My head was awash, not from events, humorous or otherwise, rather from the lack of them as my visibility of the match was somewhat impeded, coupled with a bit of a bizarre nearly heart to heart conversation I’d had with a member the night before.
The day started as normal after a night on the tiles. A trip to the loo, fully expecting be able to stack a few more z’s for an hour or so and I was aghast to see the clock reading 6.59am. ‘S**t’ I thought to myself got to get up'.
Two brews later and I clock Sprucey on the top of the drive, obviously wanting to join a convoy. Well normally there would be a convoy as Heinzer was picking me up and normally Hotlips would be turning ‘up late’ too, but I hadn’t heard from Hotlips, although Yamo had posted earlier in the week elsewhere that Hotlips and ‘F’ Kendall were coming.
Arrived at the venue, plenty milling around. In fact after doing my ‘MGB’ impersonation, aided by Roberto D, and tracking down latecomer Budgie,
we’d got 24 members – only 1 more club casualty – plus the three expected visitors. A healthy turnout 
A draw was sorted for Harry the Hitman and Mick Kenn to minimize their walks. Hands were dipping in the bag, so ‘mid’ draw I plunged in too. Peg 8.
Not what I really wanted – particularly as I’d had a pm off a member doing a pre match reconnaissance who’d commented
‘having spoken to big Col and Robin from curborough pegs 8 to 14 don't produce in matches so it might be worth leaving them out whoever is pegging out’
This was further reinforced by a degree or so by Big Baz on 10 who referred to the area as cyanide straight and had been told by one of mates to not to bother and go back home’ if he drew along there.
‘Ah well – lets get on with it’ I thought. ‘First round of the knock out today, top 16 weights to go through – can I make the cut?’ I certainly didn’t want to make a first round exit.
Rigs set up……….two down the track at 10 mtrs into about 5ft water – a lot shallower than the peg 35 I’d drawn on my two previous visits here. Shallower in the margin too with just over 2 ft. Only bother with one rig on this line, whilst the the inside shelf at 4.5 mtrs dropping down just to around the 4 ft mark, saw a further two rigs of alternative line diameter and hooks set up.
The off. All three lines are fed and before I’ve baited a hook, Big Baz two pegs to my left is cussing because he’s lost a crap first put in.
A look on the ‘long’ line. Two put ins into a strong side wind results in just two transparent ME mates. Then nowt. Hook baits are alternated. Still nowt.
Meanwhile I can see odd fish being netted around the pool and worse still MGB is battering me. He’s on the wag, picking small crucians and silvers from the point of the island opposite.
A look on the 4.5 mtr line. ME’s mates again, and again, and again, and again…….you get the drift.
I’m struggling……….visions of being right down the field and out of the knock out. MGB is still picking up netters on the wag.
Right – gotta get my head down and make the best of a bad job. Up the bank and a 3 mtr whip is set up – lets go for the gobies – if I get smashed up then the other rigs will come into play.
So gobie after gobie it is, whilst keeping the other two lines, long and margin fed.
A look long – nowt………….after two hours a look down the margin, nowt unless I put a mag on and its……………yes you’ve guessed it, a gobie.
There’s a few bank walkers about and Budgie trecks down. ‘How you doing Budgie?’, ‘Some skimmers and loads of gudgeon’ Man am I struggling………….’skimmers what am them
’Off he trots and returns 5 mins later to advise that Simps has just netted a nice tench around the 3lb mark.
Old Harry the Hitman to my left is piling on the pressure too along with MGB with his stamp fish as well. Harry’s picking up odd small carp and tench……….I’m like a pice of cod, getting battered both sides. :(
Head down and focus, gobie after gobie. Most ½ oz, but a few Trent pongoes of an ounce or more. Half a dozen ‘bonus’ skimmers, a 4 oz tench plus two roach and two rudd smaller than the gudgeon are a welcome relief from the monotony of gobie after gobie.
The whistle for the end ………..,I might have done Harry the Hitman and MGB who put the wag down and followed suit after the gudgeon…….but could I scrape into the top 16 and make the cut for the next round?
Apparently ‘F’ Kendall had emptied it on peg 1 according to reports. He traipsed down to me denying it. I threatened him with a ‘5 match ban’ in retaliation for all the matches he didn’t turn up to last year, whilst secretly thinking to myself, ‘He’s telling porkies, must have had a few by all reports’
Anyway the moment all have been waiting for………the tale of the scales
PEG
1 F KENDALL 11.10.0
2 M KENN 5.8.0
4 ME 3.6.0
5 BUDGIE 6.6.0
7 MGB 8.10.0
8 TK - BDM 21.6.0
10 HARRY HITMAN 10.0.0
11 BIG BAZ 7.4.0
14 HEINZER 10.9.0
15 ROBERTO D 4.0.0
16 SIMPLE SIMON 9.12.0
17 BRAMBLES 9.0.0
19 MARKV 25.10.0
20 RICH C 13.5.0
21 PHIL B 5.0.0
23 HOTLIPS 6.8.0
24 ZORRO 17.0.0
25 BIG GEOFF 15.10.0
26 ROLLY 7.8.0
28 SPRUCEY 15.2.0
29 COTTI 5.6.0
31 GOLDEN BALLS 9.4.0
32 KOD 10.6.0
34 YAMO 21.8.0
35 HAHA 5.2.0
38 VESTE 2.7.0
39 GEZ 1.3.0
So there we have it – a ‘new’ name to grace a Cashmores trophy – well done MarkV.
See you at the presentation night next year ;)
Over to the chief scribe to also enlighten us on how he took us all apart – was it that positive mental attitude that prevailed?
After all the negative feedback in the lead up to this one, MarkV was the one who appeared to take a different outlook on things and a different view of the venue...........
