HOT nights – and days – battling big cats! That was life on the Spanish Main (main River Ebro that is) for six town lads. Nathan Farrell, Dave Chamberlain, Tony Granfield, Rob York, James Blanchard and Ian Bowler landed nine super moggies up to 172lb – with a further five escaping.
With the experience a quantum leap removed from their local haunts, will they go back again? “You bet. We’ve already booked for next year,” said Dave.
Castle Ashby’s AT league opener saw Starlets blast off in devastating style leaving – yet again – six other sides wondering just what they have to do to catch up.
Starlets had 60 points, ‘Ashby A 46 and Royal Mail Chiltern Baits 37. At the other end of the table Maver MK got the wooden spoon on 32. ‘Ashby A’s Chris Garrett had boss weight, 62-5 of silverfish, ahead of ‘Ashby Youth’s Mick Whaddenham 46-8 (both on Scotland pond) with Starlets’ Darren Bickerton on 36-1 (‘brickyard).
Tributes have been coming in for Gilders Tackle co-proprietor Julian Davis, who died last week.
Though battling a serious illness for almost a year, he had been believed to be recovering when his sudden death left younger brother and co-business owner Tim, their families, and all in the firm’s Wellingborough Road and Kettering shops, stunned.
“He’d been fishing on the Thursday and had eight trout at Grafham, so he was fishing right to the end – which is something,” said Tim. “We thought he’d turned the corner, so this is a terrible shock despite his illness.”
Julian, 62, took over the business from his late father, Ray, in the late 70s and had, over several decades, become a popular member of the England Flyfishers Association and was widely respected in both the angling and shooting worlds. A real all-rounder, he was at home whether after trout, tench, salmon in Scotland, or on a North Sea ‘shop outing’. He will be sadly missed by many, myself included. His funeral is due to be held on Wednesday, October 24, at Milton Crem, starting 11.45am.
White Hart Flore reckon Tofts didn’t fish well for them – but their top three still totalled more than 300lb as Dave Griffiths had 117lb, Dave Gibson 110lb and Terry Adams 90lb.
CASTLE Ashby, Saturday, ‘brickyard: Mick Hewlett 62-6, Keith Bishop 61-14, Doug Jamieson 54-4.
GLEBE, Jubilee pools: Ian Beard 13lb, Paul Latter 8-1, Kelvin MacIlhinney 7-4.
CASTLE points final, Crescent lake: Paul Lafflin 9-12, John Lewis 7-8, Jeff Rice 6-8. Series result: Alf Gillard 77, Rice 68, Lafflin 59.
NENE winter open, Yardley cut: Tom Grainey 8-9, Norman Bradshaw 8-5, Derek Reeney 7-15.
TOWCESTER open, Castlethorpe cut: Mick Goodridge 7-8, Tosh Saunders 4-7-8, Paul Robinson 3-12-8.
LITTLE Harrowden, Ringsted shallows, Nene: Jim Broadbent 7-5, Mick Dudley 7lb, Ken Taylor 6-4.
FLORE & Brockhall, B’all bridge cut: Jim Tanser 5-4 (all hooked in the right end this week), Rob Rawlins 3-1, Steve Smith 2-14.
FINEDON, Heyford Fishery: Steve Dunnell 1-9, Max Beck 1-7, Dave Ross/Nick Whitnell both 0-12-0. Oops.
FIXTURES: Sunday, Bairstows open 07915 613862; Saturday and Sunday, Northampton Specimen Group carp open, Stanwick, 07565 420496.
CATCHES or matches to report? Tell Trevor Johnson at angling@intermediauk.com or on 01908 270000.
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