El Bosquet Spring Festival
ON Tuesday, March 28, we held the first day of the annual Spring Festival at El Bosquet complex near Crevillente.
A total of 23 anglers took part and the match was split into five sections. Upon our arrival we found that the temperature had dropped to an alarming three degrees at 07.30 and this, I am sure, was the reason behind the low weights.
Winner on the first day was the Welsh wizard, Doug Hornblow, drawn on the much-fancied end peg seven, he initially caught on the bomb across on maggot, but later on the pole for a convincing victory with 15.72kg. In second place, on the adjacent peg six was ex-England international and tackle dealer Vinny Smith. He fished the pole again on maggots for 12.82kg. Taking third place was John Waples who caught under the bush on the rejuvenated peg 32 with 12.16kg.
Other section winners were Paul Davies with 8.80kg from peg B1, Barry Smith had 6.32kg from peg 21 and Martin Fisher took 3.54kg from peg 36.
Most of the weights were very close and it was all to play for on the second day.
Day two was fished in very similar warm conditions, although a little overcast at times.
Winner on the day, from the fancied peg 26 was Alan Reid. Alan fished nothing but the method feeder with a variety of baits to weigh 15.58kg. In second place was our Valencian raider, John Havercroft who used similar tactics from peg 27 for 12.64kg. In third place, once again, was John Waples, who, despite losing a lot of fish, weighed 12.26kg from the fancied peg one.
Other section winners were Alan Priest with 9.50kg from peg five, Nick Bastock had 8.08kg from peg 19 and Richard Smith took 11.66kg from peg 40.
The festival was a pretty close-run affair, but the outright winner was Dougie Hornblow, John Waples was second and John Havercroft was third.
They say that the most important thing in any sport is the taking part and, after spending many long hours in the organising of this event, I certainly finished the strongest of the field - holding everyone up in last place. Hey-ho that’s fishing!