£5,650 pick up for Grimsby man
Marc Rodger, a 35 year old unemployed windscreen fitter from Grimsby, has won the 2012 UK Angling Championship. The result comes after a tense final round at Barston Lakes, where more than 20 of the Country’s top anglers had a chance of taking the title.
Marc said: “I still cant believe that I have actually won this competition. It really is a dream come true. Before I went to bed last night, I put the trophy on my dresser, so I knew that when I woke up it would be the first thing that I would see. Even this morning, it still hadn’t quite sunk in though – I had to nip myself just to make sure that I wasn’t dreaming!”
The result is the latest in a string of notable successes for the Middy and Bag Em backed ace, who has racked up some ultra impressive results since losing his job 18 months ago. “As somebody who has worked six days a week since leaving school, I have always wondered what effect having more time to practice and prepare would have on my fishing. In short, it has had a massive effect, and my results have improved dramatically. Though I have always been regarded as a good angler on my local circuit, the ability to put the time in to bigger events has proved a golden opportunity.
Making the final in last years £50,000 Maver Match This Final was incredible, and I came close to repeating the performance this year after finishing third in one of the qualifiers. I have also managed to win my lake, and finish in the top ten overall in three of the 130 peg qualifiers for the £30,000 Fish O Mania Final. I have kept count, and have managed to win money on ten different venues this year- a feat that would have been nigh on impossible when I was a working man.
I must admit though, being consistently high up in events is one thing and winning them is another- and it feels so nice to finally go all the way.”
Despite winning £5,650 in the UK Championship alone, Marc is not planning to remain a gentleman of leisure for much longer. With his partner, Kate and a child to support, he is determined to get back to work soon. “Although I have loved the last eighteen months, and have been lucky enough to win a bit of money to help ease the strain, I need to get back to work soon.
Without financial support from a sponsor, it is almost impossible to earn a comfortable living from angling.
A job in the angling trade would be a dream for me, but most importantly, I am determined not to go back to working the hours that I worked before. I want to find a job that allows me to fish two days at a weekend, as I have seen the positive effect that having extra time on the bank has on your results.”