Well it is a natural venue and talk running up to the event was 20 to 50g flat floats
holding on for dear life so the seed had been sown the doubt had been put in everyone's head that its was going to be rubbish . I must admit i too was not looking forward to it putting together any sort of practice was hard .I decided to have two extra days on the venue a one off day and tag one day before the event .the venue is a long way away so to pick yourself up and motivate to make the journey was a hard enough job in itself but i did.my practice day seemed to be a real waste of time as i'd spoke to a few people who all said different stories to where the fish. So i sat near a bridge above B section on the day it was quite a shock when i first saw the river just the force of the water i knew it was going to be a waste of time
35g float just holded with about half as much weight again needless to say i didn't think i'd get a bite i didn't for a start until the light faded and then it was like a light switch i ended up with 10lb plus
At least there was still fish in the river although it was the time of day even in flooded conditions the times made all the difference
my next practice was the day before the event started traveling down was a nightmare and only left me a few hours to practice. The first thing i noticed the river had completely changed and had slowed right up and 4 to 6 gram was all you needed or a 3gram bodied float for running at them . Needless to say i sat biteless on the flat float so i changed and started running at them and out of the blue i had a skimmer and lost one and it was time to find the digs
that night we went out for something to eat and most were very subdued about the fishing a few drinks with the barnsley lads did lighten up the evening
The day of the race i drew B14 the river had a proper gala on it from left to right and 10 metres was going to be the only safe distance to fish
It was shocking i really fanced a perch off my top three line as it was 5ft deep swapped baits, depths not a bite 
so back to the draw to do the results it was pretty glum with loads of dry nets yet it was wide open a part from Team image who had a dream day with 5 catches and a score of 14 points incredible score for the day
these are the section weighs of the first day
Saturday night was a little bit more open and a few beers were sank but still everyone had a open mind about the venue and most thought the fish were there .plus when we packed up from B section the wind dropped and fish began to top
Well it was a early start and a few soar heads had appeared and some didn't again a shame when this happens as they had all paid there money and its not a cheap event
A different day all together bright sunny and warm
and still a breeze on the water .Day 2 different section A7 Lee wright had it the day before and caught a few fish off it so that cheered me up.
i set up a 6 gram flattie 3gram bodied float plus i'd set up a 1.5 J/Des because it was a lot shallower than the day before . Simon wilsmore had drawn a couple of pegs away and luckily he had a spare drink i could have as the sun had some real warmth in it .Simonis one of the best angers i know for catching Roach on Natural venues and cast my eye's over his rigs
i noticed a 4x16 rig so just questioned why the light float Simon replied it's perhaps a little too light but its my favourite pattern and i've only got that one left 
if you think it do it !!so i went back and looked in my box and set a .8 J/F added extra line and plumbed up .again not to sure as it still flowing quite hard but at least i had it set upi'd made my mind up to ball in soil and leam with very little joker in it then cup in ten rich balls with plenty of joker in and put another ten on a 10 metre line as the wind had started to blow again chopped a few lobbies up for a tench line at 6m and that was job done .
