LINGMERE, 4/1/15 ~ Newboy Chris thwarted by Jamie masterstroke

With reports coming out that Xmas knock-ups had produced several ton-ups, culminating in Steve Openshaw weighing in a staggering 137lb on Friday, it was sod's law that things wouldn't be quite that good for The Eggy. Notwithstanding the difference in angling ability, this was as much of a let down as we could possibly imagine.
Once again general opinion was that the bottom lake would produce the better sport. With the amount of fish in the lake and the great weights of previous days, everyone would catch, surely. Amazingly, everyone did catch, even if it was only ounces.
Grueller doesn't seem to accurately describe how hard it was. With an hour gone and one carp to show, Jamie Pickup pulled a masterstroke. He got a rod from the bag and proceeded to set up a waggler. Not the now standard pellet waggler that has become an obsession, but a good old fashioned 3BB peacock waggler. Going twice as far as anybody else on the float, Jambo caught some decent carp throughout. 37lb 03oz was the reward, and to illustrate his dominance, the next best was Simo with 12lb odd.
At the other end of the spectrum, Paul Cargill won a section with 3lb 01oz !!!! That's right THREE pounds. Well done for sticking it out.
The other section winner, after a festive break, was Steve Coleman. A golden tench of all things, featured in his winning 9lb 15oz, so a big well done to Steve, too.
Up on the top lake, 3 decent weights, but plenty of DNWs, so very hit and miss. New boy Chris Roe was telling everyone how he'd only joined the club to gain experience and learn a few things from other members. On this performance we'll be learning a few things from him! Chris caught steadily all match, and despite losing a handful along the way, he had Jamie panicking at the scales. Agony in one respect as the needle fell short of a debut win when it settled at 36lb 15oz, but joy at making the frame on his first outing with the club. Massive congratulations.
3rd place, with a decent enough weight of 28lb odd was Yozzer, all F1s on pellet.
First section on the top was contested by 2 more new boys, with Nick 'swipe' Harrop seeing off the challenge of the returning Tony Wilson with 9lb 15oz, with the others in section failing to weigh.
Another section win went the way of John Edwards with an excellent 20lb 00oz. Just scraped through in "the challenge" so great for Sumo. Typically, having been beaten by Sumo, the others in section did not weigh and sat in cars sulking.
Maybe the next outing at Lingmere will produce those magical 100lb bags.... then again...... gotta be there to find out.