WADE ON WATER with Richard Wade

THERE was a superb end to Lychgate Fisheries Lychomania series as the top five in Monday’s final all weighed over 60lb.

A battle for top spot between two of the venue’s top anglers ensued.

Steve Brindley was on peg 17 while last year’s Lychomania winner, Andy Findlay was on peg 13. At the end it was Steve Brindley who was crowned the new Lychomania 2018 champion, after weighing 88lb 12ozs of carp caught on pole fished pellet.

Andy Findlay had to settle for the runners up spot with an 84lb 12oz catch.

Third place went to Jonny Harvey with a 65lb 3oz catch, Mark Sidwells came fourth with 64lb 5oz while Ian Shirley completed the top five with a 61lb catch.

Section winners were; Luke Winstanley, 35lb 12ozs.Andy Atkins 31lb 4ozs; Garry Kitching 27lb 4ozs; Robin Duffy 30lb 10ozs; Paul Bates 57lb 12ozs which also included the days biggest “Silver fish” catch, a 35lb 12oz net of bream and tench.

The top four anglers in Lut- terworth’s match on Trotters Lake at Holly Farm, all used leger tactic’s.

Ian Stripp used bomb and corn to land a winning 68lb of carp. Micky Davis finished second with 63lb 9ozs while Colin Clarke came third with 43lb 6ozs.

Saturday’s Summer League match at Higham Lane was won by Andy Findlay.

Drawn on peg five Andy caught on pole fished pellet with a late switch to bomb and pellet kept the fish coming as he finished with 71lb 6ozs.

Mick Linnett used pole and pellet to take second place with 54lb 11ozs while Jim Spradbury finished third with 38lb 11ozs.

A net of “Silver fish” boosted by a last minute 8lb 5oz carp gave Andy Atkins a narrow win in Saturday’s Lychgate Fisheries Open match.

Drawn on peg 42 Andy pole fished soft pellets close in, catching mainly bream all match, but that carp gave him the win as it boosted his weight to 42lb 6ozs.

Paul Bates, who for once concentrated on catching carp, used bunches of dead maggots to catch mainly carp in a 40lb 4ozs catch.

Steve Zseli was third with 33lb 3os while Mark Sidwells came fourth with a 27lb catch.

Thursday’s Higham Lane Open was won by Paul Cooke who pole fished pellet on peg 17 to weigh a level 50lb. Dave Hurlston came second with 38lb 7ozs narrowly beating Alan Grewcock on the next peg who had to settle for third place with 36lb 9ozs.

There was a close finish to Brookfields Open match at Stoke Golding on Sunday.

David Sutton won his second match in a row with a 27lb 6oz catch from peg one.

Stu Campton finished second with 26lb 2oz from peg 18. Glen Morris came third with 13lb 14ozs.

Catches were unusually slow in Higham Lane’s Wednesday evening open as the fish were preoccupied feeding on a large hatch of buzzers.

Darren Milne needed just 33lb to win. Mark Ward came second with 15lb 9ozs while Kev Milne finished third with 12lb 10ozs.

Matches at Lychgate are usually close but Wednesday’s Open produced a rare tie for top place between Glyn Davies on peg 30 and Chris Duffy on peg 52. Both anglers weighed 43lb 12ozs.

A small roach that Glyn dropped off and then watched as it worked its way back into the water, proved to be costly. Robin Duffy came third with a 38lb 12ozs catch.

Spawning fish put the lid on hopes of bumper catches in Maynes Lakes mid week Open.

Wayne Harris tempted a few fish on bread to win with 19lb 4ozs. Result; Pool One Alan Wilson 13lb 13ozs from peg 32. Pool 2; Wayne Harris from peg 10.

DM Floats Bank Holiday contest at Higham Lane resulted in another win for Darren Milne who landed four good carp to weigh 30lb from peg eight.

Paul Cooke also caught four carp, but they were much smaller, weighing 17lb 8ozs for second place. Kev Milne finished third again, with 17lb 4ozs.

It will be a busy start for local canal anglers when the season begins on June 16.

Measham Angling Club have their annual members Merrick Cup match on June 16, draw 1.30pm at the Globe Inn, fishing 2.30pm till 5.30pm.

Then the following day it’s Shackerstone’s Annual Teams of Four, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Entries must be in by June 3.

Contact either John Gamble on 01455 445335 or Andy Smith on 01530 263170.

Higham Lane Fishery have an Open match every Wednesday evening, draw 5.30pm and every Thursday, draw 9am.

Lychgate Fisheries have Open matches every Saturday, draw 9am and every Sunday draw 11am.

Brookfield have an Open match this Sunday, draw 9am.

Maynes Lakes have an Open match every Wednesday, draw 10am.

Lychgate Fisheries have an Open match every Wednesday, draw 9am. FOUNDED in 1974, Hinckley Basketball Club has completed this season with a creditable sixth place for the A team, in division two, and fifth for the B team, in division four of the Leicestershire Men’s League.

The club is always welcoming new players.

A spokesman said: “Our formal training sessions have ended for this season but many of the squad attend the open basketball session at Hinckley Leisure Centre on Tuesday evenings from 8pm.

“If you are interested just turn up for pay-and-play on the night.

“Our home base is Green Towers Young People’s Club, Mondays 7-9 pm.

“We begin club training on Monday September 3 with fixtures starting at the end of September.

“Anyone who might be interested is welcome to turn up then to meet the squad.

F”or further information contact Terry Byng (01455 445638, terrybyng@hotmail.com).”

Mark Szymkowiak, supported by others from Hinckley Basketball Club, continues to offer sessions for youngsters, aged 8 or above, on Saturdays at Green Towers 1.45 - 2.45 p.m.

Usual Green Towers fees which are £1.50 for members and £3 for none member.