22/08/25 - Float only knockout final - Main Lake, Revels.

The 2025 knockout series started well, had a dip in the middle, and picked up at the end in an all-be-it confusing manner. Over winter predation had taken its toll on the stock pond which was evident on the results as each round ticked by.

A good start by Alec Campbell with a 9lb win in the first round had the venue ‘on form’. But the 1lb 5ozs win by Alfie Ellis in the second round was followed by a last minute one fish win by Josh Roe in the third round. The 8lb Carp snatched the win from Alexander Adey who had only 4 tiny Roach in his net, and this all happened in the last 5-minutes of the match.

With the fourth round cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances, A spot for the final was opened to a heaviest weight runner up instead of five qualifying round winners.

Jayce Hardware claimed this place with an 8lb+ weight in the fifth round which was won by Jack Copp with a 20lbs+ weight on Dead Tree Lake.

What I am going to call a ‘Bit of a Whoopsie’ caused the final to move yet again. This time to the Main Lake where we were given pegs 6, 7, 8, 9, &10 to play with. This meant that we could keep an eye on all five competitors without moving far from one spot!

I say all, Josh was just a squeaky voice from the far side of a large clump of rushes…

Alec Campbell in peg 1 (perm peg 6) drew the first blood with a Carp in the opening minutes of the match, opening the possibility of an upset to the predicted result. Sadly, a practice at Todber Manor earlier in the day and moody evening fish at Revels meant that this was his only Carp and he weighed 4lbs 10ozs with handful of small fish as backup.

Alfie Ellis was on peg 2 (perm peg 7) and was off to a slower start. He took advice onboard and actioned it quickly. With only two hours to play with, he had no choice. But he did it well and ended the evening with three Carp for 14lbs and a runner up spot.

Jayce Hardware had drawn the flyer on peg 3 (perm peg 8) and the peg was screaming fish all evening. But with limited pole experience and a method feeder not allowed, he was left to try and catch them with a Waggler float. Not ideal in the early breezy conditions. With tail patterns creasing the surface everywhere, his float remained frustratingly stationary. He threw caution to the wind and nailed a little Carp late on for 3lbs 2ozs.

Peg 4 (perm peg 9) sat Jack Copp. The smart money was on him for the win, and they were right. Displaying his advanced knowledge and skill, it did turn out be a bit of a walkover for Jack who weighed in a decent bag of Carp for 21lbs 10ozs, the title of knockout champion, and vouchers to the value of £30.

Well done mate, impressive stuff…

Josh Roe had drawn peg 5 (perm peg 10) and was in constant communication with Jack from the other side of some large vegetation. For much of the match, he was keeping up with Jack for numbers of fish, but what Jack couldn’t see was that only two of these fish were of a competitive size… It kept Jack on his toes and caused some laughs at the end as two Carp and two silverfish were tipped into the weighing bucket.

Josh finished the evening with 8lbs.

Congratulations to Jack on his resounding win…

I admit to feeling sad that the stock pond has lost its form and its fish. But Revels is a pleasant place to be on a summers evening, and these short matches are still good fun.

At the end, the series was dominated by methods that are not open to everyone. In years gone by it was the method feeder and casting. This year it was long pole. This is no reflection those using these methods, it was all within the rules and perfectly legal.

But, I wanted a series that levelled the playing field for all juniors to be able to compete up to a certain degree.

If we run it next year, I am considering a limit to pole length down to a top kit plus two sections. Not to hinder the better juniors, but to open the match to those that cannot fish with a long pole. The more skilled juniors will always come out closer to the top, if not on it!

The next event, as you may all be aware, is on the 30th of August at Todber Manor for the Two Methods/Junior Pairs/Junior points match.

If I don’t have a breakdown or at the very least a headache at the end of that one, I will be very surprised. But I only have myself to blame!

I am happy and proud to say the Senior/Junior match is now full. This will be the biggest match in out short history (providing everyone comes!), so thank you everyone.

You have diminishing chances to fish on Hillview Lake, so make the most of it!

Juniors Sec…