By Martyn Russ
It was nice to finally see women being encouraged into the sport when they announce the creation of the first ever Welsh ladies carp team. Not only were they the first team but also the first ever to take part in a national competition. England had also created a team of lady carpers managed by the renowned carp angler and underwater specialist Rob Hughes. Stewart Jones, manager of the Welsh team and creator of the South Wales Carp Course & Game forum on Facebook, was himself also an avid carp fisherman (standing in for Team Manager Jon Calli, also a match angler at a professional level) so the ladies of both teams were in good hands for their first competition. The competition was booked at Barston Lake in England which was a very big venue, contained a large head of carp and had beautiful picturesque surroundings.
The competition was set over 2 days with both teams having to fish the full 48 hours and through the night to catch as many carp as possible as the combined weight of carp is what they were after. The lake was split into 3 sections with a team from each fishing that section. It wasn't long after the competition started that both sides had already started to catch carp and was building up their weight totals quickly. At one point during the match, about half way through Wales was actually leading section B with England chasing them hard and also dominating the other 2 sections.
9 am Sat - Provisional Scores
24 hours to go
England 5 points
Wales 4 points
Section A
England 50 fish for 478.10 lb
Wales 20 fish for 188.14 lb
Section B
Wales 11 fish for 108.09 lb
England 8 fish for 105.06 lb
Section C
England 25 fish for 271.07 lb
Wales 5 fish for 43.15 lb
Soon into the second day England took the lead and dominated in all 3 sections building some massive weight totals. Wales didn't make it easy for them at all as they were also building the weights quickly and chasing them making both teams really work hard and fight for position. The way the competition was scored and calculated meant there was only one point in it as the entered the final stages and everything to play for.
It was a pleasure to see lady carpers doing as good, if not better, than most of the male carp fishermen i see on the bank and in competitions. Both teams fished really hard and produced amazing weight totals showing that they have the skills and the grit for such a national competition. This was the first ever Anglo-Welsh Cup and i am sure it wont be the last. I can also see other teams from around the country such as Scotland and Ireland joining in soon to make up a big national competition.
Being a Welsh fisherman myself i was impressed to see the girls doing so well and they did our country proud. I personally was very proud of them for showing such professionalism and endurance during the competition. The weather had turned nasty and very cold during the night and into the second day with even snow falling on them and waking to frozen grounds and bitter cold winds. It shows they have what it takes to take on some of the most testing fishing conditions and i am sure they will go far and do even better in their next competition.
Well Done Girls you are a credit to Wales....
Well Done Girls you are a credit to Wales....
Wet Nets & Tight Lines !
