Angling
Alvechurch secure cup success

Buy photos » The successful Alvechurch Fisheries team celebrate their success at Tunnel Barn Farm. Picture courtesy of Angling Times. (s)

ALVECHURCH Fisheries produced a superb performance to be crowned Angling Times/Bait-Tech Clubman Supercup champions.

The prestigious event took place at the prolific Tunnel Barn Farm, Shrewley, and Alvechurch overcame the challenge of 15 teams to win Britain's biggest club angling competition.

A third placed finish in the Midlands final secured Alvechurch's place at Tunnel Barn Farm and the team, made up of captain Warren Beach, Les Ayres, Lee Davis, Wayne Russon, Tony Musticone and Paul Reynolds fished superbly to emerge victorious. Glen Maxwell was forced to miss the final but played a significant part in the earlier rounds.

Alvechurch, whose home fishery is based on Bittell Road, have good knowledge of Tunnel Barn Farm but they did not have things all their own way in the final, scoring 23 penalty points to finish just three clear of Finedon AS and seven ahead of Ridgemere AC in third.

Local knowledge did not necessarily prove beneficial as with the sun shining, Alvechurch's initial game plan did not work, as Beach explained.

"Being relatively local we had practised a fair bit and sorted out fishing shallow, which we thought would play a big part with the weather, so we were mortified when none of us could catch on it.

"After an hour I think we were all looking in margins with worm, caster and maggot, going for the shallowest water we could find on a top kit plus one section."

By the end they were catching steadily though and deservedly ended up with the £1000 prize money and Supercup trophy.

Full results: Alvechurch Fisheries, 23 points; Finedon AS, 26; Ridgemere AC, 30; Hemsworth Angling, 32; Lowhills, 44; Dersingham, 46; Fisherman’s Way, 49 (section countback); Tendring Tanglers, 49; JVAC, 50; Guildford, 52; Riverside, 53; Hull Fish Trades, 63; Ashmole Rodders, 64; Angel of the North, 65; AEC, 72.

THE FISHERIES Thursday PM Open saw 16 fish and Gary Waldron came out on top with 111lb 4oz from peg 30.

After a number of close second place finishes, Waldron finally triumphed when fishing his favourite pellet waggler to the island, to catch carp up to 6lb and F1 hybrids.

Steve Bellion had to settle for second from peg seven where he fished paste in front and down the edge to weigh in 104lb 5oz.

Ian Coxon, on peg 13, caught on the pole and pellet, in front and down the edge to net carp, F1 hybrids and silvers totalling 84lb 1oz.

Ron Taylor finally picked up a deserved victory in Sunday's AM Open when he fished from peg 11.

He fished pole and pellet at 16m, shallow and to the island for carp up to 6lb and F1 hybrids for a net of 104lb 8oz.

He was given an almighty scare with an hour remaining though when a carp showed enough strength to take off with three sections of his pole, but fortunately boatman Evans was on hand to rescue the situation.

It was decided following a steward's enquiry that Taylor was not allowed to weigh in the retrieved carp, but he still held off the challenge of Pete Lemon in second place, who, from peg 36, fished pellet waggler and bomb for carp and F1 hybrids.

For more information about Alvechurch Fisheries, visit www.alvechurch-fisheries.co.uk.

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