WHO’S UP FOR THE BIG FISH O’ FINAL?
24 to battle it out in Hayfield final
AFTER 24 rounds stretching back to March, the line-up for this weekend’s Fish O’Mania XXV final is complete.
Ryan Lidgard was the last qualifier, and he’ll be joining match anglers from around the UK and continental Europe for a crack at the £50,000 top prize.
South Yorkshire’s Maver/ Dynamite Baits Hayfield Lakes is where it will all happen on Saturday on live TV.
Large crowds and the assembled ranks will see former champions and multiple finalists rubbing shoulders with first-time qualifiers in the culmination of British match fishing’s original big-money event, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Ryan booked his place by topping the final qualifier at Lindholme Lakes, weighing in 323-3-0 of big carp and F1s taken from Loco Lake on pellet shallow, but he’ll be up against some tough competition.
Saturday’s action gets underway at 12.05pm with half-hourly weigh-ins to create an ever-changing leaderboard before the final finishes five hours later.
But who will be joining the Fish O’ winners hall of fame? Triple champion Jamie Hughes is an obvious candidate, but last year’s runner-up Andy Power will be present, along with champ Nathan Watson, who won when the final was previously held at Hayfield back in 2002. Add to that equation regular money-winners on the UK circuit, including Steve Openshaw and Adam Richards, who have both been in the final before – plus Oliver Scotthorne, son of five-times World Champion Alan – and it all adds up to a formidable 24-man field.
Alongside the main Fish O’ final the Junior and Ladies matches will both be fished on the Island Lake, with £1,000 on offer to the winner of each. These matches
kick off at 11am and 11.30am, respectively, in order to finish before the final.
Spectator entry is free, but a ticket will be required to get in. You can get yours simply by cutting out the ticket on this page and handing it in. There is a car park charge of £5.
Once in, aside from the fishing, there will be catering stands plus the on-site Hayfield pub where you can enjoy a drink.