but as far as gruellers go it was ‘hard’ but not a real full blown grueller. 
Arrived relatively early - well early for me - at Wyrley Grove Bridge only to find a number of cars already parked up………’Strange, it’s only 8.10am?’
Turns out there’s half a dozen or so anglers already down on the southern section about to have a match. Azitiz, the N C C has arrived even earlier than us and already informed them of our match on the canal today
After brief discussions with them - well what appeared to be their main ‘spokesperson’ - advising of the controlling club details they decided to pack up and venture off elsewhere, although there is no intent to ‘throw ‘em off’ - we can easily go on the northern section above the bridge. In fact this middle bit of section had thrown up some decent pleasure weights from the likes of Cotti leading upto this one. With pleasant conditions and a high of 20c forecast - although that never materialised during the match as it turned out - I was fancying it for a few.
With ‘all the cut to go at’ now, I debated which way to peg.
If there had been 20 odd of us, like last year, I’d have probably decided to go 10/12 either side of the bridge. However with a reduced turnout due to some grullerites having other commitments, it would probably be better just to go one side of the bridge or the other.
It looked a touch breezy looking ‘north’, coupled with a thought that needled me - did this other ‘club’ know summat about that lower section that we didn’t
- after all why did they elect to go that side of the bridge? Plus I’d heard some positive reports about it, including Tinca Ted having a good session along there with plenty of silvers , my mind was made up………..contrary to Cotti and Sprucey’s wishes…………. 
The next 5 hours would prove me right or wrong………….
Draw done, off I set for peg 3 - a relatively short walk,
flanked by KOD on 4 and MrV on 2. 
My peg looked ‘nice’ - in fact they all did.
Whilst setting up, a few small fish topped occasionally in the vicinity.
Here’s Azitiz setting up in anticipation of some of those tincas and bream putting in an appearance.
Swinging round I saw Cotti in deep conversation with MrV.
Turns out that MrV, after his exploits on the ‘grumpbait’ last week has been showing Cotti a ‘trick or two’ about the bait……………which he duly showed me - ta MrV - I never knew about that ‘membrane’.
The off. First look on the punch and the float dips…………a lift and fish on
Aghhhhh………..whilst the dreaded grueller drynet is off, all I slip into the net is a gobie - that doesn’t auger well for a first fish - that was supposed to be a 4oz red fin.
A look to my left and KOD is netting that 4ozer
that should have been mine………’Who’s the more surprised KOD?’ I ask, ‘The fish or you?’ KOD admits it’s a close call, but it’s him…….. 
News also filters down that both Cotti and Heinzer are having one a chuck from the off, guess what on
Now there’s gruellers, and there’s gruellers. And whilst this turned out eventually to be a mark 6 on the grueller scale, ie hard but no where near a fully blown grueller, the 4 hours really fled by as I tried valiantly to put together two fish from the same line……….but failed miserably.
Now what’s the excuse for match no 1 for this series?
....................think I’ll stick with the one that Cotti’s mate (who watched him intently for a few hours) came up with - besides, it save’s me having to think one up so early in the series. 
Now I wasn’t aware, but apparently according to Cotti’s mate, that morning on Fishermans Blues on Talk Sport there had been a report of some strange atmospheric pressure that would influence things to the degree that it was going to be hard going - and we certainly proved that right.As I said, the 4 hours fled by, with not a lot else to report other than
a) Terry Turnip lost a tinca at the net halfway through
b) MrV’s grumpybait failed to work, but he did snaffle a few on the choppy to do me for the 2nd week running off the next peg
c) KOD’s delight at snaring a tinca with 20 mins to go swiftly turned into despair and dejection as the beastie steamed off and saw him off in the sedges opposite
d) Cotti’s SB didn’t work today
e) Neither did Azitiz’s chopped stewed wheat and molasses - but as he said after the event ‘ I’ve had 8 fish for a few ounce, but they could have all been tincas’
I think you are all now getting the drift that my pre match prediction of needing double figures to win was a bit off the mark………..well you’d be right as the tale of the scales reads
PEG
1 TERRY TURNIP DNW
2 CHESLYNBOY 1.4.12
3 COTTI 2.1.8
4 JONAH AKA DEADPEG DNW
5 HEINZER 1.7.13
6 SPRUCEY 1.4.8
7 KOD 0.4.4
8 TK 0.12.10
9 MRV 1.8.0
10 AZITIZ the N C C 0.3.12
And true to form, the blustery wind died down, the grey drab conditions cleared and the sun came out as we loaded the cars to head back off home……………
Anyway, don’t forget to read the next riveting instalment of the Grueller Series
as we all do it again down on the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Fishley in a fortnight’s time……………that’s if I can find the gate key Now over to Sprucey Ducey for a few more pictures and associated quips
