Prior to the match it looked like the Harrisons crew were going to well out number Larry’s squad, but a few bona fide ‘casualties’ along with the expected few no shows
balanced things up as near even as could beHaving said that, whilst it’s always ‘good’ to have a few on the bank, in all honesty I personally think it made for a more enjoyable day. With less bods fishing things were a little ‘more intimate’ on the day with the banter flowing amongst all, rather than in pockets and clicks.
Talking of banter, el capitano Larry Teepot was in fine form at the draw - I must find out what tablets he’s on and try ‘em myself.
With TA squad on ‘odds’ and Harrisons on ‘evens’ the draw was soon made, and off we trotted.
I found myself on 6, but confided in JD to my left on 7, that I fancied pegs 9 onwards. I’ve seen plenty of proper bream put and skimmers put in appearances up that end and knew Cotti had fished in that vicinity for his 20lb plus bag the other day………
Talking of Cotti, he’d done the damage the other day on the pellet, but I was adopting a more cautious chop/caster approach with pinkie as a fall back. I cant catch on them pellety things
Set up and with a couple of mins before the off I wandered down to see who was on an end peg………
Is Pole Killer saying a prayer or mixing some potent secret bait together?
Who’s this dodgy looking geezer on end peg 1
Is Cheslyboy plumbing up the inside shelf?
The view to my left of the ‘flyers’
The off. 5 lines fed.
First bite afer about 5 mins, shipping back slowly and a decent fish - 1/2lb plus - comes off the hook.
A few bits and pieces are wheedled out, but it sounds like it’s slow going for most.
Then after about an hour, along comes my bit of good fortune for probably the next 10 seasons.
I’d just had a tommy which is usually the kiss of death. 
But next put in on the same line, float goes and a tinca is on. 
It’s soon netted, going a couple of lb.Good job too, cuss I struggled after that………. :(
Not sure whether this rare boat coming along helped out - as Cotti was picking up his fish from the track and lost ‘em after the first boat……..
Out of the blue, some time after 12 noon, the heavens opened. And do I mean opened!!! Who moved that monsoon and plonked it over Little Wyrley??????????
With a few guys brollyless there were some sorry sodden looking figures on the towpath when I took the opportunity to take a few pickies………
Two Shakes wheedling a few out…….
Mind that puddle
Cotti on a few……..
The last couple of hours didn’t exactly fly by as my attempts of dragging a piece of choppy around the peg (and slipping on a caster occasionally) looking for tinca no2 were in vain.
All out and the tale of the scales…………….
PEG
1 Larry Teepot 1.13.0 Section winner
2 Heinzer 0.5.7
3 Ken T 0.2.10
4 Cheslynboy 0.2.9
5 Pole Killer 1.2.0
6 TK 4.0.0 Section winner
7 JD 0.8.0
8 Gudgon Basher 0.12.10
9 Two Shakes 1.12.12
10 OBI 1.8.14
11 Ron 2.2.8
12 Sprucey 5.8.0
13 Brian G 0.15.0
14 Hotlips 1.8.0
15 Cotti 7.0.0 Section winner
As in previous years, sections were paid, rather than 1,2 and 3. Spare a thought for Sprucey Ducey - second on the day and didn’t pick up a bean for his efforts. To add salt to the wound, he confided that he’d had 3 proper bream come off the hook because of the no12 lackie………..
Talking of Sprucey he doesn’t usually feature in any pictures as he’s usually in David bailey mode…….so here he is for a change………but I couldn’t get a smile out of him – or he wouldn’t say cheese
Back to Harrisons for the results and a bite to eat
We never did get that song out of JD did we…….
Hat’s off to Larry - TA’s el capitano tried desperately to get a victory from the statistics of the result sheets………..exploring every possible permutation going.
But what the heck - irrespective of who ‘won’ (but it is always nice to have the bragging rights for the next 12 months) it was a good day with plenty of craic and banter amongst us.
Ok the fish didn’t read the script, but more importantly it was good to see a few ‘old’ faces again and to meet a few more, hope to catch up with you guys on the bank again…….
And don’t forget, next year could be even better now that Larry has secured that sponsorship deal for the next match
