Annual Charity Pike Match
Oliver Cutts Memorial Trophy
Sunday 24th February 2008
A couple of photos of today's match one showing Matt Kirby about to return a fish he landed within the first hour only to struggle for the remainder of the day. The other of provisional winner Andre Sobczac with his best of five fish whiched weighed 12 pounds 2 ounces. Andre's five fish weighed a total 51 pounds which will take some beating if any late results should brng about any change.
The best fish is also yet to be confirmed, I don't believe we had any monsters landed today but at least two fish in the twelve pound class are in the running.
A thoroughly enjoyable day for all involved
Once Charles has all the results in and drops of the final positions I will update the entry above.
Sunday 24th February 2007
Charles Landells had once more completed the thankless task of organising the event, all the competitors had their venue details and the stewards were all arranged. The start of the week saw the river in fine form, dropping back and clearing nicely. Unfortunately rain during the latter part of the week looked to have undone us. However, despite the rain, the river remained in good order and on Saturday it looked as if we would get away with it and have a river well within the banks and reasonably clear.
Saturday night saw heavy showers but nothing that should have that great an effect on the river so things looked OK. As I drove out to exercise the dogs Sunday morning the ribbons of puddles that bordered the road didn’t give cause for any great concern and the Forest fords were dry but first glimpse of the river came as a shock. Up a further four inches and coloured; where did that lot come from! The Nadder by the look of the colour, they must have had considerably more rain higher in the catchment. Too late now, Phil Tibbet the match’s greatest supporter was down from Scotland and the Home Counties regulars were all on their way. What a sod!! No good worrying about it, we would have to make do as best we could.
The venue meets were at 09.30 which at least gave the opportunity for plenty of friendly banter that tends to accompany this very social occasion. Most of the fifty entries are regulars and it’s always good to catch up on their years fishing conquests.
It was decided after much discussion, all of ten seconds, that entrants on one of the venues completely flooded would move to friendlier climes and 10:00 saw us underway.
Deadbaits inched through the bank side slacks were the order of the day with the hope of bumping it on the nose of an Avon specimen that would hopefully have sought shelter from the main flow. It wasn’t long before previous winner Ian Ashby had managed a 6½ pounder, proving one was feeding so there may well be others. Despite this early success fish proved few and far between, not through lack of effort.
Final whistle at 04:00 saw a welcome retreat to the Royal Oak at Gorley where Charles had arranged a pint and a curry to bring back the circulation while the results came in from the other venues. From top to bottom of the river it had been a hard day for fishing but we all know that’s part and parcel of the game and there had been one or two fish that made it all worthwhile.
Winner Dave Cole with one of his two fish that gave him a combined weight of 25 pounds 6 ounces and second place man Nick Clark with a 12 pounder
Left Ian Ashby making sure he doesn't drop his fish in the water before Jim Foster can weigh it.Centre Dedicated trout man Rob Bacon not quite sure if his first ever pike is a vicious as he's heard. Right It would be a brave pike that bit Dave Scutts, it looks as if he may be about to bite it back!!
A curry and a pint what better way to end the day
I must add our thanks to those that kindly allowed us entry to their venues; Bisterne Estate, Ringwood and District Anglers, Christchurch Anglers, The Hale Syndicate, Folds Farm and right up the top Britford. All who fished agreed it was an excellent event and hoped to see us again next year; added to this the coffers of the Trust are a fair few ponds better off; well done to all involved.
Oliver Cutts Memorial Trophy
Sunday 26th February 2006
Fished on Sunday 26th February throughout the Avon the Trust would like to thank the riparian owners who kindly allowed us access to their fisheries for the day. Thanks must also go to organiser Charles Landells for the excellent day enjoyed by all the competitors.
First Place
Fourteen year old Steven Sophocleous who landed two fish from Folds Farm for a total weight of 20 pounds 08 ounces, "Very well done Steven"
Second place; Tony Aylott with two fish for a total weight of 18 pounds 02 ounces from Hale Park.
Third place; Geoff Estall, two fish for 16 pounds 08 ounces from Bisterne.
Best Fish; Dave Best with a fish of 14 pounds 04 ounces from Somerley (see pic below)
L - R Dave Best with a 14.4, Steve Richards 13.8, Adrian Scott 12.10 and Jim Foster weighing Steve's fish whilst Dave Scutts adds his congrat's, (I think that's what he said anyway).
Oliver Cutts Memorial Trophy
Sunday 20th February 2005
Fished on the Hampshire Avon between Salisbury and Avon Tyrell, forty anglers enjoyed a cold bright day landing 31 fish between them. Winner Andre Sobczac, fishing at Somerley, landed five pike for 40.12 second place man Martin Pollok landed two fish for 30.12 from Bisterne and third place was taken by John Calton from Somerley with three fish for 25.06. Best fish of the day was a fine hen of 21 pounds from Britford landed by John Bevan.
2005 over-all winner Andre Sobczac weighing a jack with Jim Foster, watched anxiously by eventual third place angler John Calton.
John Bevan with the "Best fish" 21 pounds from Britford, it has taken a year for me to catch-up with this photo!!
Dave Rudd with a 12.13 at Ellingham and Martin Pollok with his 19 pounder from Bisterne
Jim Foster with Ian Ashby, previous years winner about to weigh a Jack at Ibsley
John looking pleased with himself - before he realised Andre had a 15.04
Phil Tibbet on the right, who travelled down from Scotland for the evening, presenting the Oliver Cutts memorial Rose Bowl to winner Andre Sobczac at the Annual General Meeting, 18th March 2005.
Oliver Cutts Memorial Match 2002
2002 winner Ian Ashby on the right, member Jim Foster with the weigh-sling
and committee member Dr Mike Twitchen standing.