by Martyn Russ
Once again it has been a busy couple of weeks in the carp scene in South Wales with not 1 but 2 main qualifying rounds for the Welsh carp Championship 2016 and also the final for the Junior Welsh carp Championship being held at the Birch Syndicate water in Newport, South Wales. Unfortunately i wasn't available to follow the fishing as it unfolded at the Fendrod Lake, due to me being out fishing a new syndicate water, but looking at the scores and how they spread out it looked like it was an amazing competition with lots of stunning fish being caught.
Lee Baker & Richard Seed 150lb 3oz
Andrew Morgan & Callum Way 38lb 12oz
Steve Morgan & Ryan Prosser 26lb 6oz
Mathew & Mike Greenall 25lb 10oz
Andrew Richards & Dean Collins 15lb 12oz
Chris Powell & Steve Oneil 13lb 8oz
Kris Jenkins & Rhys Sales 9lb 10oz
After the score came in for the first night of the qualifier we could see that there was a big lead being built up and it would be a struggle for the others to catch the leading pair. With regards to the other positions it seemed to be a very close competition and 2nd and 3rd places were not guaranteed so there was still everything to fish for as they entered the final day.
Final Results for the The Fendrod Qualifier are
1st - Lee Baker & Richard Seed 210lb 10oz
2nd - Jonathan Jones & Josh Smith 159lb 8oz
3 rd - Andrew Norman & Callum Way 85lb 14oz
4th - Steve Morgan & Ryan Prosser 75lb 3oz
5th - Mathew & Mike Greenall 59lb 8oz
6th - Steven Maddick & David Relf 38lb 14oz
7th - Andrew Richards & Dean Collins 15lb 12oz
8th - Chris Powell & Steve Oneil 13lb 8oz
9th - Kris Jenkins & Rhys Sales 9lb 10oz
lee baker & Richard Seed continued to maintain their lead through out the entire competition with Jonathan Jones and josh Smith chasing them hard during the final stages. the remainder of the anglers were also doing well and catching plenty of beautiful specimens but were unable to catch the two leading pairs who just stormed ahead right to the finish.
With one more qualifier finished it was time again for the next round held on the following weekend at White Springs lake. It wasn't long into the competition and the anglers were catching and starting to build up those important weights with every team managing to grab a place on the score board.
After the first 24 hours the current standings are :-
John Cooper & James Dawson 92 lb 14 oz
John Flewin & Ethan Thomas 91 lb 10 oz
Nathan Perkins & Andrew Roberts 51 lb 4 oz
Craig Thomas & Phillip Griffths 37 lb 12 oz
Kerion Mackie & Matt 34 lb 15 oz
Gavin & Sam Childs 29 lb 12 oz
Anthony James & Curtis James 27 lb 8 oz
Liam Smith & Steve Hughes 28 lb 2 oz
Tony Jones & Mark Dickenson 24 lb
Mark Hopkins & Carl Wright 16 lb 8 oz
As they moved into the second day a lead with the top 3 teams had started to be built but was no way a sure thing as the lake held plenty of high double figure carp and it meant it was any ones game with all the teams catching plenty of fish. As they went into the final few hours at White Springs Fishery the standings were:
1st John Flewin & Ethan Thomas 178lb 14oz
2nd John Cooper & James Dawson 178lb 8oz
3rd Nathan Perkins & Andrew Roberts 71lb 14oz
4th Kerion Mackie & Matt 68lb 15oz
5th Liam Smith & Steve Hughes 63lb 6oz
With just under a 100 lb separating the top 2 teams from the rest of the group it looked like a sure thing as they entered the last couple of hours in the competition. Again the WCC had produced some amazing sport and the anglers showed exceptional skills in both angling and fish care. As they say there can only be one winner and as time was called on the competition the results came in:
The Final RESULTS at White Springs Fishery the standings are :-
John Flewin & Ethan Thomas 178lb 14oz
John Cooper & James Dawson 178lb 8oz
Nathan Perkins & Andrew Roberts 71lb 14oz
Kerion Mackie & Matt 68lb 15oz
Liam Smith & Steve Hughes 63lb 6oz
Gavin & Sam 59lb 3oz
Tony Jones & Mark Dickenson 41lb 4oz
Craig Thomas & Phillip Griffiths 37lb 12oz
Anthony James & Curtis James 27lb 8oz
Mark Hopkins & Carl Wright 16lb 8oz
To be honest in my eyes it didn't really matter who had won the competitions as they had all done extremely well getting so far and catching so many beautiful fish. Unfortunately only so many could go through to the final and i really can't wait for that competition as if these latest results are anything to go by the final is set to be an amazing event and i really am looking forwards to it. I wish all the teams the best of luck!
Wet Nets & Tight Lines
