Fishing Match 2009

Most of the usual struggling anglers look to have pulled out of the 2009 event although it must be said that improving angler Clive Harrison had some unfortunate circumstances which rules him out.

Matty Barker got back to winning ways in 2008 after a 5 year stint without winning. He nearly won here at Penvose in 2007 but for Justin catching a late fish to steal it at the death. Should be right there at the finish.

Justin Metherell was champion here in 2007 and likes the venue, despite lacking practice this season.

Rick Barker has won the matches 4 times in the past but was soundly defeated last time out in 2008. Is in good form this season and could make a challenge.

Jason Hoare is another former champion but has really gone off the boil in recent seasons. He will need to step it up if he is to feature after flopping from a hot peg in the 2008 match.

Chris Barker Senior is as confident as ever despite the venue possibly not suiting his style. He prefers the non carp venues and so may be playing for a place at best.

Bear Barker is out of form and has little recent practice to his name. Has had 10 years without the title and the chances are, that's soon to be 11 unless he produces an incredible performance.

HOURS 1-3

Matty Barker was into some early carp. Chris Barker Senior was also bagging nicely.

Jason Hoare, Bear Barker and Rick Barker were all behind at this stage despite registering fish on the board.

Justin Metherell bagged a couple of early fish but didn't have much weight in the net.

The match was still wide open as the weather conditions continued to be overcast with the odd bit of drizzle.

THE FINAL 2 HOURS

Chris Barker Senior was going to be in the mix as his panning continued relentlessly. He had what looked like a good mixed bag.

Bear Barker on the other hand was struggling despite landing what looked like the biggest carp of the match late on. He had also landed another good fish which jumped back into the water when he got it on the bank losing crucial weight in the process.

Jason Hoare was hoping he had done enough by fishing off the far shelf and had several carp in the bag by the close.

Matty Barker ended the match by chasing minnows in the last hour in an attempt to make sure he had done enough for victory.

The most incredible end to the match was in Rick Barker's peg though as he caught 3 carp in the last 20 minutes of the match including hooking a huge fish 5 minutes before the whistle sounded. When the whistle sounded he continued to play it [ the rule is that an angler has 15 minutes to net a fish after the whistle has gone if he hooked it before the whistle.]

After a struggle which lasted a good 10 minutes, he managed to land the fish successfully, in front of a small audience of people who had gathered to watch.

THE WEIGH IN

Despite a low turn out to the event there were some excellent catches on the day and many anglers that didn't show up would most certainly have had a good days fishing. The weigh in started with Matty on the end peg 5 and finished up with Rick at the other end on peg 11.

REVIEW

This match was just about as close as they come. What Rick didn't know was, was that his 2 fish in the last 10 minutes took him from 5th into 2nd and missed out on the title by a whisker. Matty's minnow bashing in the last hour had given him that vital extra weight and Chris Barker Senior was hot on their heels, falling one good fish shy of his first modern day title.