Thursday morning
I arrived at Carthagena lakes in Broxbourne
which was to be the home for myself and
around forty anglers from Friday 11th onwards
for the 2005 Carthagena Fisheries / Carp-angling.com
charity Fish In, the third such event in
aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. This year
closer links were forged with Stoney &
Friends who were involved in handling all
financial matters and bookings for the event,
something that helped me no end and allowed
me to sort out other matters involving organising
the event.
The Syndicate Lake, the day Ticket Lake
and a stretch of the river were kindly donated
once again free of charge by the owner Jerry
Hammond. With several syndicate members
on hand, Thursday was spent erecting marquees,
clearing the club house and laying down
wood Chipping's, to protect the grass from
what we hoped would be a busy weekend event
with anglers and visitors alike (thanks
here must go to Tommy, Craig Andy and Garry
for their help). After a good days graft
and a little banter a warm curry was arranged
with a few beers to follow. Although the
event didn’t start until the next
day it didn’t stop a spot of river
fishing being done by Garry "Artois"
and Jerry Hammond, landing a succession
of quality Chub and Barbel, oh how easy
they made it look, the best chub going 6lb
8oz to Garry.
Garry Artois 6lb 8oz
Chub
Jerry Hammond &
a welcome Barbel
The rest of the evening
was spent toasting the event until the early
hours of the morning, much to the regret
of some.
Friday morning started
early with yet another marquee to be raised,
a BBQ to be collected and then the arrival
of the anglers. It always amazes me how
soon time goes by and before long the first
of the anglers began to arrive and were
booked in by Allan Stone. This year saw
a lot of new faces to the event as anglers
from all over the country joined us from
as far as Skegness (cheers lads). It wasn’t
long before we pretty much had most angler’s
onsite ready and eager to take up their
spots for the weekend. Rules explained and
sponsorship money collected we could announce
that we had already raised £3,000
towards Macmillan, a fantastic start within
only a few hours.
It was now the time to let the anglers loose
on the water, which was done without any
effort on the organisers part and all swims
were decided between whoever was fishing
the lakes and river. As with all events
like this it didn’t take long for
the first comical moment to happen. Lee
Chandler in his eagerness to get set up,
decided that the large log in front of his
car could be ignored and after twenty yards
the car ground to a halt with the front
wheel high above the ground and the vehicle
going no where.
" Honest I am
sure it wasn’t there when I drove
off"
"at least I get
a trophy shot "
After a bit of blushing
and help from some of the lads and a bit
of car jacking Lee was soon underway to
his swim.
Leaving everyone to
sort themselves out for a couple of hours,
news came in that the sound of a "one
toner" had been heard from the far
bank of the Syndicate Lake. The lake is
notoriously hard and fish do not give themselves
up easy, so this was a promising start to
the weekend. The Skegness boys confirmed
that one of them had a solid run, however
on the strike, nothing was there? , Clever
fish the Carthagena Carp.
A walk round the lakes with Garry "Artois"
(so called for his love of Stella) soon
found us realising quite how bitter the
wind blowing over the lakes was. The day
Ticket Lake already had the lads from Watford
deep inside their bivvys with a hot cuppa
in hand. As much the same on the Syndicate
Lake, still spirits were high even if the
weather was not that great for the angling,
still, it could have been worse with frozen
lakes etc. the weather conditions didn’t
however stop syndicate member Glen…..
catching a welcome pike from the syndicate
lake.
Glen & Pike
Those fishing the
river were a little more protected from
the wind and once everyone was checked and
a few late comers sorted out, it was time
for myself and a few others to locate ourselves
in the club house to toast the arrival of
each and everyone. After a short time the
clubhouse became much fuller as word got
around that it was warm, a television was
on for the comic relief and a bar was going
and soon half of the lakes occupants were
also toasting each other. At some point
it was decided that some food would be a
good idea and so we sent forth for the local
pizza to deliver some much welcome warm
food. Quite what they thought, when an order
for sixteen extra large pizzas came through,
im not sure, but in no time they arrived
and were quickly consumed by hungry anglers.
Anyone order a pizza
now which one had
the chilli peppers on it
The rest of the evening
was spent chatting about all things fishy
until the early hours when the last of the
crowd went back to their bivvys to dream
about big fish and probably a windless night
(not the effects of the pizza).
Saturday morning and
breakfast was sorted for all of those fishing
the event. Not an easy task when you think
that forty people were going to be given
egg and bacon and sausage and egg sandwiches
to start the day properly. With some superb
organisation and some great helpers (again
thanks must go to Garry & Andy and also
Alan, Mick and Paul who joined us on the
Friday to simply help out) breakfast was
soon underway on the BBQ with Jerry doing
his best impression of Jamie Oliver. He
even managed to do a vegetarian breakfast,
how's that for service.
How am I meant to feed forty people with
two loaves and no fish Andy & Alan on
buttering duty
Jerry & Mick
The weekend helpers
Breakfast all sorted
and a walk round both lakes revealed a quiet
night for all. The river fishermen fairing
a bit better with catches of Chub, Carp
and a few other species. A visit by the
local EA officer (amazing how they always
seem to turn up at these events every year)
had anglers searching for their rod permits,
but being the honest bunch they were, no
one was in any trouble.
syndicate lake swim
Riverside fishing
Saturday morning was spent sorting out prizes
for the afternoons raffle and BBQ, which
was open to anyone who wanted to turn up.
By lunch time the club house area was filling
up with anglers, friends and visitors who
eagerly viewed many of the prizes that had
been put on display, all of which donated
by angling companies, magazines and private
individuals. Tommy and Craig managed the
sale of raffle tickets for which a further
£2,000 was added to the charity funds
from possible prizewinners.
At midday John, Alan and Glen fired up the
BBQ which would last for most of the afternoon
providing people with three hundred burgers,
three hundred sausages, ribs and chops (as
yet no reports of food poisoning)
Ok whose for a burnt
one?
Even Thomas the bailiff
took time away from his duties and donned
his best jacket to join in the BBQ
Thomas the dog (I'm
going to get Jerry for this… oh the
humility)
With a good crowd
present and all money taken from people’s
wallets it was time to begin the raffle.
After a short speech from myself I could
announce that we had raised over £5,000
from the event with the possibility of more
to come. From the sponsorship those taking
part raised, we also gave Michael Fahmy
a small prize for the most sponsorship collected.
Thanks mate.
Allan Stone also gave a short speech on
behalf of Stoney & Friends and were
kind enough to award Jerry and myself a
certificate of thanks on behalf of Macmillan
Cancer Support “ Stoney & Friends
Committee”
Michael and his Easter
surprise
Jerry with his certificate
The crowd await their
number
Just some of the
many prizes to be won
Alan then started
the raffle, which was to last over two hours.
It would see people win such great prizes
as a holiday to France, Bedchairs, Pods,
Barbel and Carp rods, Books, videos, RMC
season tickets, bait, days out fishing with
experts and much, much more, most people
walked away with a happy smile on their
face by the time things ended.
Just some of the
prizewinners
Some anglers carried
on their quest for a bite while others decided
to carry on with the socialising at the
clubhouse long into the night. Martin Lewis
catching a late afternoon and very unhappy
pike who decided to take revenge by tail
slapping Martin in the face shortly before
its picture was taken.
Johnny "Metro" Mings decided to
have a go for a new Pb Chub, which until
then stood at around 2lb. He advised the
crowd that should he beat his Pb, he would
donate £20.00 towards the funds, soon
after this John was holding a 5lb+ Chub
and is now £20.00 lighter in his wallet.
Martin Lewis and
an unhappy Pike
Only a matter of
time, Jerry and Daz wait for John to catch
Bingo - John and
his Pb chub
And so the evening
drew to a close with once again the last
stragglers drifting off to their lake and
riverside homes for what would be their
last chance of a fish. Sunday morning soon
came around and the breakfast crew was ready
and waiting to again start buttering bread,
cooking food and be despatched to various
parts of the lakes and river to feed the
anglers. Unfortunately the lakes seemed
devoid of fish and a quiet night was had
by all (apart from the noise of snoring).
Breakfasts complete the day passed with
all of the anglers popping by the clubhouse
to say their goodbyes.
By around two in the afternoon the last
of the anglers was let out of the gate things
tidied up and it was finally time for me
to be able to reflect on the weekends events.
For I knew then that I would have five days
fishing the Syndicate Lake myself aiming
for one of its jewels to be in my net, how
I did is a story for another time, but it
wouldn’t take long to tell.
I would like to take
time to thank every one of the anglers that
took part in the event, It is not the organisers
who make this a success its those that attend
the event or visit during the weekend to
raise money for a good cause. On top of
this a special thanks must go to all that
helped (you know who you are) with day to
day running about
A big thanks to the
following companies and individuals that
donated prizes towards the raffle, without
your kindness and generosity the Saturday's
events would not be the success they are.
I hope you will continue to support both
this event and all that Stoney & Friends
stand for.
Chris Woodrow (Essex
Angling), Steve Spurgeon (Korda), MCF ,
Carp Addict Magazine, Fox International
, Planet Prints, Tim Paisley, Southend Angling,
RMC Angling, Mo’s co PVA, Neil Wayte,
Crafty Catcher Bait, Dave & Kathy Walsh
(DK Fisheries France), Heathrow Bait Service,
Lea Valley Baits, Gardner Tackle, The Tackle
Box, Nash Tackle, Advanced Carp Fishing
Magazine, DT Baits, Dynamite Baits, Jim
Shelley, Shimano UK, CarpQuest Specialist
Tackle, CC Moore, Nutrabaits, Gold Label
Tackle, Armaled , SBS, The Bait Feed Company,
Nick Helleur. Simpson's Tackle. Yateley
Angling Centre, Tony Gibson and Martin Bowler.
Finally a big thanks
to my partner Tracey for allowing me the
time to organise the event, use the house
as a warehouse for prizes and for allowing
me time to chase the fish I love.
Until next year, tight
lines everyone
Regards
Tim "Luffers"
Luffman
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