Day One
Saturday 12th May was Day 1 of the Marukyu Festival at Mallory Park Fisheries at prolific Leicestershire venue The Glebe. This was an individual and a two-day pairs event.
A cold northerly wind prevailed and as expected it was tough going as the fishery had been closed for 6 weeks and resident fish had not seen anglers’ baits during that period. However, there were still many exceptional weights.
Top weight for Saturday was Andy Boffin, a Derbyshire Marukyu Pro Team member, who weighed an impressive 137lb from Glebe Pool 1. Andy’s fish were caught on a variety of methods using Marukyu EFG 131 as the main feed groundbait with JPZ and Krilled maggots taking most of his catch.
Second highest weight was from Oakham’s Gordon Parker (Marukyu Pro Team) pegged on Glebe pool 5 with 114lb. In third was Andy Williams from Derby (Marukyu Pro Team) with 109lb.
After the first day, the top pair with two penalty points were Andy Boffin and Andy Williams.
Day Two
The wind had changed direction to a milder westerly and, as predicted, the fishing was brilliant. The 15 anglers pegged on Glebe Pool 1 averaged over 100lb per man.
Top individual was Sheffield’s Andy Kinder (Marukyu Pro Team) who feeder fished Glebe Pool 5 and weighed just under a double-ton with 199lb 8oz using Marukyu EFG 131 groundbait and dead Krilled maggots on the hook. In second spot was Nottingham’s Kev Russell (Marukyu Pro Team) with another big bag on 186lb.
Overall Result
It was down to a nail-biting weight count back for the winning pairs event with Chris Downs and Chris Allen just taking top prize from Andy Kinder and Gaz Woods as both teams tied on 7 points. Chris Downs / Chris Allen 535lb beating Andy Kinder / Gaz Woods' 449lb.
