They made steady progress through regional rounds in early spring culminating in a semi-final place at Larford Lakes just outside Kidderminster last weekend.

Despite only being able to visit the venue for one day it proved to be a vital practice session.

Team captain Dale Stones explained their team tactics to me the evening prior to the event.

He said: "The venue is full of carp but we found out on our practice day that certain sections required a much more refined approach. While we thought other teams would attack the venue with big baits looking for the carp, we decided on an out and out team approach looking to fill our nets with skimmers, although still targeting carp on the smaller lakes."

The plan worked out perfectly. Although one or two of their anglers struggled and were only midway in their respective sections, Paul Wright won his section and Lee Kendall took a massive 44kg to win his lake on a chopped worm and caster approach.

Skipper Stones was second in his section and overall the team just missed out on the top spot but were happy to claim the runners-up medal and a place in the Grand Final to be held at the JCB Lakes, Uttoxeter, in mid-July.

I have been sponsoring the side for several years now and always knew they had potential to reach a national final and with just a bit of luck at the draw bag I have a feeling they could well surprise a few people around the country in what is going to be a very exciting event.

Team result (top seven qualify): 1 Mansfield Piscatorials, 27pts; 2 Wade's MG, 34; 3 Steven's Tackle, 35; 4 White Hart AC, 43; 5 White Hart Flore AC, 45; 6 Knighton Angling, 46; 7 Skegness MG, 53; 8 Parkside FC, 54; 9 Blake Hall, 58; 10 Gipping Valley AC, 60 (sections); 11 Newdigate AC, 60; 12 Hosking's Haulers, 61; 13 Long Eaton AS, 62; 14 F1 MG, 65 (sections); 15 Nathan's JCB, 65; 16 Mulbarton DAA, 73; 17 Shipshape Tackle, 77.

Individual result: 1 B. Clarke, Hosking's Haulers, 63.6kg; 2 M. Burns, Steven's Tackle, 57.3kg; 3 S. Porter, Knighton Angling, 50.6kg.




OVER the past couple of seasons I have had my leg pulled on more than one occasion after announcing that the new season is going to get off to a flying start, only to see some pretty poor returns come in.

Well, this year I was a little more conservative with my predictions and for once it would seem that opening day was better than expected, particularly on the River Nene.

Bream and tench showed at Oundle, Wansford and best of all on the Peterborough DAA section above the railway bridge in the 50s.

River expert and Peterborough's head bailiff John Means knew exactly where to find the big fish and after a heavy baiting session proceeded to bag bream and tench on red maggot and worm finishing with close to 40lb.

Very few roach have shown, but they are always slow starters.