Hot rod Humphries hits double
Angler Ken Humphries (Oswestry) cruised to overall victory in the Springlea Two Day Bank Holiday Festival by taking first place on both days.
On Sunday he opted for paste over pellet at peg 30 on the Mallard to keep up a steady catch rate for a final tally of 51-4-8.
Neil Mansfield (Wem) pressed him hard all the way to the whistle, using meat and corn close in for 48-7-8 at peg 24.
Matt Stobbs (Sensas Portway) did well on his open debut at the venue, taking third form peg five, which no one expected to make the frame. Matt fished corn to scale 45-1-0, leaving Paul Newton (Oswestry) to pick up fourth with 44-4-8 at peg seven.
Day two saw Humphries on peg 15, which he decided to attack with chopped worm on the long pole, a decision which brought a mixture of carp, skimmers and stockies to the net for a total of 79-1-8.
John Edwards (Oswestry) added 69-3-0 to his first day total of 30-7-0 to clinch both second on the day and in the overall standings.
Third on the day was Graham Peebody (Llandulas) on 55-7-0. and Tom Gollins (Hodnet) secured third overall by taking fourth on the day with 46-6-8.
Final aggregate weights: 1st Ken Humphries, 130-6-0; 2nd John Edwards, 99-10-0; 3rd Tom Gollins, 67-8-8.
Andy Williams (Rod & Gun) further enhanced his reputation on Tuesday by adding a Springlea victory to his long list of successes at Boldings.
He entered the open on the Kingfisher and Horseshoe pools, and switched between fishing paste and corn, close in at peg four on the Kingfisher to keep the fish coming to the net, to finish on 46-1-8.
Andy needed every fish in his net, as John Edwards stayed hot on his heels to add a second on this match to his good showing in the Festival. He was on peg two on the Horseshoe and tempted 45-14-8 of carp with paste close in.
Third went to Mick Keene (Phoenix) who put 38-0-8 on the scales at peg five on the Horseshoe.
John Edwards finally got the win he deserved on the Thursday open, but there was a tinge of disappointment as the scales stopped half an ounce short of 100lbs on 99-15-8.
Michael Harris (Dorset) was second on 78-9-0 and Ian Farrall (Stadco), who had finished fourth on Tuesday, was third this time on 71-8-8.
Farrall continued his climb up the frame on Saturday and made it to the top to head a trio of close weights. He netted 55-8-0 at peg 44 on the Mallard, the peg which had given him third on Thursday.
Danny Beesty (Monkmoor) just got ahead of Tom Gollins by 51-12-0 to 51-1-0 in the race for second and third.
