Pounds pile up as festival anglers show off prize winning catches (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Pounds pile up as festival anglers show off prize winning catches

MANOR Farm Leisure staged its inaugural Spring Festival last week when 39 anglers fished the Middle and Island Pools.

Despite torrential rain on the first day eight weights in excess of 100 lbs were recorded and every day produced good weights.

Friday's final day was contested in glorious weather and another eight 100lb plus weights were taken.

The total weight of fish caught in the five days by the 39 anglers was an amazing 14,077lbs, which works out at 360lbs per man or 72lbs per man per day.

There was an exciting climax when the three potential winners were all drawn in the same section.

Andy Pollard came out on top with a spectacular six points after four section wins and a second place. Ian Burley was second with eight points after two firsts and three seconds, while Carl Jones was third on ten points with two wins, two seconds and a fourth.

Mainly carp and a few tench were caught throughout the week when the main baits were pellet and paste.

Fish were caught on pole, long and short, depending on wind direction, shallow and deep, depending on feed patterns.

These varying tactics produced some spectacular weights with a number of anglers reporting their personal best weights, including 17-year-old Jack Baker who bagged his first ton.

A second festival will be staged next year between May 14 and 18.

Results - Monday: 1 Brian Steer (Glou-cester) 161.6.0 (Middle, peg 7); 2 Martin Ludlow (Golden Cross) 136.5.0 (Island, 34); 3 Carl Jones (Maver) 118.9.0 (M11). Tuesday: Bob Haigh (Hoyling AC) 141.4.0 (I36); 2 Andy Pollard (Mosella Harriers) 130.9.0 (I8); 3 Carl Baker (Stourbridge) 91.4.0 (M19). Wednesday: 1 C Baker 159.4.0 (I37); 2 B Steer 156.15.0 (I6); 3 C Jones 107.12.0 (M20). Thursday: 1 Mark Taylor (W B Clarke VDE) 125.14.0 (M3); 2 C Jones 123.6.0 (I6); 3 Matt Smith (Talk Angling) 112.14.0 (M25). Friday: 1 A Pollard (173.13.0 (I18); 2 B Haigh 140.10.0 (M8); 3 Ian Burley (Leigh B & T) 134.7.0 (I12).

Final placings: 1 A Pollard 6pts; 2 I Burley 8; 3 C Jones 10; 4 M Taylor 12; 5 B Steer 14; =6 C Baker, Martin Ludlow 15; =8 Gavin Heritage, M Smith, B Haigh 16.

Match results - May 13 (Boundary): 1 Chris Cameron (Mosella SW) 95.13.0 (peg 6); 2 Tony Skinner (Shakespeare) 88.3.0 (17); Gavin Heritage (Stratford) 81.0.0 (33). May 14 (Island): 1 Mark Taylor (W B Clarke VDE) 105.12.0 (37); 2 Alan Sutton (MFL) 84.6.0 (22); 3 Tim Hunt (Wooffs) 80.10.0 (18).