Report on the “Jim Hemmings Memorial” Angling match held on Arrow Valley Lake on Saturday November 3rd 2012.

The match was run in support of the Macmillan Cancer Appeal charity in memory of Redditch man Jim Hemmings, who sadly passed away a while ago, and was organised by his son Mark aided by the local angling community.
The match was a great success, supported by a “sell-out” field of fifty anglers mainly made up of locals but with a number of enthusiasts from all over the midlands taking part, and resulted in an excellent donation from the event of over £900.
Despite the cold conditions the lake held up quite well to the increased angling pressure and, once again, some excellent catches of mainly small “skimmer” bream with odd fish up to 3lb were made.
Last weeks match winner Joe Roberts impressed with another win, again catching well from a peg he did not fancy at all. This time Joe’s winning weight was 36lb and again it was long pole tactics with pieces of worm on the hook fished over groundbait that did the damage, giving him the £500 top prize.
Joe was fishing from peg number 35 on the unfancied Shakespeare bank of the lake.
Worcester man Colin Harvey claimed runner-up spot from peg 52 on the Bluebell bank, taking 32lb 13oz of skimmers. Once again pole was the successful method but with maggots on the hook.
Ian Barrow fished a small swim feeder also with maggot to take 31lb 11 oz for third spot ahead of local anglers Jon Newton with 30lb 8oz and Martin Tremlett with a level 23lb return. Barry Cheese from Worcester took the last place in the frame with a catch of 22lb 12oz.

Full result: Lbs oz
1st Joe Roberts Sensas Starlets 36 0
2nd Colin Harvey Worcester 32 13
3rd Ian Barrow Sensas Starlets 31 11
4th Jon Newton Smithy’s Angling Centre 30 8
5th Martin Tremlett Corn Stores 23 0
6th Barry Cheese Worcester 22 13

Section Winners:

A Mo Williams Sensas Chiltern Baits 15 15
B Gary Kirkham Browning Spa MG 19 13
C Sean Street Smithy’s Angling Centre 13 9
D Alf Hands Worcester 16 0
E Dave Everitt Storey’s 17 0

On behalf of the organiser I would like to thank all who helped run or took part in this event making it an outstanding success. Well done all.
John Bushell