Evesham Town & Ferry Waters - 72 anglers
With heavy downpours preceding the opening day, anglers were faced with a coloured, rising river as they turned up to fish the first Shakespeare Championship qualifying match of the 2012 season. Drawn on fancied Peg One, Shakespeare stalwart Leigh Gardner made years of experience count, and put together a venue - record breaking 84-12-0 net of bream.
Leigh fished a 30g groundbait feeder, at 16 metres slightly downstream, and took 21 bream to 6lb to make up his astonishing haul.
In second place was another Evesham regular, Drennan Oxford rod Paul Glenfield. Drawn on peg 75, Paul made the most of a nearside crease, and attacked his peg with a pole feeder just eight metres from the bank. Again, Paul found quality bream with single and double worm hookbait proving best.
Third place fell to Preston’s Michael Buchwalder, who again caught quality bream on a pole feeder.
Result
1 Leigh Gardner (Shakespeare Superteam) 84-12-0 (peg 1)
2 Paul Glenfield (Drennan Oxford) 34-1-0 (peg 75)
3 Michael Buchwalder (Preston Innovations) 19-3-0 (peg 64)
4 Steve Townsend (Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths) 18-5-0 (peg 15)
5 Pete Morris (Sensas WB Clarke) 17-2-0 (peg 77)
6 Steve Long 13-11-0 (peg 59)
Qualifiers:
Steve Townsend
Bradley Proctor
Paul Glenfield
