ADVENTURE AS celebrated Christmas with a match at Dandy’s Ford Fishery and, surprisingly, the match was won from the canal section, with Dave Stratford-Way taking the honours with 31lb 8oz of carp on pole and pellet.

Rob Gallagher’s 24lb 8oz of carp was a pole and meat affair. Jake Gallagher came next with 20lb 8oz of carp. Keith Brook caught the same weight of the same species.

Twenty-six anglers found their way back to the club house for the food and presentation.

Kennet Ospreys fished the unpopular Basingstoke Canal at Chequers, where match secretary André Grandjean topped out with a 2lb plus perch and bits on pole worm and maggot for 3lb 10oz. I fished bloodworm and joker for 2lb 5oz of bits and pieces. Pat Holies caught one good skimmer on bread punch plus a roach for 1lb 9oz, with Graham Shadwell weighing 1lb 6oz.

Ten fished and caught, just.

Oxoid AC were at Charlie’s Lake in Andover for their final match of the year, and it was Peter Lovegrove who won it with 7lb 1oz of mixed on pole red maggot and corn. Del Baulsum caught 3lb 10oz for second place, followed by George Coomber’s 2lb 7oz and Simon Nicholl’s even 1lb.

Peter Lovegrove was crowned 2013 champion, and eight fished.

Terry Bowles won the Camrose match at New Barlows with 22lb 12oz of carp on pole and meat. Pete Morris came next with 13lb of carp and bream on pole and maggot. Paul Hunt’s 8lb was third, followed by Bill Atkinson’s two carp weighing 6lb.

Ten fished, but not all caught (Bill).

Basingstoke Railway Club went to Whitehouse Lake, Tadley, for their recent match, and Lynn Matthews put the boys to shame by netting three carp for 10lb 3oz on pole and maggot. Ben Truman caught two bream on pole and maggot for 4lb 4oz. Colin Ariss weighed 3lb 2oz, and Keith Brown made up the frame with 1lb 8oz.

Nine fished and three blanked.

Camrose went to Old Barlows Lake last week and Rob Frost scored with 24lb 6oz of carp and bream on pole and mag. Pete Morris caught 11lb 6oz of mixed for second spot, followed by Darren Brown on 11lb 2oz and Pip Seeny with 5lb.

Ten fished and caught.

Adventure’s recent match, at Frobury Farm, saw Mick Fordham win with 31lb 8oz of carp on pole and pellet. Mark Blackmon caught 27lb 8oz for second place, followed by Kevin Smith on 17lb 8oz, with Dave Stratford-Way and Andy Quarmby both on 13lb 8oz.

Twenty fished and one blanked.

It’s nice to see a fishery give something back to its anglers. After last Wednesday’s over-60s match at Dandy’s Ford Fishery, near Romsey, the owners put on a spread for the 42 competitors. It was fit for a king,with soup and rolls, sausage rolls, cheese board and biscuits, pickled shallots, cakes, and their famous bread pudding, that I’m not allowed to eat, and as much of it as you could eat, not me of course.

Thanks to John and Doreen Metcalfe, Natalie and staff for their thoughtfulness and good service, not only Wednesday last but throughout the year.

A Merry Christmas to all anglers whatever their disciplines, and to all those who suffer with an ’er indoors. Tough it out over the festive period.

Catch me in a fortnight.