Month: November 2022

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Ilminster Angling Association – The Xmas Fayre

There never used to be a trophy for the Xmas Fayre but as it’s one of the bigger matches on the IAA calendar, I thought it might be worthwhile compiling a list of winners over the years (I’ll do the same for IAA Open as well). There are a few gaps where I couldn’t find results. For the last few years the

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Ilminster Angling Association – Heaviest Match Weight Trophy

Winners of the Heaviest Match Weight Trophy. I think this one was presented for the top weight over the winter league series on the river, fairly modest weights in the earlier years and even though they began to increase in the 80’s, 20lb weights were yet to be a regular occurrence. It would be interesting to compare the weights to more modern

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River Isle – IAA Winter League 1 – 20th November 2022

I always look forward to our winter league on the Isle, round 1 was cancelled due to low flows and leading up to this match, we had torrential rain and I was sure we’d be on the pond today but by Saturday the river was nearly back to normal levels. We all met at the bowling club and were well looked after

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Summerhayes – Champion of Champions Silvers Final – 19th November 2022

Another of those matches I would dearly love to win but to date, fifth is my best result from the first time I qualified in 2017. Waking up to a hard frost was a bit of a rude awakening and the drop in temperature wouldn’t be doing us any favours today. I met Zooner for breakfast in the truck stop (when I

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Hebditch’s Pond – Ruthie’s Cup – 16th November 2022

It was the third and final match for Ruthie’s Cup on Wednesday and I could get used to this fishing three times a week! We all met at Cartgate for breakfast which was good although there was some confusion with several of the orders! Then it was time for the draw and it was my turn in the middle section. Pegs 5

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Summerhayes – Open – 13th November 2022

It was back to Summerhayes on Sunday with the match on Sellicks this time. We had a cracking breakfast at the bowling club again (thanks Charlotte) before heading to Bridgwater. Twelve anglers fishing today which is a good number for Sellicks. Nick gave Pete a hand to do the draw and first up was the golden peg which was number 9. I

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Summerhayes – Charlie Barnes Memorial Match – 12th November 2022

One of my favourite matches of the year and one I managed to win for the first time last year so I would be trying my hardest to defend my title. The final IAA Summer League match at Coombe was also rescheduled for the same day which was a bit gutting as I was in with a good chance of a top

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Trinity Waters – 6th November 2022

The next Stoke match was at Trinity Waters and it was also the final match to decide the Club Championship and Rosebowl competitions. On paper I was lying in second place in both but realistically with dropping the worst results, I was way behind and the only chance I had of winning either was if the leaders blanked, fell in or both!

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Ilminster Angling Association – The Chub Cup

The last of the clubs ‘species’ trophies is the Chub Cup but I couldn’t actually find the trophy itself! It’s awarded for the best weight of chub during the river series. I managed to put together a list of most of the winners from various paperwork and AGM minutes. 1976-77 – P Austin – 10lb 6oz 1977-78 – G. Bulgin – 9.5oz

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Summerhayes – Open – 30th October 2022

With the match on the Isle called off, we booked into the open at Summerhayes. 21 anglers were fishing this one so a decent size match. While we waited for the draw, Parker ‘The Pole’ modelled his posh new set of waterproofs. As always, Pete pulled out the golden ball first and this week it was number 30, a good area. I