Van den Eynde Clubman Northern Semi Final, Border Fisheries (102 fished)

Practise made perfect for Izaak Walton Leigh as they eased to victory in the Northern semi final of the popular Van den Eynde Clubman competition.

A month virtually camped on the Cheshire venue had shown the five man outfit that bites would be at a premium, and the team tactic was to keep feed to a minimum.

The method depended on the lake being fished, with feeder the answer on the Match Lake and pole and maggot on the Meridan Canal.

And it worked like a dream with a return of two section wins and two seconds in the 17 team final and a team total of 31 points – nine clear.

There was a tie on points for the next three places, with unfancied Lincs side Spilsby AA taking second spot on section wins from Mercury MG and Girobank CAC. The final qualifying spot was taken by JCB AC, who will be fancying their chances in the July final on their home water, JCB Lakes in Uttoxeter.

Izaak Walton also had the individual winner in the shape of skipper Adrian Berry, who weighed in 60-8-0 of small carp and barbel from Match Lake peg 13. The winning tactic was to fish a small grounbait feeder just 25 yards out with red maggot and small peices of worm on the hook.

Result: 1 Izaak Walton Leigh, 31pts; 2 Spilsby AA, 40; 3 Mercury MG, 40; 4 Girobank CAC, 40; 5 JCB AC, 42; 6 Macclesfield Waltonians, 48; 7 Stokesley AA, 52; 8 Osram AC, 54; 9 St Anthony’s AC, 56; 10 Kendal DAC and Team Well, both 58; 12 Albert AC and Spenborough AA, both 59; 14 Riverside, 61; 15 Barnsley Millennium, 68; 16 Angels AC, 71; 17 River Don AC, 74.