Angling
Didcote nets top qualifying prize

IAN Didcote came out on top at Saturday's Evesham Angling Festival Shakespeare Championship Qualifier which was the third of the bloodworm allowed qualification matches.

Didcote started the match on bloodworm and tempted a few small roach early, before turning his attention to targeting eels and perch when bites subsided.

He used a flat flat float at 13 metres, introducing chopped worm, casters and maggots via bait dropper, and caught five good sized eels and a host of chunky perch.

The in-form Daiwa Gordon League rod Ian Shepherd took second. After an early flurry of bites on bloodworm, he switched to his trusted hempseed approach and caught small roach for the duration of the match.

Bloodworm maestro Sam Wildsmith took third from peg six on the Crown Meadow. He put his faith in just one line fished with bloodworm and joker at 13 metres and caught small roach for the duration of the session.

Result: Ian Didcote (Garbolino / Bait Tech) 7-2-8 (peg 57); Ian Shepherd (Daiwa Gordon League) 6-11-8 (peg 59); Sam Wildsmith (Ultimate Barnsley Blacks) 6-2-0 (peg 6); Jack Jones 5-15-0 (peg 26); Jeff Spiers 5-14-0 (peg 8). Qualifiers -

Jack Jones, Gary Pook, Tony Skinner, Howard Kaye.

A TOTAL of 80 anglers took part in Sunday's Wychavon Championship Qualifier but the River Avon once again stood up to the pressure in the final bloodworm qualifier of the year.

Glen Lawrence came out on top having his session on bloodworm and taking several dumpy roach.

After 30 minutes he switched to chopped worm and caster line fed down the side and hooked and landed a 5lb tench.

He took just a few small roach for the duration of the match, but his 8-9-0 bag was still enough to take the honours.

Hadrian Whitle finished second with a net of 7-15-0. He caught several big eels on flat float, as well as a couple of pounds of roach on bloodworm and 1lb of bleak caught up in the water.

Ever consistent Leigh Gardner was third, catching 7-10-0 of roach on bloodworm, catching all his fish from one line at 11 metres.

Result: Glen Lawrence (Ultimate Barnsley Blacks) 8-9-0 (peg 61); Hadrian Whittle (Kamasan Starlets) 7-15-0 (peg 69); Leigh Gardner (Shakespeare Superteam) 7-10-0 (peg 24); Paul Jackson (Worcester Sports) 6-6-0 (peg 21); Lee Kerry (Preston Innovations/ Sonubaits) 6-6-0 (peg 63). Qualifiers - Paul Jackson, Tom Scholey, Glen Lawrence.

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