A TOTAL of 50 anglers were in competition for the Festival Cup and Chronicle Cup last Sunday, writes Alan Hughes.

This was the first Reading association match of the season and the match day weather was dry, sunny and very hot – not the conditions for good results.

The river had some colour and a good flow despite the lack of recent rain.

The total match weight was 82lbs 10ozs 0drms (at an average weight of 1lbs 15ozs per angler), although there were five dry nets on the day.

The top three teams were TRBLAS with 25lbs 6ozs, Courage/SE with 18lbs 3ozs and Reading Fishing Club with 14lbs 3ozs.

The match was won by Ian Claridge of Courage/SE.

Fishing the first peg at the top of the venue on Beat 5A Section, he banked a mixture of roach and perch, fishing waggler tactics, with single and double red maggot on the hook, to record a weight of 6lbs 5ozs.

Liam Page Smith of TRBLAS was second overall, fishing the Ditch peg on Beat 4B section, he banked a chub of 5lbs along with bits to weigh 6lbs 4ozs.

John Jackson of Courage/SE completed the top three.

Fishing on the second peg upstream at the bottom of the venue on Beat 3B section, Jackson banked a chub of 3lbs along with small chub, fishing stick float tactics, with red maggot and caster on the hook to record a weight of 5lbs 7ozs.

Fourth overall was Paul Mason of Yotac/21Club with 5lbs 11ozs from Beat 5A section.

The Section weights were: A – Beat 3B 16lbs 4ozs; B – Beat 4A 10lbs 12ozs; C – Beat 4B 15lbs 15ozs; D – Beat 5A 29lbs 2ozs; E – Beat 5B 10lbs 8ozs.