HUNGARIANS DOMINATE FEEDERMASTERS ALL-STARS
Third-placed Preston Innovations’ man Lee Kerry is best of the Brits
THE great and good of UK and continental feederfishing assembled at Barston Lakes last week for the inaugural Preston Innovations Feedermasters All-Stars event.
The three days of action culminated in a result dominated by Hungarian travelling partners Matyas Sivak and former float World Champion Walter Tamás.
It was fished by 69 anglers at the Solihull water, including internationals, household UK names and 10 anglers who applied for a place online.
Total weight decided the event, with Matyas winning with a combined tally of 160-3-0, Walter taking 133-2-0 and man of the moment Lee Kerry being the best of the Brits in third on 102-12-0.
Champion Matyas got off to flying start, winning Friday’s match with 92-11-0 from famed peg 124, a combination of groundbait and maggot feeder tactics at 45m giving him four carp, seven F1s and 20 bream and skimmers. Saturday was harder at peg 111 with a hardearned 29-4-0 of skimmers on groundbait feeder and maggot, but from that point the aim of the game was consolidating his lead on Sunday with a steady performance.
The Hungarian managed that with 38-4-0 of skimmers and F1s off peg 53 just round from the point on the river bank as again groundbait feeder and maggot at 45m did the job. That put him well clear of Walter, whose highlight was a final day 55-5-0 net from peg 122.
Victory earned Matyas around £2,500. Walter pocketed £1,500 for his troubles to make it a profitable few days for the two internationals.
“We couldn’t be happier with how the event went and it all came from an idea about having an international-based feeder festival that would appeal to continental anglers,” said Lee Kerry, who ran the event alongside fellow Preston Innovation man Mick Vials. “As many companies as we could think of were contacted, asking them to nominate two or three of their top anglers. We also asked former Feedermasters finalists along, as well as running a competition to offer 10 places to the everyday match angler.
“Deciding the match on weight, I think is better on an individual event as you’re not out of it on the final day, whereas on points you may as well pack up and go home after two blow-outs. Weight means there’s still a chance,” Lee continued. “Matyas and Walter are class acts, but the maggot feeder, for example, was totally alien to them. But with mates such as Will Raison, they were soon put right and showed their class.
“The idea now is to do it all again, but we’ll have to be careful not to clash with any dates not only at home but also abroad – there will be an international-style festival in 2019 but we just need to settle on the date!” he added.
“We couldn’t be happier with how the event went. It all came from an idea about having an international-based feeder festival”
Result: 1 M Sivak, Hungary, 160-3-0; 2 W Tamás, Hungary, 133-2-0; 3 L Kerry, Preston Innovations, 102-12-0; 4 F Gianoncelli, Preston Innovations, 98-8-0; 5 S Hemingray, Drennan, 90-13-0; 6 W Raison, Daiwa, 88-14-0.