The Stock Pond Evening Series knock out competition has been another success in 2024. One of the more popular events of our year in my opinion, one that sadly not everyone is able to attend. I might have to think of ways how we can change the format, so everyone has a chance to have a go.
For this year, we changed it so that bottom methods like the feeder were banned making it a float only series. I feel that this not only narrowed the competition, but also went a long way to improving the skills of the participants. But I still felt that Carp still dominated the event, almost spoiling the narrow margins between the weights.
All credit to those that managed to find a few larger fish, and it is probably because of my increasing hatred of the dreaded ‘Mud Pig’ during matches. But when you have worked hard to fill your net with small fish only for all of that graft to be for nothing because someone has ‘mouth hooked a lump’, does stick in the throat a little.
Will Carp count in next years event? Well, that is something that will need consideration over the winter months.
The same pegs, numbers 1 to 5 were used in every match regardless of the numbers taking part over the duration of the two-hour, winner takes all, matches.
It all kicked off on the 3rd of May and an evening bathed in the sunshine of a young summer. The draw which, as always, took place earlier that morning. Formerly ‘M’Lady’ but now ‘Mrs H’, dipped her delicate paws into the bag of dreams to produce the following:
Peg One: Jack Cryer.
Peg Two: Harry Cryer.
Peg Three: Josh Roe.
Peg Four: Oliver Smith.
Peg Five: Jack Copp.
As usual it only took seconds before the first shimmering bars of wriggling colours were being swung to the waiting hands of the participants.
It was clear that Peg five was taking the lead as Jack dropped fish into his net with nauseating regularity. He would finish the evening with top weight of 15lbs 13ozs to be the first qualifier of the year.
Round two was held on the 31st of May on an overcast and much cooler evening.
Mrs H’s draw was for only three anglers this time.
Peg One: Jack Cryer.
Peg Three: Alec Campbell.
Peg Five: Harry Cryer.
Harry had to feel confident drawing, as he had, the winning peg from the previous round. But Alec on peg three gave him a good run for his money and was only one good fish away from qualifying at the end.
11lbs 1oz was enough to allow Harry to beat Alec by a solitary pound, and therefore qualify for the final.
Round three would see a return to a full five pegs, and a return of the sunshine.
Josiah made a return to fishing after a long period of illness, and it was great to see him back on the box. The draw was:
Peg One: Jack Copp (fishing in the spare peg after already qualifying)
Peg Two: Josh Roe.
Peg Three: Harry Wilmer.
Peg Four: Alec Campbell.
Peg Five: Josiah Wells-Parkes.
Alec was determined to finish one better than round two and started to metronomically drop fish into his net from the start. Peg Five had won the other two rounds but tonight it was peg four that was doing the business. Alec was way ahead until 5-minutes from the end when Jo slid the net beneath a 7lb 2ozs Carp that would maintain the reputation of peg five for another night. With 13lbs against Alec’s 11lbs 3ozs, Jo needed the ‘lump’ and he got it!
The fourth and final round was held on the 26th of July in the full summer sunshine. In my absence, Jon Bass was officiating coach for the night. He wouldn’t be that busy either with only two juniors attending.
Peg Two: Jack Cryer.
Peg three: Alec Campbell.
Obviously, not being present makes it tricky to give a report on the match. But what I can tell you is that Alec won his first match with DDAS Juniors (well done!), and Jack would qualify for the final by having the largest runners up weight over the four qualifying matches. Alec weighed 14lbs 5ozs, against Jacks 13lbs 5ozs. The pound was in Alec’s favour this time.
With the qualifiers done, the draw for the final looked like this…
Peg One: Josiah Wells-Parkes.
Peg Two: Harry Cryer.
Peg Three: Jack Cryer.
Peg Four: Alec Campbell.
Peg Five: Jack Copp.
The near misses and close calls came to nought for Alec in the end. Ill health prevented him from making it to the start of the match and, to be honest, I was gutted for him. Hopefully there will be other years for him to exercise retribution over the Stock Pond.
The weed that had been present throughout the other rounds was conspicuous by its’ absence. I hoped that this would spread the fish out more thinly for the final.
With Jack on the hot peg and a spare peg next door, I told him to take up golf if he didn’t win.
Of course, he did win with 13lbs 5ozs and took the title for 2024, along with £30 worth of vouchers for Revels tackle shop.
Josiah was second with 9lbs 13ozs. Third was Jack Cryer 7lbs 4ozs, then Harry 5lbs 13ozs, and a sad DNW for Alec.
Alec did turn up to see us at the end of the match which was good to see…
Well done to all the participants for this year. I’m already looking forward to the next time we get to play with all the colourful inhabitants of the Revels Stock Pond.
Massive thanks to Jason Fricker for allowing us to fish this lovely little pond, and for coming up with the idea in the first place…
Thank you to all the coaches who helped over the year. Special thanks to Steve Sudworth for standing in at the last minute for the final…
Juniors Sec…
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