The only bumper 300-peg qualifier out of the 16 (the others are all 130 pegs) is normally a lower-weight affair so no one expected Adam, a previous qualifier, to have such a massive weight at Garbolino Lindholme Lakes.
The Browning-backed star from Billingham fancied his chances when he pulled out in-form Peg 73 on Bonsai. Fishing chopped worm and caster on the pole across to the island he started in 2ft of water before catching in just 10 inches by the end of the match.
Forty F1s to 2lb in the first hour was an unbelievable start but he then suffered a slow three hours, nicking just 15 fish before a last-hour burst added 20 more.
Second place was the ever-consistent Darren Cox (Garbolino) who fished for silvers and F1s shallow with worm and caster all day on Strip Pond. His 46.6kg effort was the early leader and would normally have comfortably won this event but he had to endure an agonising wait as Adam was one of the very last anglers to weigh in!
Adam is sure to be one of the favourites in the Final after impressing the crowd the last time he was there. With top anglers like Jamie Hughes, Steve Cooke, Stu Ballard and Simon Fry in the race it could be a cracker!
Result
1st A Richards 63.35kg
2nd D Cox 46.6kg
3rd S Forster 46.45kg
Just a small part of Adam's winning catch.
