Rood Ashton Pairs Match, 10 June (21 pegs)

A full house today with 21 fishing on a typically wet and miserable June day.   I suppose a few more could have been squeezed in around the back of the lake in the jungle but it would have meant some serious battling through the undergrowth and a day's fishing out of sight (and earshot) of anyone else which would be no fun.
For a bit of a change, seeing as we don't normally bother with a silvers payout, I thought I'd make this a one-off pairs match with £60 in the pot for the winning couple.  As it happened the winning couple came first and second which was a bit of a flook but at least it didn't take me long to work out the winners!
Owner's son Alan was on hand to collect the peg fees and (as on previous occasions) offered a £50 bonus for anyone who broke the venue record of 225 lbs(ish) and I'm sure I saw him have a little chuckle to himself as he drove off as, for what it was worth, he might just as well have offered a £50,000 bonus!
As it turned out it fished hard with only the usual fliers producing anything of note.  The car park bank was particularly difficult apart from peg one which is always good for a few fish due to the huge reed bed that stretches out in front of it providing a home for the lake's residents.  Things improved from the middle of the left bank and round to the back where the best pegs (and the bigger fish) are, although there were a couple of hiccups.  Most notably for Adam Caswell who has been firmly stamping his name on the Thursday evening Docks series of late, who could only manage 31lbs from end peg 21.
But at least it does go to show that it is possible not to win every match from that peg!
Winner on the day was Mike Smith on peg 20 (the concrete overflow).  Mike (pictured above right) fished paste and pellet at 6m for a total of 98lbs 4oz which even he couldn't moan about.

Next best, and Mike's pairs partner, was Chris Szakacs (left) on peg 15 with 68-10 of carp caught on a banjo feeder (not a method feeder) with banded pellet and groundbait fished about two thirds across towards the island.
Unusually, Chris opted to fish the full six hours which was just as well as Mark Radford finished just one fish behind him from peg 1. 
One-trick-pony Mark unsurprisingly  fished paste at 13m close to the reeds (and occasionally in them) for a total of 66-1.
Fourth place went to new member Pete Uzzell with 45-14 from peg 19 who also caught on paste at 9m straight out and to the overhanging bush on the left.
Finishing up the frame was another new member, Chris Mastrey on peg 13 who fished the method feeder into open water at about 30m loaded with 3mm pellet and alternated between banded pellet and a white mini boilie on the hook for 45-2 despite not having had a bite for two hours.
Poor Alan Healy had a bit of a nightmare in corner peg 9.  I've been told that this peg can be a flier when the wind is blowing in that direction (which it was) but not today as Alan was biteless for the best part of the match and despite a few fish turning up late he could only manage 18-4 costing him a "full house" of pound coins and another big dent in his collection which must be looking a bit sparse right now!

Overall result:

1. Mike Smith (20) ......... 98-4
2. Chris Szakacs (15) .......... 68-10
3. Mark Radford (1) ........... 66-1
4. Pete Uzzell (19) ............. 45-14
5. Chris Mastrey (13) ......... 45-2
6. Rich Britton (2) .............. 37-12
7. Steve Burgess (14) ......... 36-14
8. Brian Shanks (4) ............ 35-15
9. Rich Jones (18) .............. 32-2
10. Kev Jefferies (3) ............ 31-4
11. Adam Caswell (21) ........ 31-0
12. Lionel Legge (7) ............ 25-15
13. Darren North (17) .......... 25-1
14. Paul Reed (16) ............... 21-12
15. Derek Lucas (6) ............. 19-12
16. Alan Healy (9) ............... 18-4
17. Steve Wynne (5) ............ 14-9
18. Ron Hardiman (10) ........ 14-2
19. Simon Belcham (12) ...... 14-1
20. Keith Ray* / Ryan Radford .... dnw

*golden peg

Pairs:

1. Chris Szakacs / Mike Smith  (41)  166-14
2. Pete Uzzell / Adam Caswell (29)  76-14
3. Kev Jefferies / Rich Britton (28)  69-0
4. Chris Mastrey / Lionel Legge (27)  71-1
5. Mark Radford / Steve Wynne (24)  80-10
6. Steve Burgess / Derek Lucas (22)  56-10
7. Paul Reed  /  Rich Jones (21)  53-14
8. Keith Ray / Brian Shanks (16)  35-15
9. Darren North / Ron Hardiman (13)  39-3
10. Alan Healy / Simon Belcam (9)  32-5

There will be a meeting at the Midland Spinner tomorrow night (Tuesday 12th) where I will be taking bookings for Trinity (17th), Sedges (24th) and Avalon (July 1st).  Only 20 pegs on Sedges (brick lake) so this one could fill up quick but there should be plenty of room on the other two.