Results

The UTWL practice match was split between two stretches, Barton Farm and Staverton, but it was the anglers pegged at Barton Farm who had the better sport and consequently filled the top 8 places

UTWL practice match | Bristol Avon Barton Farm and Staverton
23/10/11 | Number of pegs/anglers: 59


The winner, Mark Kimber of Daiwa Gordon League was drawn on Peg 23 just inside the sewer field gate. He had the only double figure net on the day with 11lb 3oz of Roach and skimmers on the pole over groundbait.

On the peg below the winner, Gary Etheridge of Garbolino Blackmore Vale wagglered his way to a mostly roach net weighing 9lb 5oz for second place.

From the top end of Barton Farm peg 4, Richie Tomala was one roach off of second place with 9lb 2oz. Like the winner Richie also caught on the pole over groundbait

Fourth placed Brian Pollard, Daiwa Gordon League, was on the peg above Richie and fished a similar way to record 8lb 4oz, narrowly edging out James Carty of Devizes Match Group who picked up the final frame place with 8lb 3oz from peg 7.

On paper it looked a reasonable match but the river was painfully clear and anglers had problems with loads of floating duck weed. Added to that a lot of anglers struggled for fish at Staverton and the middle stretch at Barton Farm So after the match a captains meeting called for a switch of venues for the next round of the winter league, resulting in round 3 being fished on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Brimslade, farmers and Wolfhall.

Top 8 anglers and weights:
1st Mark Kimber Daiwa Gordon League 11-3-0
2nd Gary Etheridge Garbolino Blackmore Vale 9-5-0
3rd Richie Tomala Garbolino Blackmore Vale 9-2-0
4th Brian Pollard Daiwa Gordon League 8-4-0
5th James Carty Devizes Match Group 8-3-0
6th Paul Andrews Devizes Match Group 7-4-0
7th John Moody Garbolino Blackmore Vale 7-3-0
8th Rich Chave Garbolino Blackmore Vale 6-15-0