Martin Hall - new lake

Eighteen hardy souls took part in today's match and while the fish didn't exactly go mad, the weights (or the few I saw, anyway) were a bit better than the midweek match which was won with only a touch over 9lb.

There was the usual merriment we experience when 'Team Strap-On' are present and this was supplemented during the match by the cheese-eating surrender monkey, who was unlucky enough to be sat opposite myself and Trev.  Before I go any further, I'd just like to say that despite the hilarity of what I'm about to describe I was a bit concerned for Mark at one point...

Anyway, garlic boy hooked a carp and was in the process of trying to land it when his box moved slightly on the platform and the next we knew about it, he was over the back of the Brilo and all me & Trev could see were the soles of his shoes!  Laugh??  the tears were fair dribbling down our legs I can tell you.

While we were killing ourselves, Mark remained nearly upside-down - still hold of his pole which was still connected to the carp!!  "Merde!!", "Sacre-sodding bleu!!" and other-such Gallic utterences could be heard from behind the seatbox.  Then, his left foot started to twitch slightly, and he began to right-himself.  Box back on four legs, he sat down and landed the carp - much to everyone's delight.  We later learned that the delayed reaction to the sudden fall was due to his-nibs actually laughing while he was on his back...

As we suspected, the corner pegs fished well with Mel and Frank on our side having good weights and Captain Cock on the far side (at our end) having had some decent fish too.  There was a bit of a rumour going round while the weigh-in was in progress that the other corner (by the house) had seen a BIG carp banked, but as I was wet-through and had another engagement to attend to, I didn't hang around to find out.  I never saw any carp in my peg, but managed to squeeze out a few chub and the odd skimmer for 4-12-0 from peg 4 (back to the old lake).  Trev did me by a couple of pound with two carp - dunno what anyone else had.

We're on a Capt. Strap-On magical mystery tour 'up North'  tomorrow - whether we get to the venue before the all-in remains to be seen.  All I got told was 'turn right off the A6 towards Scorton, follow the road into the village, then follow it for another two miles and turn in when you see the big green boards by the gate - oh, & it's not Cleveley Mere we're going to' which left me even more confused...  I think if I get to Shap village and still haven't found it, I'll go for a chuck at Borwick on the way home. The one good thing is that the Adder is going too, so I'm bound to find it before he does.

Laters everyone...