THE Stafford Moor Festivals in Devon attracts some of the best anglers in the country, and with prize money topping the £1,000 mark competition is fierce.

Step up local ace Simon Kiefer, whose four section wins gave him the perfect score over the week and £1,200 in winnings.

Camrose AC went to Whitehouse Lake for their latest match, and venue expert Brian Orchard did the business with 19lb 11oz of pole and pellet caught carp. Paul Hunt used pole and maggot for his 14lb 9oz of mixed. Rob Frost’s pole chopped worm and caster approach produced 12lb 6oz of carp, while Pete Morris caught 10lb 4oz of mixed on pole and maggot.

Fourteen fished, one did not catch, but match secretary Pip Seeny would not say who it was.

Adventure AS took a trip to Orchard Lakes at Bashley, where Fred Gill scored with 96lb 12oz of carp and barbel on pole and meat. Mark Blackmon employed pole and corn for his 92lb of carp. Steve Hunt’s 91lb 6oz was a pole and pellet affair, while Kevin Smith’s 88lb 12oz fell to pole and corn.

Twelve fished and all caught.

Kennet Ospreys’ match at Gold Valley scheduled for Sunday last, was cancelled due to lack of interest.

Basingstoke Railway Club went to Cove Pit at Theale last Sunday, and Trevor Matthews scored with 132lb of carp on pole and corn. Staceys supremo Keith Brown and Colin Ariss tied for second place on 116lb of carp, the former on pole and maggot and the latter on pole and corn. Ben Trueman’s 93lb was good enough for fourth spot.

Sixteen fished and caught.

Last week’s Camrose match saw the club at Old Barlow’s Lake, Tadley, and it was Colin Thomas who topped out with 21lb 10oz of mixed on pole and corn. Tony Holdsworth filled second spot with 7lb 9oz of mixed on chopped worm and caster. Pip Seeny caught 6lb 7oz on pole and maggot, while Paul Bassinder made up the frame with 5lb 6oz.

Eleven fished and four blanked.

Kennet Ospreys’ recent match, on the Basingstoke Canal, saw Andy Leith put the bread punch to good use and score with 3lb 7oz 8drm of roach and skimmers. Graham Shadwell employed similar tactics for his 3lb 1oz 8drm of mainly roach. André Grandjean used a bit of everything for his 3lb of mixed, while Peter Wooldridge weighed in 2lb 12oz.

Eleven fished and caught.

My Majorca trip did not materialise, as I was hospitalised the night before departure with pneumonia and a malfunctioning kidney. However, on the bright side, I was the youngest patient in the ward at 71 years, and now I’m out ’er indoors has taken control – no change there then!

Catch me next week.