Outstanding and surprising news!

Not since this trophy was first awarded back in 2011, have I been able to write that a barbel was caught during this fish-in for barbel enthusiasts. What was conceived as an annual event often had to be repeated later in the season in the hope of finding a winner, so often without a result.

However, on this occasion (the eighth time the event has been held) not only was one caught, but a second, too, and both fish captured by the same person. The winning angler was Chris Exall who didn’t take long to ensure that Lynnette Humphry would be able to present the trophy for only the second time. Chris landed his first fish within an hour of the start, and what a fish it was – a new personal best of 15 lbs 15 oz. He was so shocked and excited that he neglected to take a photo, but the fish was witnessed and weighed by Nelson Keet who was fishing nearby.

Later in the day Chris had the misfortune to lose a fish, but he made up for this bad luck by catching another before the end – this time a smaller double of 10 lbs 4 oz. Heartiest congratulations to Chris for putting the rest of us to shame and walking away with a well-deserved trophy.

As well as Chris, there were another fifteen of us who fished (see below) including a couple of newcomers. In total £190 was raised for charity, which Lynnette suggested on this occasion should be Prostate Cancer UK, which was unanimously agreed.

Thanks to Lynnette for her continued support and to Mick Mills and Martin Cornish who helped organise this worthy event.

Participants: Daniel Bolton, Colin Bridger, Dave Chambers, Martin Cornish, Martyn Cullern, Chris Exall, Peter Foster, Matthew Goody, Steve Howe, Nelson Keet, Mike Kitchener, Mick Mills, Christophe Pelhate, Clive Pester, Victor Shepherd and Steve Warner