Twelve (12) anglers from a possible seventeen (17) attended the first ever Match Angler Of The Year final here at Woodside Fishery. The event saw anglers that had recorded a minimum of two match wins or weighed in 100lbs or more from a maximum of two matches over the course of the 2023 season. Anglers that had qualified for the event then went head to head on Easter Saturday for the title of Woodside's Match Angler Of The Year.
Conditions on the day brought with them a welcome break from the non-stop rain. There was a very slight touch of frost first thing with the nets that had been left on anglers pegs showing signs it had dropped quite cold overnight. However, for the duration of the match, anglers were sat in glorious sunshine and were allowed to enjoy a beautiful Spring day.
Despite pleasant conditions for competing anglers, sport on the day proved a little tricky with most anglers getting off to a great start before the fish backed off towards the second half of the match. The final hour or so proved difficult for most with few edge fish being caught across the board. That said, although weights were below par, it was an extremely close and fair match with very little separating the mainframe top four positions.
Winner on the day, and confirming his Woodside pedigree, was Worcester rod Dan Hart. Dan has enjoyed an incredible run of form at Woodside over the 2023 season recording multiple open wins and winter league wins as well as taking home the impressive Midlands Air Ambulance charity fundraiser trophy.
Dan drew unfancied peg 18 on the dam wall and really had his work cut out for him with some of his main 'rivals' drawing well. Dan went down his edge early on with paste and managed to find a few fish before mugging a few fish midway through the match with 6mm pellet. As the match progressed, the fish began to back off and become awkward so Dan opted for another paste line, but this time fished short to put a few more decent sized fish in the net. Come the end of the match, Dan wasn't confident he'd done enough. Upon the scales making their way round, Dan recorded 57-10-00 after his three weighs to record a narrow victory.
Finishing close behind in second place from a couple of pegs down was Derek James. Derek had qualified for the event with two outright match wins with his respective club and managed a relatively decent draw pulling peg 14 out the bag. Derek managed to find a much larger stamp of fish than most offering corn down his edge to weigh in 53-12-00 of mainly carp with a handful of silvers.
Third place was secured by Lee McKnight from peg 8. Lee has also enjoyed a superb run of form over the 2023 season not only at Woodside, which has seen him win club matches and opens, but at venues across the Midlands including Moorlands Farm, Hawford Bridge and Cobhouse Fisheries.
Lee got off a great start mugging several carp within the first hour on hard 6mm pellet before the fish spooked a little and disappeared from the upper layers. Lee managed to catch a few more fish again offering 6mm hard pellet to depth before going long over to the island to find small stockies. Before the scales made their way round, much of the field was convinced Lee had done enough. However, after his three weighs, Lee confirmed a final weight of 53-02-00.
The last of the main payout positions went to Metal Closures rod, Adam Lees. Adam came into this year's final with two outright match wins and felt confident drawing corner peg 6 which, by his own admission, is one of his preferred areas on Woodside pool. Like Lee, Adam concentrated on an all out pellet approach offering 6mm hard pellet short and down both edges to find 47-04-00 of mainly carp.
Section winners on the day were Dave Bowyer and Max Galaszewski. Dave topped section A from peg 3 with 22-08-00 of carp and quality roach taken on corn down his edge. Max won section B with 41-04-00 just missing out on a mainframe finish offering hard pellets short and up in the water on the long pole.
MAINFRAME FINISH
POSITION | ANGLER | PEG | WEIGHT | METHOD |
1st | D. Hart | 18 | 57-10-00 | Paste in the margins & pellet shallow |
2nd | D. James | 14 | 53-12-00 | Corn in the margins |
3rd | L. McKnight | 8 | 53-02-00 | Pellet shallow & long pole |
4th | A. Lees | 6 | 47-04-00 | Pellet short & in the margins |
Although the fishing proved difficult for some, overall the match was extremely close and, ultimately, fair with very little separating the main top four placed anglers. I don't think there can be any arguements about Dan winning the 2023 event taking into account his form here over the past twelve months - simply awesome! He's showing no signs of slowing down this year either having already qualified for the 2024 Match Angler Of The Year final after winning our first open of the year - full match report here.
A massive well done also to Derek James on his second place finish, Lee McKnight on finishing third and Adam Lees on finishing fourth. Again, all anglers showing great form here at Woodside over the 2023 season and deserving top place finishers.
Finally, congratulations to each and everyone of you that took part. We've literally welcomed hundreds of anglers over the course of the 2023 season and to be one of the seventeen (17) anglers to have qualified for this event is no easy task! You should all hold your heads high and be proud to have been part of this year's event.
OVERALL
POSITION | ANGLER | PEG | WEIGHT |
1st | Dan Hart | 18 | 57-10-00 |
2nd | Derek James | 14 | 53-12-00 |
3rd | Lee McKnight | 8 | 53-02-00 |
4th | Adam Lees | 6 | 47-04-00 |
5th | Max Galaszewski | 16 | 41-04-00 |
6th | Martin Dunn | 1 | 24-12-00 |
7th | Dave Bowyer | 3 | 22-08-00 |
8th | Jeff Rush | 21 | 22-02-00 |
9th | Ken Hayes | 12 | 18-14-00 |
10th | Chris Hall | 10 | 16-06-00 |
11th | Tony Bishop | 5 | 07-06-00 |
12th | Rob Sandall | 20 | 02-06-00 |