by Martyn Russ
Once again that time of year has come about when the final of the Welsh carp championship takes place. Well what a years its been, we have seen some amazing anglers appear on the scene and loads of stunning carp being caught including a new Welsh record of over 40 lbs at the Wharf in Cardiff and not to mention all the highs 30's being caught at venues all over south and west Wales. The quality of anglers in Wales over the last few years has increased and loads of new people are now taking up what is becoming one of the fastest growing sports in fishing, Carp fishing!
The WCC was no exception to the quality of angling Wales has to offer as the qualifying rounds, which were being held at different venues around Wales, turned out to be some amazing competitions with loads and i mean loads of stunning carp being caught right from day one. The quality of anglers and their skills was very high this year which made for a much more exciting and very close competition right through all of the qualifying rounds. The final at Fendrod Lake was also no exception but by the end of the first day a leader had already started to show and what a lead it was,. These guys were actually taking the water apart and were constantly on the net landing fish after fish.
Even though the weather had turned nasty on them and they were drenched and tired they all continued to battle on and with an amazing 200 lb lead right from day one the leaders Lee Barker and Richard Seed were showing exactly why they were in the final of the WCC.
So 24 hrs had gone and what a busy one it had been, conditions got worse over night with most competitors kit under water but has not got to them and they were all still fishing really well and so was the venue.
The scores at the half way mark were:
Lee Baker & Richard Seed 249 lb 1 oz
John Cooper & James Dawson 46 lb 4 oz
Jonathan Jones & Josh Smith 31 lb 10 oz
Luke Hayes & Mike Robb 29 lb
Stuart Sparks & Sam Clarke 22 lb
Ross & Spencer Partridge 21 lb
John Flewin & Ethan Thomas 13 lb 4 oz
Thankfully the weather broke during the second half of the competition and the heavens shined upon most of the anglers who managed to get on the score board and tried to chase that amazing lead the 1st place position had over them. No matter how good fishing was or how many fish they caught they just couldn't catch up or even make a dent into that ever increasing total the lads had and what a competition it turned out to be. All the anglers showed just why they had made it into the final with only 3 not managing to get onto the score board and 1 not finishing the competition.
Lee Barker and Richard Seed really showed how good Welsh carping had become and how good some of the angler are that are out there. Once again another year has past and we now have a new Welsh Carp Champion Team, Lee and Richard. Well done lads!.
Also a massive congratulations to all the competitors as in my eyes they are all winners for getting to the final in the first place.
FINAL SCORES
1st Lee Baker & Richard Seed 281lb 5oz
2nd John Copper & James Dawson 66lb 8oz
3rd Luke Hayes & Mike Robb 62lb
Jonathan Jones & Josh Smith 45lb 10oz
Stuart Sparks & Sam Clarke 22lb
Ross & Spencer 21lb
John Flewin & Ethan Thomas 13lb 4 oz
Karl Shaw & Wayne Aguis NCR
Olly Hughs & Steve Morgan NCR
Simon Harrison & Darren Newman NCR
Rhys Lloyd & Richard Wainfur DNF
What an amazing competition 2016 has brought about and it just seems to be getting better each year, I for one can't wait to see what next year brings. Well done lads!
Wet Nets & Tight Lines
