ARTHUR’S ARCHIVES Kev Ashurst the champ

It’s one of angling’s most famous pictures, featuring one of angling’s greatest stars

“There’s more tigers in yon trees than fish in this river”

THIS iconic picture shows the scenes after one of our greatest-ever match anglers, Kevin Ashurst, became World Champ in 1982, following a series of near misses.

It was probably more of a relief for his team mates than it was for him. After all, the Worlds is a team event – you can’t get in on your own. They made their feelings abundantly clear when they hoisted him shoulder-high.

The match itself, on the Newry Canal in Northern Ireland, was a pretty dour affair, with just over 1lb 7oz needed to win. Added to that, spectators – normally roped off behind the anglers – had to watch through binoculars from the opposite bank. Those shortfalls don’t detract from the achievements of Big Kev, and what an angler he was. Hailing from Leigh in Lancashire, he made his debut for England in the 1970 World Champs and was a man of few words who approached every swim with a fearless confidence.

I drew next to him on one of the old London AA matches on the Thames at Hurley. It was a hard day and I matched Kev fish-for-fish. The trouble was we were fishing to the old Thames size limits and I had more undersized fish and a couple of scraper chub, while Kev’s chevin brace weighed over 5lb.

It was the day he coined a phrase I’ve repeated many times. BAA chairman Fred Jennings stood behind us and asked Kev what was happening. “Does’t know Fred, there’s more tigers in yon trees than fish in this river,” came the reply.

A few years later in 1980, when I won my section and finished second on the Division One National, Kev finished in the frame, I think eighth, and won H section. As I squeezed past him to collect my medal, Kev said: “Has’t tha fished sahz limits today then Keith? Well done.” It was one of the finest compliments I’ve ever received.

The best quote I know about Kevin came from a match where he was emptying the Trent on a waggler just before a friendly England v France match. One of the French officials commented how well he was fishing the new tactic. A bystander said: “You should see him on the stick!”

The Frenchman, unaware of the relevance, said, laughing: “Does he beat them with it?” He got the correct response: “All too bloody often mate.”

What an angler.