Angling Trust Ladies National Championship

Match Report

This year saw 48 competitors in the Angling Trust Ladies National Championship at Lakeview Fishery, Melton Mowbray held on Saturday 13th June. 

The weather conditions for this event were not ideal with a sudden drop in temperature from 26 degrees on the Friday to 11 degrees on the day of the National Championship with heavy overnight rain and fish who had tried to spawn during the week, and then suddenly stopped due to the changes. Almost all of the competitors stuck it out until the end despite the challenging circumstances.

Weights were not expected to be high following practice during the week and returns from the open matches, which made for a level playing field for all the competitors.  The lakes used for this event were River, Stream and Canal with a draw on Canal lake most wanted as this was the lake where the Individual winner was expected to come from and so it turned out to be. 

The winner and crowned Ladies Individual Champion 2015 was Lisa Ford from Huddersfield with a winning weight of 20.700 kg from Canal peg 12.  Fishing long pole to the island and down the edge using dead reds and groundbait she caught a mix of F1’s, mirrors and common carp to 2 kgs.

Runner up from the next peg, Canal peg 11, was Gemma Mathews from Wiltshire with a weight of 16.900 kg fishing similar tactics.   In third place from Canal peg 6 was Emma Drysdale from Somerset, fishing for Warrington AA Gold, with a weight of 16.22 kg.

Top 6 individuals

  • 1st Lisa Ford – Canal 12 – 20.700 kg
  • 2nd Gemma Matthews – Canal 11 – 16.900 kg
  • 3rd Emma Drysdale – cAnal 6 – 16.220 kg
  • 4th Sandra Scotthorne – Canal 5 – 13.400 kg
  • 5th Alison Jones – River 1 – 12.340 kg
  • 6th Charlotte Gore – River 20 – 12.220 kg

On the team front, there were five teams of four entered which turned out to be a closely fought contest, with the eventual winners being Starlets with a winning total weight of 35.560 kg

The Starlets team was comprised of;

  • Sophie Hill – Stream 12 – 7.360 kg
  • Sandra Scotthorne – Canal 5 – 13.400 kg
  • Julie Abbott – Canal 29 – 3.100 kg
  • Helen Dagnall – Canal 30 – 11.700 kg

Close behind Starlets in second place were Warrington AA Gold with a total weight of 34.220 kg

The Warrington AA Gold team was comprised of;

  • Patricia Geary – Stream 4 – 4.600 kg
  • Wendy Locker – Stream 11 – 2.680 kg
  • Emma Drysdale – Canal 6 – 16.220 kg
  • Linda Cooke – Canal 15 – 10.720 kg

Winner of the Claire Dagnall Trophy, donated in memory of Claire Dagnall and awarded to the highest placed under 21 angler, was fourteen year old Sarah Taylor from the Wirral with a weight of 8.430 kg.

The Angling Trust would like to thank Lakeview Fishery for all their help and support in making this a great event, and for also providing the bouquets of flowers for the top 3 ladies.

Photo – left to right;  Gemma Matthews, Lisa Ford and Emma Drysdale