Biggest Match

#21

Ron Haynes (Whitmore Reans) 33-1-8

Was that the same Ron Haynes who had the tackle shop in Wolverhampton Bill

#22

Yes definitely; top angler in his time.

#23

I used to fish the Trent Angling Championships (Trentman) as it was called- five zones of 200. They had to restrict it to that number; I can well remember Benny winning at Gunthorpe one year, I was pegged a bit further down.

The West Midlands NFA Regional regularly had over 300 river or canal. I think teams were 15 a side those days.

grumpy · #24

TK I fished that div 3 on the trent for keenets central Most of the lads were not that clued up on the trent so Rog Mortimer got John Allerton to give us 2 days intensive training at 100 quid a day.I dont think he was too impressed with our abilities so we gave him another 100 quid to tell each one how to fish our pegs.That worked we won it! I dont think we were that bad tho he did have a bet on us.

bros · #25

Thanks Bill. Thought I had got through the net!

The All England is what they called it. The chance to fish for your country if you did very well in the National!

Now there's a thought! It would certainly encourage me. Maybe this could be the answer to the resurgence of our nationals? Only food for thought, but maybe in those days, this was more encouragement than the money involved could ever offer.

Is that how you remember it Bill? How do you think the National turn-outs would be today if this was still applicable?

#26

Bros, there was certainly quite a massive buzz in the old All Englands and you are dead right, it did give Joe Matchman a big chance of representing his country. There were drawbacks though as The Individual National Champion could quite easily NOT get in the All England team which, with the system used, didn't seem quite fair. The guy next to him, who he had beat easily (weight matches) could get in as he may have been the top weight in one of the top few teams if you see what I mean.

However, without any shadow of doubt, the weight system made the All Englands far more open and for the want of a better word the 'lesser' teams still had a big chance of winning team wise, courtesy of a few big weights. It also made the competitors fish 'attacking' matches as opposed to today.

In reality I think the 'lesser' teams still have a chance, but it is is very slender and minimal of even getting a place in current Nationals with the points system.

These are only my opinions but we can't really argue with England's efforts in the World Champs in the last twenty odd years, they speak for themselves.

I hate and detest using the word 'professional' in match fishing circles. Match fish will always be amateur and long may it be so. I know what people mean when they say match fishing should be more professional bur 'streamline' is a far better choice of word. If we take away the chance of you or I drawing next to Alan Scotthorne/Bob Nudd or anglers of that elk away it will be a sad day.

#27

The feeling of drawing next to an international and beating him is great, what other sport can you do this in. The knowledge the top teams with internationals in have is awsome and makes them very hard to beat.

#28

Bros, say what you see and I should have mentioned Roy Walker. Top guy, very nice chap and certainly one of a few that you didn't want to draw next to! If I remember right he cut it with the best anywhere. I remember him being selected for England; you will have to ask him but it may have been on the Blackwater in S Ireland in the 60's when the river was in flood.
I think he knocked about with Tony Scott for a good while. Tony was an awesome (a phrase I'll hardly ever use) match angler, he fished anywhere, any method. Obviously quite a bit 'rubbed off' Roy as Tony also fished for England, he had the shop in Burton for a while.
Since those days Roy has done pretty well with Catch Phrase, - I think you saw that coming

bros · #29

Bill. Thats good, but not what we were looking for.....I ordered a Corma!

Thanks for your explanation of the All England. It was a wierd set-up, but just goes to show how things have changed over the years. I tend to agree that they may have been for the better.

When I was 15, I worked in Tony Scott's shop just before he sold it due to health reasons. He was talked about as if he was the "Ultimate" angler and had the respect that we can only dream about! Some of the things I was told, about this man, would make you think that he knew all the answers every angler ever looks for. Roy was well respected, but not in the same way that Tony was.

Tony packed in match fishing, apart from a short stint when I had the pleasure to draw next to him on the cut at Horninglow. He had not fished the canal for 10 years and although I could make excuses, he beat me with a steady performance.

Roy carried on match fishing on the rivers for some time, but flung the fluff later on. Roy was not comparable to Tony, no one ever was from what I was told.

#30

Your spot on with your assessment Bros.
As with any sport/hobby there is always a very small percent that are thoroughly 'gifted' at what they do. The other 99 percent just have to practise, practise, practise and do it the hard way. As far as I was concerned Tony Scott fell into the gifted category, brilliant match angler anywhere; he was so gifted he made most very envious!
Looking back in time there have been just a few that fell into the 'gifted' category. Everyone has their own opinions on this but Ivan Marks and Kevin Ashurst were certainly two.
Kevin was (still is) very gifted and when you add the angling background he had plus his willingness to travel miles to practise you had THE lethal combination. In my view he was the best.
I used to know Scottie quite well as he was one of those guys I kept drawing close by in matches on the River Trent. It was a float job in those days, mainly roach to caster with a small ball of gb every run down. It was mainly stick float but you always used to have a wag set up albeit to fish the same line; sometimes you could hit the bites better in a crap wind. Happy days ::)
If you see Scottie ask him about his days crossing the Trent on the ferry at Trent Lock! He used to go all colours.

bros · #31

Will do. Cheers.