many years ago when open matches only took place once a month i can remember the likes of dave Thomas ,robin grouse botty and many more fishing the QUORN WINTER OPEN the draw was at the cons club in quorn and the match was on every bit of club water we had .i remember this year quite well as it was freezing and the river has a little pace and colour back then .i drew barrow deeps and maybe 15 yards away was a young lad Neil Raynard neither of us had much kit i had one of Ivan's 4 piece black persuader rod it was very soft from what i remember and the old wicker basket with 6 legs a few floats and bits and bobs the frost and mist had just started to rise with the sun breaking through as the match started back then 5lb was a good weight and could easily win most matches
this day started like most for me nothing nothing the old flask came out to warm the cold feet up
![undecided :-/](./images/smilies/YaBBSmilies/Smilies/undecided.gif)
Neil next door had caught a roach more by accident then anything as he'd walked down to for a drink and when he returned it was hanging on
![Image](http://simplematchfishing.co.uk/forum2/images/converted_files/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/fit.gif)
a bit of banter followed
![Image](http://simplematchfishing.co.uk/forum2/images/converted_files/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/joy.gif)
what followed was quite unbelievable i started to lay on down the side
![shocked :o](./images/smilies/YaBBSmilies/Smilies/shocked.gif)
and roach after followed a real golden day i weighed 4lb 15oz and won the match neil was second and the chap next to him was 3rd ted baldock who ran the match
![Image](http://simplematchfishing.co.uk/forum2/images/converted_files/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/whistle.gif)
and on the same day back at the club mick Coffey dropped £100 out of the fruit machine and refused to put 10pback in to clear it
![Image](http://simplematchfishing.co.uk/forum2/images/converted_files/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/rofl.gif)
what great memories we have of the old days
laying on what a method that day
![Image](http://simplematchfishing.co.uk/forum2/images/converted_files/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/thumbsup.gif)