Attention team captains and managers
Things have been moving along nicely in preparation for the Division One National being held on August 19 on the Shropshire Union Canal, hosted by Hodnet Angling Club. The open matches were all sold out within a month of going to press. This created a few ‘moans' from teams that did not realise the popularity of this venue. However, with the demand so great, it was decided to run two extra opens, with teams on the reserve lists to be offered first chance for bookings. These will be held on:
- Saturday June 17 on G Section
- Sunday July 30 on G, H & J Sections
These new matches are also now fully booked together with reserve lists. However, there are still tickets available for the Canal pairs qualifier on 5 August and also for the Angling Trust individual national to be held on 12 August.
Tickets available on 0115 822 4660.
Practice opportunities
Any teams wishing to practice in line-ups or individually would be advised to get in touch with me, either by phone (07725556159) or Email [email protected] as to the availability of any of the sections that are intended to be fished. I have a list of dates that sections will be available and will take team bookings on a first come, first served basis. I will also be able to direct you to your chosen spot. If you are planning two or more visits, I recommend that you think about the Canal Rover Tickets, which will save your team a few bob. They can only be purchased from myself (Dave Watkins), priced at £10 per individual with savings being made for team purchases.
Pegging update
All the proposed pegs have been temporarily marked and anglers are asked to practice on the pegs marked with blue paint, (yellow paint on K Section). At present, there are 50 pegs per section, the minimum distance between the pegs is 22 metres, which will be used in all the matches, including the National. The exact number of teams is not yet known but will be no more than 50. We would be very grateful if after finishing your session, you either take any excess bait or groundbait home with you.
Please don't throw it away in the hedgerow as it can attract vermin or complaints from neighbours about swarms of flies. Similarly, we don't want to overfeed the fish so we advise not introducing excess bait into the canal at the end of the session either.
Here is a final update of all the proposed open matches
Sunday 21 May: Open Match on D Sect. Draw, Hippodrome (Wetherspoons) M Drayton TF9 1PS. Contact Brian on 07847628442 or Steve on 07576039169.
Saturday 27 May: Open Match on J Sect. Draw, Hippodrome (Wetherspoons) M Drayton TF9 1PS. Contact and bookings to Bob Yeomans on 07931555958.
Sunday 28 May: Open Match on H Sect. Draw, Hippodrome (Wetherspoons) M Drayton TF9 1PS. Contact and bookings to Bob Yeomans on 07931555958.
Sunday 11 June: Open Match on K Sect, Coole Pilate. Draw at the Overwater Marina CW5 8AY. Contact Paul Harding on 07504346883 (Match limited to 50 pegs).
Saturday 17 June: Open Match on G Sect, Market Drayton. Draw at Hippodrome M Drayton TF9 1PS. Details & Bookings to Dave Watkins on 07725556159.
Saturday 24 June: Open Match on E & F Sect, Goldstone. Draw at Hippodrome M Drayton TF9 1PS. Details & Bookings to Dave Watkins on 07725556159.
Saturday 1 July: Open Match on G Sect, Market Drayton. Draw at Hippodrome M Drayton TF9 1PS. Details and Bookings to Dave Watkins on 07725556159.
Sunday 9 July: Open Match on A, B & C Sections. Draw at Knighton Social Club, ST20 0QH. Contact and bookings to Terry Nutt on 07970181824.
Sunday 16 July: Open Match on D Sect, Draw, Draw at Hippodrome M Drayton TF9 1PS. Contact Brian on 07847628442 or Steve on 07576039169.
Saturday 22 July: Open Match on A, B & C Sections. Draw at Knighton Social Club, ST20 0QH. Contact and bookings to Terry Nutt on 07970181824.
Sunday 30 July: Open Match on G, H & J Sections, M Drayton. Draw at Hippodrome M Drayton TF9 1PS. Details and Bookings to Dave Watkins on 07725556159.
Saturday 5 August: Canal & River Trust Pairs. C & D Sect, Park Heath. Draw at Castle Hotel, Bletchley TF9 3RZ. Contact, Angling Trust.
Friday 11 August: Drennan RAF Team Challenge. A & B Sect, High Offley & Shebdon. Draw at Knighton Social Club ST20 0QH. Contact Ben Jackson on 07979527662.
Saturday 12 August: Individual National. E,F,G Sect, Goldstone & Market Drayton. Draw at Barbers, Market Drayton Livestock Auction, (Sat Nav TF9 3SW). Contact, Angling Trust.
Sunday 13 August: Canal & River Trust Pairs, H & J Sect Adderley. Draw at Castle Hotel, Bletchley TF9 3RZ. Contact, Angling Trust.
Saturday 19 August: Division 1 National. Draw at Barbers, Market Drayton Livestock Auction, (Sat Nav TF9 3SW).
Welsh Canal pairs qualifying heat reminder
Saturday 7 October: Llangollen Canal, Whixall.
Area around bridges 43, 44, 45, 46
Draw at the Raven Hotel, Prees Heath, SY13 2AF. Match to be organised by Terry Nutt & Dave Watkins. Contact, Angling Trust for tickets 01158224660.
Pools, draw times and other important information
All Open Match draw venues will be open from 7.30am, and breakfasts will be available on request. The pools for all matches will be £15 all in. There will be a rolling draw from 8.30am onwards allowing time to travel to the sections. Fishing will kick off at 11.00am with the all-out at 4.00pm. Unfortunately, in some sections, anglers will have a brisk walk to their pegs due to there being very limited accesses to the countryside venues. Safe parking will be available in all sections.
Sat Nav update
The Sat Nav readings on the maps provided by the Canal & River Trust have now been amended and taken from the canalplan.org.uk/gazetteer website, and are as follows:
