The first part of this account is from the TEFF website concerning the above event:
The South West Lakes Trust, Siblyback Lake hosted this weekend’s AT-TEFF Bank Qualifier. A light westerly wind and bright skies greeted the eight anglers competing for a place in the southern semi-final.
Burrator regular Nik Tompkins was first to catch just six minutes into the competition with three other anglers also taking their first fish within the first hour. However, as the morning progressed the action slowed down and after lunch the weather deteriorated with a strong north-westerly wind and torrential rain, making for very uncomfortable fishing conditions.
All eight anglers managed to catch with many fish lost during the match, however it was Nik Tompkins who continued his fine start who took first place. Nik caught six fish giving him 11 points. Second with five place points, catching three fish, was Mick Dodkins, a Siblyback regular. Ron Howard, travelling all the way from Chepstow to fish the qualifier, was rewarded with third position with four points with another local Siblyback regular, Ron Wilday, Chairman of Siblyback Fly Fishing, taking fourth position, also with four points. The timing of the first fish caught separated these two anglers.
It was a very bedraggled, wet and windswept bunch of anglers in the lecture room at the fishery for the results at the end of the match!
The AT-TEFF would like to thank Siblyback Lake for hosting this qualifier and Derek Aunger for running the event.
Results
1st Nik Tompkins 6 fish 11 points
2nd Michael Dodkins 3 fish 5points
3rd Ronald Howard 2 fish 4 points
4th Ronald Wilday 2 fish 4 points
Semi Final at Elinor Fishery Northants.
Ron and Mick made the long journey to Elinor to meet in the car park of the fishery on a very windy morning. About thirty other anglers took part and it was fished to the same rules as the qualifying round.
Mick was first drawn on the dam with the 40mph wind blowing straight into the dam. Ron was not much luckier on the first peg, fishing 2 pegs before the dam with the wind over his right shoulder. However, both started well, Mick catching two fish in the first ten minutes and Ron being one of the few to catch a fish out of what proved to be a barren area on the day.
So the day continued with anglers changing pegs every 45 minutes, but if anything, the wind increased to the point that in the afternoon many anglers on the dam didn’t even try to cast out.
By the end of the competition Mick didn’t have any more action so just caught the two fish whereas Ron caught four fish in total and qualifies for the final at Chigborough Fishery in Essex due to be held in May this year – Well done Ron.
