ALMOST 70 anglers lined up on the River Thames at Pangbourne for the Barney Barrington Memorial Match last Sunday.

Barney was arguably the most successful angler from the Basingstoke area ever, yet very few Basingstoke Anglers took part.

Barney’s clubs were Basingstoke AC who merged with Adventure AS and the now defunct Basingstoke Kingfishers.

The match was dominated by Oxford anglers namely Tony Hobbs 19lb 2oz, Ian Young 14lb 7oz, John Williams 12lb 2oz, Dorking’s Gary Pook with 12lb 3oz and Dave Johnson on 11lb 8oz.

The match raised in excess of £350 for St Michaels Hospice. Thanks to Andre Grandjean for running the event and Sean Barrington for supplying the trophies, Thames Valley Angling for the pegging etc and Reading Fishing Club for donating the venue FOC.

Adventure AS fished at Whatmore Farm, where Camouflage Jim broke the habit of a lifetime and won with 100lb 12oz of carp on the pellet waggler, Nick Sargent caught 92lb of the same on the pellet waggler, followed by Mark Blakmon with 73lb and Graham Spiller on 70lb. Fourteen fished and caught.

Camrose AC were at |Cheriton Farm on Sunday last, where Brian Orchard won with 82lb 4oz of carp on pole and pellet, Paul Bassinder’s 78lb of carp was also a pole and pellet affair, Jason (the paste) Marcham caught 67lb followed by Danny Williams with 63lb 19oz. Thirteen fished and weighed.

Staceys Match Group fished their match at Frobury Farm Lake One, and it was Andy Wicks who topped out on 32lb of mixed on pole and pellet, Keith Brown’s 25lb 4oz was a maggot affair (what else) whilst Doug Whitford weighed in 22lb. Ten fished and caught.

This coming Sunday Adventure go to Orchard Lakes in the New Forest, Osprey will be at Greenridge Farm, Camrose are on New Barlows Lake whilst Basingstoke Railway Club are at Dandys Ford Fishery.

My coming weekend is Friday night at a Spanish Restaurant for my brother’s 80th birthday, Saturday Southampton for the Carol King show Beautiful and Sunday to my son’s house for a meal and a day with the grandchildren, my son’s children are terrorists and my daughter’s two are Bonnie and Clyde. If I'm still around catch me next week.