Boyd, 12 February 2012 (icebreakers at dawn)

A heavy overnight frost meant that the ice which had thinned out considerably (much like Alan Healy's hair) over recent days had returned with a vengeance.  However, half an hour of demolition with various ice-breaking implements soon put paid to that problem.
Unusually, following the ice-breaking barage, the fish were slow to switch on and some were saying after the match that they never had a bite for over 2 hours.
This wasn't the case though for Boyd supremo and one rig expert, Simon Belcham who was catching well from the off on the golden peg, peg 2, with red maggot on the hook and feeding next to nothing.


Over on peg 4 however, in form Alan Healy opted for a more positive approach fishing white maggot and feeding heavily which resulted in a narrow win with 12lbs 6oz of good quality roach which was enough to push Simon into second by just 4oz.

• Pictures courtesy of Roy Garland 

Full result: 

1. Alan Healy ......... peg 4 .... 12-6
2. Simon Belcham* ...... 2 ..... 12-2
3. Bob Warren .............. 12 ... 7-4
4. Dave Tippet .............. 9 ..... 6-1
5. Steve Burgess ........... 8 ..... 5-15
6. Darren North ............ 5 ..... 5-9
7. Keith Ray ................. 1 ..... 4-6
8. Mike Wilson ............. 7 ..... 3-14
9. Steve Wynne ............. 3 .....3-9
10. Kev Jefferies ............ 10 ... 3-12
11. Steve Wynne ............ 3 ...... 3-9
12. Chris Gay ................. 6 ...... 3-6

*golden peg