30/11/24 - Junior Christmas Match - Hillview Lake, Todber Manor.

Oh my, it's a long one! (Cheeky!)

Misty rain accompanied the dawn light as I wound my way through the Dorset countryside. The river looked remarkably behaved as I crossed it at Sturminster instead of Marnhull because of road digging practice in the village. But it made a nice change and didn’t really put much time on the journey.

Before long I rumbled across the hallowed courtyard at Todber Manor fishery and began to wonder what the day had instore for the juniors.

The usual sploshing of enthusiastic fish filled my ears, as did the drizzle. But there is something about the Christmas match that I genuinely love. Maybe it’s the exhaustion of a season of junior fishing. It could be the thought of giving out presents to gleeful Shrimps. But I think it is mainly down to seeing the joy in the eyes of Jerry Christmas as he tries to reclaim some of his garage back. (He loves it really. He’s already started planning next year’s Xmas match! I wish I was joking!)

The strange thing was that it didn’t feel like November. I sweated my tiny mittens off walking round the lake to position the pegs and, by the time of the great silly Christmas hat reveal, I was so hot that I felt like parts of me were beginning to cook!

The Christmas Pudding wasn’t on my head for that long which is why there are no pictures of it. The Lead Coach probably looks daft enough without wearing a silly hat anyway!

The Normal procedure is to go through the names and pegs as they are drawn, but for this match we will tumble down the list of participants in reverse order. Just because.

Your ‘Fist’ of coaches (the correct collective noun for a group of five angling coaches) today were:

Graham Howard – Prancer.

Jerry Bracey – Dancer.

Jon Bass – Donner.

Chris Ward – Blitzen.

Neil Haine – Rudolph.

Peg 6, Alexander Adey, 43lbs 6ozs.

Master Adey is so small that you could be forgiven that he is very far away. He cuts a diminutive figure sat in his fishing chair (non-Preston Innovations) with his feet rested upon his footplate (Very Preston Innovations).

Being so young, Alexander has concentration issues. But I had a feeling that Todber Manor would unlock his hidden zen. A sterling effort by Captain Chris had slipped a couple of fish into the net for the lad. But I noticed the beginning of wanderings, and that wasn’t happening on MY watch. Time for Lead Coach-man to step up and save the day. I threw out the feeder and grabbed a top kit. There was a frenzied flourish of flying feed as I frashed (?) the water to a foam resulting in a wobbly Carp which the munchkin enjoyed very much. Twenty-five minutes later I blew the whistle for the end of the match.

I am happy to say that Alexander went away buzzing (he even gave me a fist bump!) with new tackle bits and his first ever match weight at 43lbs. Happy Days!

Peg 10, Freddie Campbell, 69lbs 12ozs.

Freddie was another junior starting his match fishing journey today and what a place to start. The Fredster, like Alexander, has concentration issues being so new. With just an hour left of a four-hour match, we decided that the feeder wasn’t fast enough, and the pole was the way to go. Josh next door had been very helpful throughout the day, which nice to see. He’s normally horrible! (I’m JOKING!).

We used the pellets that Josh kindly donated to winkle out some Carp for our newest newbie. I say winkle out, but it was difficult to plumb the depth because there were so many Carp in front of him!

Once Freddie gets the hang of handling fishing rods and poles, I think he’s going to make a good little angler. But it is still early days, and he still has SO much to learn.

Congrats on your first match young man, proper job!

Peg 2, George Ellis, 91lbs.

I’ve known George and his family for a little while now. I was privileged enough to help him catch his first fish, and I’ve watched him grow into a budding angler. There are few that have the enthusiasm for fishing that George has, and I believe it will stand him in good stead in the future. Like the two previous juniors, this was Georges first proper match fishing for himself (He fished in the S/J pairs match with the Captain).

I think there were odd breaks in the fishing for essentials like food, and comfort breaks. But, on the whole, George caught from the whistle and was close to breaking the 100lb barrier on his first go. Nice as the lad is, there may have been some hissing from the coaches if he had. My first match weight was 1lb 8ozs. How dare these little monsters turn up and make it look easy. To be fair, there is a cavernous difference between Hillview and the Grand Union Canal, particularly in late November now the world is on fire. 90lbs of fish is impressive for a six-year-old. Well done Kiddo!

Peg 11, Mia Evans, 96lbs 2ozs.

Dotty had the misfortune to be sat next a bagging machine in the shape of the Ferret, Jack Copp. I have no doubt that some fish were sucked out of Mia’s swim or at least prevented from getting into it because they had been incepted and dumped into one of the Ferret’s many keep nets.

Just grazing the magic ton like is agonising, but Mia had more than a bagging machine to contend with today.

Ok, look, I don’t why it keeps happening. But I tipped Mia’s fish back without photographing them again. Using the three strikes rule, if it happens again, she is within her rights to thump me should this crime repeat itself. Of course, we do not condone violence. But I do not write the rules (I literally do!), so hate the game, not the players, ok?

Peg 3, Kenzie Toulson, 134 lbs 9ozs.

I didn’t really see much of the Toulson's other than Tina ‘The Snipers Dream’ in her squeaky-clean white coat that could be seen from space against the dull trees and mud. I prayed that she wouldn’t fall over. Or did I???

I heard more of Kenzie than I saw of him, which is nothing unusual. He had made the effort with a Santa's hat but, Tina had declined my recommendation for a Santas outfit.

It was great to see them back again because they missed so many events due to calendar clashes, and they were missed. Fishing-wise, the K-Dog had a steady day accumulating his new PB match weight along the way.

Kenzie won the ‘Who can legally get closest to the net limit’ title with a net of 62lbs 2ozs.

He also won a clip round the ear from me because it was me who had to lift the ruddy thing out of the water! (it ruins your nails!)

Well done, Kiddo! Hope to see you more often next year….

Peg 13, Harry Cryer, 138lbs 13ozs.

Harry arguably had more lake to shoot at than anyone else positioned as he was on the hedge side of the spit. Jerry and I had chained ‘The Runner’ (new nickname) to his box to prevent the inevitable break for freedom as soon as the finish whistle blows.

It wasn’t long after the end of the match that a slender figure was seen limping along the bank with his seat box dragging along behind him (I knew we should have driven a peg into the ground). Jerry bellowed at him to help pack away, but he was off to water the Hedgehogs in the bushes and there was no stopping him.

When a boy’s gotta go…

A good showing for Harry with a good day’s fishing behind him.

Good job!

Peg 4, Alec Campbell, 154lbs 5ozs.

Alec won the title of Silverfish Champion at Harbourbridge Lakes last weekend, but don’t think he’s a one trick pony by any means. He’s had a cracking season with the juniors this year, and I’m very proud of him for that.

But silverfish were not on the menu today, so it was an all-out Carp attack.

Alec had drawn the bank with the best chances coming from the short or nearside margins, so you could argue that the style suited him. Like many, it wasn’t long before brightly coloured elastics were shooting from his pole, and that continued for the rest of the day to gain him a new PB match weight. If you’re going to do it anywhere, you’d put a bet on Todber to be the place.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Alec can do in 2025. I Think Ian may need to purchase a trophy cabinet!

Congratulations Alec!

The halfway point of the review is a good place to say that, despite bringing lots of nets with us (I brought 10!), we were beginning to run out by the halfway point. Jerry and I took the decision to weigh in all ‘full’ nets to relieve some of the pressure and save us some work at the end. My God I’m glad we did!

The heaviest thing I personally lift during the week is a kettle or a basket of wet laundry! 40, 50, 60lb nets of fish has left me a sore and broken man at the time of writing the following morning.

We all knew that Todber Manor is a prolific fishery, but high pressure and 14-degree air temps, made the fishing unbelievable for the last day in November.

It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but for our juniors it is the best fishery in the country.

Peg 7, Austin Scott-Kennedy, 187lbs.

Now, I want to make it clear that fish counting is a tricky skill. In the heat of battle, particularly at Todber with millions of wobbly Carp to deal with. Add to that multiple keepnets, and you can quickly get into trouble. Caution is key.

Austin is an optimistic kind of chap. But his optimism had runaway with him a little.

Stating that he was forty-five pounds into his third net is what triggered the mid-match weigh in. The fact of the matter was that we weighed both of his nets in one bucket and still had room for another ten pounds of fish!

I’m willing to bet that a slice of toast is the size of a paving slab to Austin, His toothbrush is a yard broom, and a Happy Meal is served in a skip!

As I said, it is an easy mistake to make.

A great end to a fantastic year for our newly titled champion. Good job!

Peg 8, Jack Cryer, 197lbs 3ozs.

Jack had been quietly tipping Carp into his net all day. Being the first to break the 200lb barrier last year, I think it’s fair to say that Jack enjoys coming to TM! He was just one fish away from doing it again this year, but it wouldn’t have made any difference to his position if he had. The Cryer brothers have become welcome regulars to the juniors and their progress is steadily improving each year. I remember Jack saying that he wanted to work on his pole fishing in ’24 and the match today showed how his skills have grown.

I will be very interested in what Jack can achieve next year.

Well done!

Peg 5, Oliver Smith, 206lbs 6ozs.

Ollie had returned for the Christmas match in his pyjamas and brought a radiant Annamama along with him. Ollie has had a great year of fishing outside of the junior events, catching some stunning fish from local rivers and lakes as well as in France.

It is always a shame when one of the regulars’ steps away from the juniors, but they aren’t juniors forever. Ollie is now a fully-fledged knuckle dragging teenager with a lovely girlfriend, Lois. (Don’t call him Peter Griffin, don’t called him Peter Griffin, don’t call him Peter Griffin). Whilst Ollie’s fishing skills have improved, his ability to count has not. With a net weight of 72lbs, he was quite lucky that it was the end of season Christmas match and that I am a kind, benevolent, sweet-heart of a chap. But I will say this. Had we had been at Viaduct, Ollie would have been shown the door and been disqualified.

But we weren’t, and he didn’t….this time.

Ollie showed good skills now he was back doing some ‘proper fishing’, and it was good to see them both again.

If this was Oliver’s last junior event, I want to say thank you. Thank you to one of our OG juniors and a former multiple champion. He has brought us fun and frustrations in equal measure. I have always enjoyed both Ollie and Anna’s company, and they will always be two of my very favourite people to be around. If Oliver flies the nest next season, on behalf of us all, I wish him the very best wishes in life and love, and he will always be welcome to visit us if he should wish to do so.

Until the next time Champ…

Peg 9, Josh Roe, 209lbs 10ozs, 3rd place.

When told Sadie ‘I’d better get a picture of the ‘Umpah Lumpah’, his reply was, and I quote:

“How can you? My dad is not here…”

I could happily leave Josh’s review there, but there is some fishing to talk about. Definitely quote of the year!

Seeing as Martin had left his feet still drinking in the bar somewhere in Minehead, it was down to Sadie to bring the micro-Matrix-match-man to Todber today. It could have been worse for her, at least the weather was decent.

To be fair, Josh is a good lad and did most of the setting up on his own, as he regularly does. I think I’m right in saying that this was a new PB match weight? At least it is in the junior events. Even if it wasn’t his best, it was good enough for third place on the day.

It’s been a good season for Josh. His fishing has grown to a new level, and, on the whole, he has had a good year this year. I look forward to seeing his progress next year.

Well done!

Peg 1, Josiah wells-Parkes, 261lbs 15ozs, 2nd place.

Missing most of the season hasn’t affected Jo’s skills much as the last two events have proven. He would have doubled his seasons score in just two matches. It leaves you wondering what could have been without all the health issues, calendar clashes and poorly cars? Josiah has grown in every way this year, and his fishing has grown with him. I confess to having a nagging itch in my brain wondering if Jo could even have won today if he had fished on a pole rather than the feeder? Catching fish on the pole is far faster than a feeder rod, no matter how good you are. Assuming his bite rate stayed the same, I think he could have been the first junior over 300lbs today.

Even so, he was very close and a deficit of under 10lbs to first place is easily covered when the fish are 3 or 4lbs each!

With himself and cars sorted, I have high hopes for Jo next year.

Well done!

Peg 12, Jack Copp, 270lbs 6ozs, 1st place.

When you look at this year, it was probably quite fitting that Jack should win today. Even so, I have to say that it was closer than I thought it would be. In a full 5-hour match instead of 4, Jack would have been one of two Juniors to break our next milestone of 300lbs for sure. There is not much that I have not already said about Jack this year. It has been the year of his fishing life so far, and we’re all very proud of him for that.

I stood and watched Jack for a while, and I could tell that he had got his rigs as close to perfect as it is possible to get. The bites he was getting was simply sublime. Every fish was nailed in the top lip. Lovely…

There is a good chance that Jack will be following a different path next year as he pursues his destiny to be a top angler. Like Ollie, Jack has been with us from the start. In fact, I would go as far to say that he is our longest serving junior. His future lies beyond the juniors now, even at 12-years old. But, like Ollie, he will always be welcome at the DDAS Junior events.

Good job, Kiddo!

The rain came towards the end and it all got a little crazy. The usual 'have a rummage in Jerry Christmas's sack one at a time', turned into a muddy cattle market of present starved animals. But I think most people went home happy with what Jerry had dished out to them. With the time and effort he'd put in, they damn well should have been!

So, that’s a wrap folks! I will soon be gathering up the results sheets for this year and filing them away with all the others from the last 6-years.

It’s been a tiring finale to the year with four events back-to-back, and six weekends on the trot for me with taster sessions. It has been our busiest season to date with 37 events over the year. I can feel every one of them!

I praise my coaches a lot, and deservingly so. This group of guys have their own lives, troubles, and health issues the same as the rest of us. But they are so committed to the juniors and often go out of their way to make the juniors the success that it is. I can have all the ideas, planning, and arrangements that I want, but without these volunteer anglers freely donating their time to helping young people to learn about a sport that they love, it would all be for nothing.

So, from the heart, thank you to every one of them. They are,

Jerry Bracey.

Jon Bass.

Tim Broughton.

Chris Ward.

Si Wagner.

Neil Haine.

Nigel Kemp.

Thank you also to Simon Dennis, Ian Paulley, Steve Sudworth, Richard Chave, Richard Butler, Alan Winsper, and Callum Dicks.

Thank you to:

The fisheries that we visit during the year.

Jim at Harbourbridge Lakes.

John and all the staff at Todber Manor (particularly for the kind donation of the winners vouchers today)

Tom at Whitemoor.

Jason (get well soon!), Ed, and Dean at Revels.

Special thanks to SHAA for allowing us on the river Stour.

To our supporting shops, in particular:

Revels fishery and tackle shop & Alan’s Angling.

To the DDAS committee for your support.

To the media publications Dorset Echo, West Dorset Magazine, Blackmore Vale Magazine, and the Purbeck Gazette.

To all the parents for being out in all weathers to bring your juniors out to fish with us.

To all the juniors for making each session worthwhile.

To all the readers of this crap. I apologise for the spelling mistake, grammatical errors and complete compost you’ve endured. I hope you find a life soon.

To Trudie for (finally) agreeing to marry me!

I’ve run out of things to write, so I will wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

See you all in February when we dream it all up again.

Juniors Sec & The Mud-Slinger, signing off.