THE MATCH ITSELF
THE match is split into two zones on either side of the reservoir. There are favoured areas and pegs, but the zones are pegged to be as fair as is possible.
Day one created a cracking buzz around the café with everyone eager to see what it would bring, and it didn’t disappoint. Incredibly, 59 of the 60 competitors had 10lb-plus of silvers, with over half managing 20lb or more. That’s some fishing!
Just 5lb separated 19 anglers in one area. Gaz Lambert led the day with 37-12-0, followed by Dean Barlow on 35-0-0.
We believe anglers work hard to qualify, so along with the £12,000 top prize, a total of £33,000 is spread out across the top 20 anglers, with 10th spot winning £1,000 and every five-peg section winner pocketing £100. Everyone has something still to fish for going into day two.
On Sunday battles took place across the field. In the lower pegs, roach were the main target which, after my 32-0-0 of skimmers on day one, meant I had to target roach and hope things went well enough for me to make the frame.
Elsewhere, skimmers were coming thick and fast for many, with Danny Wilson catching a good stamp to back up his 32-00 day one weight.
As the match drew to a close it was far too close to call and after tense weigh-ins, every angler managed over 10lb. It was another astonishingly close match, as just over 5lb separated 20th to 10th place!
On a personal note my 36-0-0 of roach catapulted me to the top of the leader board and, as you can read in the match report in this issue, that made me Preston Innovations FeederMasters champion for 2019.
The event was a great success and one I will never forget! Here’s to the next one.