The good news is - we weren't last on the day. Given that we're a new team and this was our first outing, that was my first objective and if I'm honest, the only one I was interested in today.
The bad news is, we nearly were!
We had three bottom five finishes (including two 15pts, one of which was mine...) and we were only saved from a truly dismal first outing by a good result from Paul 'Ping' Porter who was 3rd in B section. It started to go wrong before the all-in when Wrighty did (by all accounts) a fantastic Duncan Goodhew impression by stripping down to his boxers to retrieve a section of his pole which he'd lost in the water. No wonder he struggled for fish once the match started.
I set off great - for the first quarter of an hour it was a fish (pairs of eyes) a chuck on the punch. Then the wind picked up, the rain followed it - and the fish buggered off. I was warned at the start of the occupant of the boat directly opposite me - 'orrible green thing with minging curtains. I thought it was abandoned, but Mick from Lostock on the next peg assured me there was someone in there. About an hour and a half in, the front hatch opened and there he was - 20 stone of static boater. He stared at my float almost as intently as I did - he had every right seeing as it was closer to him than it was me. This lasted for 15-20 wordless minutes then he reversed himself (slowly) through the hatch and disappeared.
Half an hour later he was back - this time waving to the steersman of 'Ambush' the fuel boat as it rounded the bend from Crabtree Bridge. Waves acknowledged, Captain Birdseye commenced his emergency stop manouevre - which basically entailed slamming the boat's motor into reverse through three pegs before stopping directly in front of me. He went on to unload a couple of dozen bags of coal before lurching off towards Burscough. Slim then re-appeared to start the generator at the back of the Titanic before disappearing - leaving the 2-stroke running for the rest of the match; "very thoughtful" I muttered to myself.
Ian Connor was our unofficial bank-walker and he sneaked up behind me towards the end of the match to pass on the good news about Paul Porter. It was a pity he hadn't known about Wrighty's aquatic exploits - he could've brought a towel and some dry Bills. The weigh-in came and it soon became clear that I'd been beaten into last place by 4 drams, which may as well have been 4lb considering the disruption in front of me during the match.
Never mind, round one is gone and we move onwards and upwards at Appley Bridge next week - draw and result at the Crooke Hall pub (WN6 8LR for team mates who haven't been before).
The bad news is, we nearly were!
We had three bottom five finishes (including two 15pts, one of which was mine...) and we were only saved from a truly dismal first outing by a good result from Paul 'Ping' Porter who was 3rd in B section. It started to go wrong before the all-in when Wrighty did (by all accounts) a fantastic Duncan Goodhew impression by stripping down to his boxers to retrieve a section of his pole which he'd lost in the water. No wonder he struggled for fish once the match started.
I set off great - for the first quarter of an hour it was a fish (pairs of eyes) a chuck on the punch. Then the wind picked up, the rain followed it - and the fish buggered off. I was warned at the start of the occupant of the boat directly opposite me - 'orrible green thing with minging curtains. I thought it was abandoned, but Mick from Lostock on the next peg assured me there was someone in there. About an hour and a half in, the front hatch opened and there he was - 20 stone of static boater. He stared at my float almost as intently as I did - he had every right seeing as it was closer to him than it was me. This lasted for 15-20 wordless minutes then he reversed himself (slowly) through the hatch and disappeared.
Half an hour later he was back - this time waving to the steersman of 'Ambush' the fuel boat as it rounded the bend from Crabtree Bridge. Waves acknowledged, Captain Birdseye commenced his emergency stop manouevre - which basically entailed slamming the boat's motor into reverse through three pegs before stopping directly in front of me. He went on to unload a couple of dozen bags of coal before lurching off towards Burscough. Slim then re-appeared to start the generator at the back of the Titanic before disappearing - leaving the 2-stroke running for the rest of the match; "very thoughtful" I muttered to myself.
Ian Connor was our unofficial bank-walker and he sneaked up behind me towards the end of the match to pass on the good news about Paul Porter. It was a pity he hadn't known about Wrighty's aquatic exploits - he could've brought a towel and some dry Bills. The weigh-in came and it soon became clear that I'd been beaten into last place by 4 drams, which may as well have been 4lb considering the disruption in front of me during the match.
Never mind, round one is gone and we move onwards and upwards at Appley Bridge next week - draw and result at the Crooke Hall pub (WN6 8LR for team mates who haven't been before).
3 comments:
You were unlucky mate, sometimes a bit of boat disturbance can be good, other times it wipes you out. Like you said though, first time out for your team and things can only get better. Remember, many of the anglers on the bank fish the cut week in week out. Good luck for Sunday!
We have to start somewhere Pete - and we started yesterday. I laughed when Mick told me about that big green hunk of junk in front of my peg - how wrong was I?
Are you pegging next week at Appley Bridge??
yeh, me and Keith are peggin' it but we're not sure yet which pegs to put in/leave out. We might put one section from the gate to the locks then the rest towards Gathurst. Access is the problem at Appley Br these days. Better pegs are towards 3rd swing bridge but it's a heck of a hike, especially for the older chaps.
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