peg M67 end section at Boston. I finally found the right M section coach which must have been brought out of retirement for the day as was the driver. We arrived at a housing estate and were told by the driver that we had to take everything we needed because he couldn’t leave the Coach there as the wheels would be stolen and likely vandalised. He went on to say it was a rough area and to expect youths throwing stones from the top of the high bank, and definitely not to retaliate. Good start. 

My peg shown in picture right with red dot, however, the picture is recent and it looks to me that the area has been redeveloped – possibly for the good. 

Whilst unloading the coach I overheard one angler say there were very few Eels at this end of the River. So the only plan scuppered. I then heard someone say there were plenty of small Silvers though. So I was already thinking of changing my plan.

A short walk to the river and found the banks very high and once down at my peg felt venerable if stones started flying. Tried to put it to the back of my mind and get on with the fishing. Found we all had plenty of room between pegs. 

As Bream wasn't mentioned I didn't bother with the feeder. So set up one of the many Eel rigs (which didn't get used)  and a 4x12 light Jolly with strung out shotting for the Silver fish. As usual I always take loads of kit and a variety of baits to these Nationals. I dug out some GB and Pinkies for starters. On the whistle I started by cupping in a ball of GB laced with some Pinkies at 11.5 metres and with single white maggot had a small 2 oz Skimmer first try – avoiding the dreaded blank. I had a good first hour catching small Skimmer, Perch and Roach, it then got harder. I was wishing I set up the waggler but was doing OK against the anglers around me. 

Halfway through there was some commotion a few pegs down from me, with what looked like stones being thrown into the river. It didn’t last for long. However, after about 30 minutes two young lads were running down the far bank being chased by a Policeman on a bike – keystone like. I kept an eye open but no one returned – probably still chasing them. 

The peg chirped up a few more Silvers in the final hour, but no bonus fish and NO eels!! I weighed 4 lb 9 ¾ lb for 65 points out of 79. 

The team came 13th with 602 points and promotion to division 3 which would see us on the 16 and 40 foot Drains the following year.

 Result:

Milo Mohmar won the team event and Paul Hillier winning the match with 28 lb 1 oz of Bream. The team was totally unware of the Blood Worm and Joker issue as we didn't even know it was allowed.

Saturday 20/07/1991 - National Championship - Division 5 - Gloucester Canal - City of Bristol

During the 80's and early 90's I had fallen in love with the Gloucester Canal and got up there as often as my life working away from home would allow, which meant missing some matches, being replaced by pleasure sessions. It's one of the few venues that I enjoy pleasure sessions and probably still will. A Canal with plenty of room for anglers and walkers, not that I saw many. The fishing wasn't affected by boat traffic as such because of the depth. If I was short on time or eager to get fishing I would head to Slimbridge (pictured right), primarily because it had easy access and a relative short drive. Park by the shop, over the bridge most often turning left and fish 50 yards up. Catching many bags of Bream to 50lb fishing maggot and GB at 13 metres. However, a large pleasure paddle boat would sometimes piss me off parking next to me with it's huge paddle left running lifting my keep net.  I sometimes went further up to to miss him but he usually found me, always a sign for a pint.

Most of the matches were fished from Hempstead down, with the famous bend and just before the hotspots. The matches were low weigh affairs, with less than 10 lb winning. I couldn't believe it when fishing my first match on the Gloucester I drew the bend, finding myself next to Kenny Giles - the then Shakespeare match team Captain. The team had developed the Sigma Wand with extremely sensitive tips designed especially for the Canal. I won one of theses rods at a previous match at Arrow Valley Lake and still have it. So the form was to loose feed maggot over the pole line, using either a light 1/8th ounce bomb (or linked shot) on the Wand or the pole on the same line. Roach being the target. However, I had been having some success on the Bristol Avon using a home modified tiny Drennan maggot feeder which I cut down to 12 mm diameter and 12 mm long and would take 6 or so maggots, so gave that a go. I think I weighed 3 lb or so, just beating Kenny. The match was won by Steve Webb just before the bend with I think 8 lb on the pole.

I mostly used the pole during pleasure sessions and developed my own style of fishing.  I used either a 1.0 or 1.5 gram float with a long wire stem and fine long plastic tip enabling shotting the tip. I found that laying shot on the bottom was less productive than small styles. My usual shotting - one Olivette 30 inches from the hook leaving about 1/4 gram for the dropper shot comprising a large number of mainly no 7 styles to 8 inches from the hook. I would plumb up and increase the depth until the float just dragged - job done. The 1.5 gram was reserved for when the Canal towed, and boy couldn't it tow at times, in both directions. Some said if the tow changed direction the fish would stop feeding because they had to turn around, not sure about this one!

With the Canal being 16 to 18 foot deep and having a limited number of top 5's for my pole I usually only set up the two rigs. The only other rig I might set up was a very light rig fully shotted with styles to fish short up the inside shelf for Roach - hemp and bronze maggot.

The City of Bristol team were fishing the South West Drennan Super League which had two matches on the Gloucester plus practice matches. The league also allowed Blood worm and Joker. I really like using these baits and always took them to venues where they were permitted. Blood Worm or Joker on a  Gamma Green hook were spot on for this type of fishing. I still have the complete range. If the Skimmers were in the area I would add a single red maggot with double Blood Worm. This worked well. The GB mix was always a conundrum, but basically plenty of leam and heavy sieved continental GB's laced with Joker to get it to the bottom in 18 foot of water that might be towing hard.

When the team heard the 5th Division National would be on the Gloucester Canal the following year we enlisted.

City of Bristol Team:

Me

Tony Rixon

Ian Spriggs

Jim Thomas

Alan Oram

Warren Bates

Nigel Wyatt

Steve Robinson

Pete Sivell

Steve Gostlin

Shay Gillman

Steve Hutchinson

We had all fished it enough not to have a team plan - just a bunch of individuals. I must admit that the years have affected my memory for this match. I was drawn peg L28 - Upper Purton. All I remember is fishing 13 metres all match with BandJ catching small fish all day - mainly Ruffe, which was a bugger to unhook especially the females - they just won't open their mouths! 

The team did reasonably well in a very tight match coming 12th out of 68 teams with 532 points with 675 winning - another 12 points each would have done it. I weighed  3lb 13 oz for 62 points - 7th in section. But the honors went to matey Ian Spriggs who drew lower Purton weighing 13 lb 8 oz for section win and third overall (second highest weight as there was a tie for first). I bet he sat on the feeder all match, who wouldn't at Purton.

Result:

Saturday 13/10/1990 - Division 5 - National Championship - River Trent - City of Bristol

Having left Fry's AA we resurrected the City of Bristol team under the sponsorship of Steve  Robinson the owner of ICEMECH. For me this meant starting again from the bottom in division five. 

I think it was only Tony that had fished it once before in the Matchman of the year final. I happened to meet Dennis Salmon on the Gloucester Canal the then Anglers Bookie. I asked what odds he would give me on Tony. "Who" he said and gave me 200:1 so I put £10 win on him. I saw Dennis again later and he made a point of saying he was shitting it for the first half of the match as Tony was well ahead of everyone else. Unfortunately for me and Tony his peg dried up.

We had a strong River team line up pictured.

We managed to get Wayne Swinscoe the Trent Legend to help us, spending the day with him walking all the sections. Wayne did arrange it so we were by the Lord Nelson pub. Wayne certainly liked his "Dark".

Pete Sivell had brought his feeder rod to check if was up to the long chucks to the far side. At Hoveringham Pete tied on an arlesey bomb and tried casting to where Wayne suggest he try to reach. Unfortunately for Pete he didn't have enough line on his reel and lost Line and sinker mid river.

I must say Wayne's knowledge of the river was impressive - nothing indecisive with this man. Peg by peg run down giving very few options of tackle. Just set up the feeder here and cast over there into the shadow for chublets, expect bites immediately. A whip here for Gudgeon  so on and so forth - he made things easy for us. I was left wishing I lived near this river.

No actual line wetting before the big day.

I booked the Sherwood Forest Hotel for our Friday overnight stay. Most of us had to work on the Friday and met up at Tony's shop at closing time. In convoy we didn't get to the hotel until after 21:00. It was a bit posh but not too shabby for me. However, the dining room had closed. After booking in we had to go through the lounge to our rooms where residents were sat with their after dinner drinks listening to a guy in dinner jacket playing a grand piano. It was interesting to see their response watching 12 anglers walking across the dance floor with grubby fishing tackle. As always on these Nationals we signed the official secrets act - what goes on at pre-national nights stays at pre-nationals.

98 teams of 12. 1,176 anglers. Decent turn out then.

I was drawn peg B8 section Holme March Weir Field. I could hear and smell the weir but not see it. Wayne was doing the rounds trying to get to us before the start. He told me to move my box upstream 1 metre (within the rules) and fish the waggler feeding on top of the the float. Delighted to hear it was a float peg. I just set up the waggler whilst everyone around me set up all sorts. The river was very wide which meant there were anglers opposite but wouldn't be an issue.

An easy match pursued fished at 25 metres with wag and mag. I think it was second cast I caught a 1 lb Tench!!! Didn't expect that nor the anglers around me. More amazement when I had another 1 lb Tench. I then started to catch the odd decent Roach whilst all around me were struggling. Ivan Marks was helping the team on the next peg who was blanking resulting in him fishing for fry in between large margin stones. Ivan came up to me and renamed me Tinca Tinca. Some years later we drew next to each other on the Trent and he immediately announced to his large gallery he was next to Mr.Tinca Tinca. Towards the end my peg got better with the penny dropping that I hadn't been feeding enough - bugger. Anyway with a blank one side and one tiny fish the other I was please to weigh 7 lb 8 oz for 54 points.

The team finished 24th but we weren't disappointed to find out that we didn't get promoted as the following year the National was on the Gloucester Canal - Home ground for us at the time.

The national was won by one of our local teams Avon Bait. With Team Bristol coming 4th just missing out on a medal. Unlucky.

Result:

Saturday 15/08/1987 - Division 4 - National Championship - River Severn - Fry's AA

The lads were delighted that having being promoted to the National Championship third division to find it was to be held on the mighty River Severn at Worcester. A river I had yet to fish and as a running running water venue I had always fancied. I don’t know whether it was due to our enthusiasm of being promoted or that the venue wasn’t too far away that we decided to have a practice match. I don’t think any of the other lads fished the river before either. The same team was selected. We understood that our normal feeder rods used on the Bristol Avon might not be man enough. So I had a look around for something suitable and was recommended the Severn - Trent 12 foot feeder rod hand made by Mel Storey. So I rang him and lucky enough Mel was having guitar lessons in Bristol so I met him at Eastville Park. The rod had three different top sections, very impressed.

The practice match was the usual pre-national affair with a big attendance. The draw was at the Worcester Horse racing ground which the Severn ran alongside. As I had a company car at the time Dave Clutterbuck travelled with me.

Dick Derrington was running the match and before the draw he announced that a certain section would have to wait to the side until the draw was complete. As it happened I drew this section. When Dick arrived he explained to the assembled group that we would have to follow him to a new car park which we must use or risk damage to our cars from a local farmer. I have to confess I had no idea where we were going and still don’t know where I had been. We arrived at the car park and once we unloaded Dick locked the car park gate. He gave instructions how to get to our pegs pointing out a pin point of a caravan on the horizon as a landmark to head towards – we were bound to hit the river! Now I was use to long walks but this proved to the furthest one to date. It wasn’t long before the moaning started about the walk. It got worse, once we arrived at the river we couldn’t find the peg numbers until someone ventured into the thick undergrowth to get to the river's edge and found a number. We worked out from this everyone's peg. However, it was necessary for me to walk through about 20 foot of undergrowth to get to the river's edge where I found a man made wall, which was handy for me to sit on to fish. I got set up with just two Rods the Mel Storey with a maggot feeder and a stick on the 14 foot Normark float rod.

I had no idea of the species I was fishing for so started on the maggot feeder three quarters over with double maggot hook bait. It wasn’t long before I was getting tiny twitches on the tip which I was sure was bootlace Eels. I kept striking and on examination found the maggots untouched. The twitches, striking and bait examination went on for a good hour with nothing to show for it. These indications stopped so picked up the float rod and started trotting down the inside where I had been loose feeding maggot. After about an hour I hooked something decent but it come off. On inspection I had a fish scale on the hook so foul hooked. I didn’t have a clue as to the species but decided in favour of a Chub. I persevered with this for another two hours just going through the motions when I realised the noise from the up stream angler had stop, I assumed he had packed in. I sat on the feeder for the last hour and didn’t get a bite. So a blank. The scales man came along whom I followed. There were lots of blanks with Steve Gardener winning the section with 14 lb of Chub on the maggot feeder. I noticed his peg was opposite a high natural cliff with a sheer drop into the river.

So I embarked on the long walk back. Nearing the end of the last field I noticed a group of anglers and was concerned someone might be in trouble, but as I got closer I could hear laughing and joking. When I arrived there were four angler’s playing cards using their tackle boxes and side trays as a card table. Rumours’ had it that some of the card players hadn’t even made it to the river, and some had packed in early. Anyway I followed Dick back to the Headquarters thinking who takes playing cards fishing. Perhaps it’s something you do on the river Severn?

I collected Dave who I think had weighed a couple of pound. We stopped in a local Chippy and had the best part of the day.

I couldn't stop thinking about the twitching I was getting. I asked the other lads but it seemed I was the only one who experienced this. Just before the National I read an article explaining how Barbel can blowing the bait about giving tiny indications. I'm was subsequently convinced I found my culprit. In my defence up to then I had only caught them on the float. So if I experienced this again I would have to ignore such indications until I had a wrap round.

The day of the national. The location and some of details of the practice match was vague, but it got worse. I travelled again with Dave Clutterbuck to the Race course. I can’t remember what peg I was drawn but located the appropriate transfer coach. I remember the coach arriving at the river and parked on road bridge. Luckily I didn’t have far to walk downstream to my peg. I did notice a huge lock gate 25 foot highish so there must have been a weir close by. Again I had to fight through some undergrowth to get to the river and was pleasantly surprised to find a wide shingle beach in front of me which was shallow with a slack in front enabling me to wade out. The main flow was on the far bank. The setup the same as the practice match. Again I started on the maggot feeder but with some extra lead to hold over in the fast water. After a few minutes with no indications or these tiny twitches I really started not to fancy it, but stuck with it for the first hour. With no indications I was glad to switch to the stick float where I had been loose feeding maggot on the crease of the flow and first try with maggot had a Dace followed by more Dace and the occasional Roach. I then hooked a decent fish which was a very welcome 8 oz Eel. What I had learnt from these 1000 peg matches you are generally fishing for ounces rather than pounds for good team points. So I kept on with the stick adding the odd Dace and Roach by casting around the swim. I heard two stewards meet up behind me with one explaining that an angler downstream from me had a 10 lb Carp! I didn’t expect to hear that. From memory I finished with about 6 lb which would have been very good section points. No need for the playing cards!!

It now gets vaguer I don’t know how the team did the last thing I remember is dropping Dave off at home.

The Mel Storey rod remained a virgin. I did get to win a few quid with it on the Bristol Avon when in flood. However, Dad took a liking to the rod and had it on permanent loan. It now resides in my garage holding fond  memories.

Team Browning took the team honours for the second year running.

Saturday 16/08/1986 - Division 4 - National Championship - River Witham - Fry's AA

Although I had been involved with Bathampton AA as Team Manager for some big matches including National Championships, this was to be my first National actually fishing rather than reserving myself.

I had been fishing both the Bristol Commercial House and AT Winter Leagues with Fry's AA. The Fry's club decided to join the National Federation of Anglers solely to fish the National Angling Championships. This would mean starting from the bottom, in division 4. I was selected to fish. I didn't realise at the time what a traumatic event it would prove to be.

We hadn’t practiced nor elicited any local help. I was told the river Witham was similar to the Huntspill, so that's OK then as all of us fished the river regularly.

The team comprised of those listed right.

The plan was to meet at the Fry’s bottom car park on Friday at 12 - midnight. John and Mike Angell were to drive a transit with the tackle in and the rest of us would travel in a mini bus driven by Gordon Bracey. We all expected where possible to travel by motorway when we found ourselves on the A46 heading towards Stroud we wondered where we were going only to be informed by Gordon that he intended to follow the Fosseway to Lincoln as he doesn’t drive on motorways!! Blimey what a journey it turned out to be. It wasn't long before Gordon lost the A46 in Cheltenham, so a nice drive around the town centre! No one slept as we were all busy talking tactics but mostly keeping an eye on Gordon. We arrived at 07:30 just in time for the 08:00 draw. My body now relised I hadn’t slept for 24 hours.

Got myself a program and found that 76 teams of 12 would be fishing 912 anglers. Typical numbers for a national back then.

Our Team Captain handed me peg C69. I had no idea where this was and to this day not sure, but think it was somewhere on the famous Kirkstead Bend. So off I go and find coach C covering the appropriate peg numbers. I was hoping to sit next to someone on the coach that had some knowledge, local or otherwise. The angler I found myself sat next to didn't have a clue either and hadn’t heard of the Huntspill so guessed he knew less than me. All loaded and names checked off when the coach driver - flat cap and about 80 years old was asking us for directions and as no one could help it looked as if I was the most knowledgeable at least I knew where the Huntspill was! After some advice from another coach driver who directed him to a bungalow in the far distance where he was advised he could get a cuppa (very flat landscape similar to the Somerset levels). We were soon driving alongside the River Witham. The driver came to a stop by the bungalow I wasn't sure he should have driven along the bank and should have dropped us off at the end of the main road instead. The Bungalow was selling drinks so I joined the driver and got a black coffee - God it was so welcome. I then went in search of my peg, which luckily was right in front of the Bungalow – I’m thinking thanks driver – but would it be a long walk back to the road?

The banks of the river were very dry and crumbly, so getting my seat box down I fell over with all the contents of my Ken Collin’s tackle box being strewn over the bank. I also spilled the near full cup of coffee. Just as I was sorting myself out the search steward arrived to check for any hidden fish with the contents of my box on full display he didn't bother much. He did look up the landing net handle for Eels.

I decided I needed coffee so went and got another. I now only had time to set up the pole to fish at about fours sections over the marginal weed and a GB feeder rod to fish as far as I could – it was twice as wide as the Huntspill – but did seem a lot like it.

I sat waiting the very few minutes for the all in and fell asleep falling of my box! I had missed the all in as anglers around me were already fishing. With my performance so far I suspect neighbouring anglers were thinking what a plonker. I started on the feeder and to say the fishing was slow during the first hour I hadn’t had a bite nor had anyone I could see – very much like the Huntspill then. My eyes were beginning to close again when I saw the tip move slightly and stuck into a bootlace Eel. This woke me up and had four more bootlaces. I had been loose feeding white maggot over the margin weed and decided I was awake enough to try the pole with triple white on the hook. First try I had an 8 oz Eel followed by a smaller one. Then a two fish a small Roach and a Perch. The match then ended which left me thinking the five hours passed quickly – did I sleep some more I wondered.

Being at the end of the section it took a while to weigh in my 880 grams (1 lb 15 oz) which beat both sides. Fishing similar to the Huntspill at the time. The driver obviously wanted another cuppa so drove back along the bank to pick us up which left no one with much of a walk. We arrived back at Headquarters where the driver got a round of applause and a few tips. I think he was winding us up about not knowing where he was going.

I’m not sure how many points I or the team had but we did get promoted to division 3 earning a place on the River Severn the following year.

Paul Stanton won the match with 17 lb 3 oz of Bream on Whitehouse Bend.

The London top outfit Trev’s came out top team.

I remember Mike Angell taking over driving the bus from Gordon and drove us back on the motorway, but not before we had some fish and chips just outside the Headquarters. I slept all the way back as did the rest of the team.

RIP matey Gentleman Gordon Bracey.