This year saw an increase of competitors taking part in the Angling Trust British Pike Final on the 20 Foot River, and Glassmoor Bank on Whittlesey AA’s waters with a total of 225 entrants. Difficult weather conditions greeted the competitors with an overnight frost, and rain settling in for most of the morning of the match.
Darryl Moore from Hinkley won the Championship title on Saturday 3rd November 2012 with two pike weighing 22lb and 14lb 4oz from peg 132 on the 20ft to give him an overall winning weight of 36lb 4oz. Runner up Tony Billson was only 2oz behind the winner with a total weight of 36lb 2oz and two pike caught of 17lb 14oz and 18lb 4oz from peg 296 on the 20ft, and managed to catch his last pike with only a minute remaining. In third place was Chris Preen of Bicester who caught one fish for 18lb 2oz on peg 286 on the 20ft.
Fish catches were slightly down on previous years, but the number of competitors made up for any disappointment showing that this Championship is going from strength to strength.
Wayne Gorrange and Stuart Parker from the British Pike Squad were in attendance for the presentations to invite the top 10 anglers from the British Pike Final to fish alongside the British Pike Squad early next year on their waters from Bedlam bridge to the three holes bridge on the 16ft, to offer coaching sessions and to introduce the individuals to their way of fishing.
Top 10 individual results
1st Darryl Moore, Hinckley – 36lb 4oz (two fish 22lb and 14lb 4oz) Peg 132 on 20ft
2nd Tony Billson, Essex – 36lb 2oz (two fish 17lb 14oz and 18lb 4oz) Peg 296 on 20ft
3rd Chris Preen, Bicester – 18lb 2oz (one fish) Peg 286 on 20ft
4th Dwayne Williams, Cambs – 16lb 8oz (one fish) Peg 65 on Glassmoor.
5th Barry Southgate, Chelmsford – 15lb (two fish 9lb 12oz and 5lb 4oz) Peg 99 on Glassmoor.
6th Kenneth Edgson, Notts – 12lb (one fish) Peg 69 on Glassmoor.
7th Mark Salter, Southampton – 10lb 8oz (two fish)
8th Barry Putnam, Kenilworth – 10lb 6oz
9th Wayne Lees, Oxford – 10lb 1oz (3 fish)
Joint 10th Pete Smith, Burnham on Slough – 10lb
Joint 10th Derek Northrop, Great Beddow – 10lb
Top Lady – Jean Lloyd, Mansfield – 2lb 4 oz (one fish)
Top Junior – Lucy McCourt
The Angling Trust would like to offer their appreciation and thanks to Ted and Ann Rowe, Event Organisers for all their hard work and also to Dave White and Whittlesey AA who worked very hard to ensure that all pegs were accessible on the day.
Photo courtesy of the Angling Times – Darryl Moore, Pike Final Champion 2012
