Clean sweep for West Midlands teams in Division Three National

DICK Clegg Lifestyle flew the flag for the Midlands in the final big team match of the year, the Embassy Division Three National held on the Erewash and Beeston Canals around Nottingham.
The West Midlands outfit beat 42 competing teams in what is their best ever National performance, and can now look forward to Division Two and a chance to get into the top flight next year.
Following several practice sessions under the coaching of Essex’s Mark Godfrey and Trentmen’s Andy Dare, Kingswinford based DC Lifestyle based their attack on squatt and pinkie over groundbait in the harder sections, and hemp and breadpunch where there were more roach to be had. And to complete a great day for the West Midlands, Foster’s Tipton Van den Eynde took the silver medal, and are also promoted to Division Two.
”We put in three months of hard graft on the venue and it paid off,” said Lifestyle’s joint skipper Paul Murrin, who lives in Sedgley. “In fact we had quite a few winners in open matches in the run up and as a result of all the practice we knew all the good areas and went all out for small fish. Our main plan was to fish at six and 13 metres with a target weight of 1.5kilos per man. But we also had a chopped worm and caster line for bonus fish.”
Foster’s also look a talented outfit as they continue their rapid rise towards the top flight. They won the Division Five in 2000, won the Division Four in 2001 and fell only 14 points short of making it three a row this year.
”We went for small fish and had a look every so often for a bonus fish,” said skipper Neil Russell, who comes from Leamore in Walsall. “We have a really dedicated bunch of lads and I’m very proud of them.”
To complete a clean sweep of the medals for the West Midlands, the bronze medal went to Sensas Dam and Lock, who finished on 426 points, 47 behind Lifestyle. They also have a fantastic record in the Nationals, finishing third in the Division Five in 2000 and fourth in the Division Four last year. They also win promotion.
They were buying beers for team member Derek Jackson after the match. He was nowhere in his section with 30 minutes to go when he hooked a big bream. Playing it with kid gloves, he finally landed the 2kg fish and weighed in 2kg 100gr for second in section.
Sensas Dam and Lock skipper Ted Yearby, who lives in Tamworth, commented: “We worked very hard at the water with some members practising for the last seven weekends. We fished bronze maggot as six and seven metres and had breadpunch as a back up. Our target was 1kg per man and we are just delighted to win the bronze and get promotion.”

For all the pcitures and inside news, don’t miss next month’s Midland Angler