willis worm 50k off

[TF_mosellajase1]

i see this match has now been cancelled ~sick ~sick gutted no fisho tickets no 50k great~think ~think

[TF_MarcRodger]

How do you know this competition is cancelled?

[TF_mosellajase1]

had a email today 5 30pm ~sick ~sick

[TF_wayne2009]

theres a suprise remember the golden peg 50k matches last year they got cancelled too after people had applied over the phone at the cost of £1.50 per min for 5 mins and they didnt even refund people. sounds like another con did you pay any monies

[TF_MarcRodger]

(Gutted) full refund please

[TF_MarcRodger]

I paid the £50 to join
wayne2009 i think your right one big con think they’re hoping that people that paid will stay members. NOT A CHANCE

[TF_wayne2009]

last year we tried but all emails were un answered and phone line disconnected

good luck though

[TF_mosellajase1]

same as paid the 50 quid gutted as i dont use the products much only joined for the entry to this match i was warned it would go tits up and they was right ~sick ~sick ~sick

[TF_Wightman]

joined and paid £50 mainly for the great deals they are doing on bait. £2 pt for maggotts etc.
The ” Big match ” was a bonus ,I cant believe the take up was so poor, total apathy , no wonder we are barely recognised as a sport , I realise there is a recession on and everyones feeling the pinch, but most guys that have a flutter will bet £50 a day at Cheltenham,
I spoke to Denzil ( Willis Worms ) yesterday He said he`s been dropped in it by his co- director doing one, apparently disgusted that only 68 had bothered to enter..
But said he would still run a match for the guys that paid up , and that he would put up a substantial cash prize out of his own pocket . ( he did say how much but I think its up to him to come on here and confirm the amounts ).
He was a bit bullish when posting on here , but we all tend to buzz when we think we have a good thing, and He did say at one point the £50k was alresdy put aside ( as Carpmagic said).
I think we should let him get his head and act together and when the dust settles He can put something on as a consolation.
I suppose there will be a few ” Purists ” that will insist on their money back and if they aren`t intending to use the “Excellent” bait service , They probably have a right to do so , but I dont think it will serve any purpose ,starting a slagging match , the guy is gutted as it is.

[TF_matt haines]

I was led to believe that no matter how many entrants they had they was still gonna put up the 50k prize money! If the match had of gone ahead like they had planned with only 68 anglers then people would be quick to enter next year and would be a massive sell out the problem now is it’s the 2nd big event that has folded. With so many events and team matches in the calender if you bring out a new event it has gotta be solid! Yea you might or should I say Def will make a loss in the first year or so! But once peope see that it’s not a scam they will support it.

[TF_carpcruncherParticipant]

@matt haines wrote:

I was led to believe that no matter how many entrants they had they was still gonna put up the 50k prize money! If the match had of gone ahead like they had planned with only 68 anglers then people would be quick to enter next year and would be a massive sell out the problem now is it’s the 2nd big event that has folded. With so many events and team matches in the calender if you bring out a new event it has gotta be solid! Yea you might or should I say Def will make a loss in the first year or so! But once peope see that it’s not a scam they will support it.

Same as Matt , I was told the money was already in the pot , and thhis match would go ahead no matter what!! ~think ~think ~think

[TF_carpcruncherParticipant]

full details here of what this was …suppose to be about??

http://www.ukmatchangler.com/match/articles/news/abc/willis-abc.php

[TF_Johnny Mac]

I haven’t seen that site before, thanks for the link ~clap

[TF_carpcruncherParticipant]

This was on the MFS site….

http://www.matchfishing-scene.co.uk/showthread.php?t=4432

Dear Colin,

Following our telephone conversation today please find below details of the ABC (Angling Bait Club) for your website.

“’The ABC’ (Angling Bait Club) is a first of its kind scheme that gives anglers the chance to purchase baits and related products at unprecedented prices. The fee paying membership will be available on an Annual Membership basis. The new Willis Worms ABC website will be launched on the 8th December 2009. Although anyone can purchase products from our site, however only ABC members will receive the discounted prices.

The Willis Worms Angling Bait Club (The ABC) is a fantastic, ground breaking opportunity for each and every angler. This recession busting offer will save the average angler a lot of his hard earned cash and is an opportunity too good to miss. Once an angler joins the ABC they will be able to buy bait direct from Willis Worms (the manufacturer) at unbelievably low prices.

For the angler that likes a bit of competition the ABC Members Only Coarse and Carp matches will set new limits to competition prizes in the UK.
The Willis Worms Angling Bait Club match (ABC) planned for 2010 will pay out a staggering 50k first prize. The fifty thousand pounds prize money is NOT dependant upon membership numbers and is not dependant upon match angler numbers. If only three members fish, the £50k will go to the winner. One ABC member will be £50k better off in 2010. The prize money is ring-fenced already and will not come from membership money.

The Matches are members only Club matches and should not be confused with any other competition. Qualifiers will be held on a variety of venues including river and canal with a semi-final and then a final. We will try to accommodate every member that wants to fish, however if we are inundated with match entries we would naturally have to enter a draw scenario. As already stated this will not resemble any other big prize competition. Think normal club match but with a bigger payout! Our aim is to create a level playing field for the anglers involved with more than one person from each qualifier going into the semi-final. The final in essence will be a “forty peg, knock-up”. Best bib and tucker for the camera’s not required, as there won’t be any. Turn up, fish, weigh in and take home your winnings. Happens every week doesn’t it? Who knows, new stars may be born.

The ABC is an evolutionary (not revolutionary) idea designed to break the mould not the wallet. At Willis Worms we have always tried to supply the best possible baits at sensible prices. Those anglers who already use our products will testify that they are already good value for money, so for them the ABC really will be a no-brainer. Same products for less money.

Saving money is as easy as ABC.

Regards

Paul J Rothwell

[TF_yorkshire]

I havnt got the email?

Are you sure it’s off, as the 50k was ring
fenced.
We where told this when we handed our
money over?

[TF_bremesParticipant]

Courtesty of talkangling site,via another site(MFS?)……..

As an ABC Member we are writing to inform you of the decision by the company to cancel the forthcoming £50k match that was to be held during 2010. The Angling Bait Club is still running as usual and the only thing that is being cancelled is the one-off £50k club match.

This decision has not been taken lightly and is regrettably due to a number of factors outside of our control. We have little doubt that a failure to cancel this match will have a serious financial consequence for the company.

Our reasons for the cancellation, which we hope you will understand are two-fold.

1) The resignation of the Director, Mr. Richard Davies has had a marked effect on our company and the cash prize fund. As you will be aware Mr. Davies had personally guaranteed the £50,000.00 and it was his guarantee on a personal basis that the company had based its first year match launch on. Following the resignation of Mr. Davies the company and its accountants concluded that the prize fund could only be met if a specific number of anglers committed to the event.

2) The take up for the £50k match so far to date has been low and the numbers have not reached a satisfactory level to guarantee the match prize fund. Due to the low numbers that this even has attracted we have no alternative but to cancel this match in its present format.

What this means for the Angling Bait Club

You will be fully aware that the Angling Bait Club is a membership opportunity to purchase bait and other items at a discounted rate of 33%. Club Matches will still be held throughout the year and the only affected match is the £50k match with the 02nd October final at Larford. This will not change and your membership is still valid. The Full Membership and Half Memberships are still available and are not affected by the cancellation of the £50k match.

What this means for you as an ABC Member

The only affected members are those who may only have joined as a way to fish for the October Match with the £50k first prize. Any member that wishes to withdraw from the ABC can do so (under the terms of the agreement) and we will reimburse his/her membership fee in FULL upon receipt of an e-mail confirming his/her cancellation request. Naturally a cancellation will remove the right of the member to the discounted baits/products, but should you wish to rejoin at a later date this option will always be available.

Future Events

While we have had to cancel the big match in its present format due to the lack of interest we still intend to run ABC Matches during 2010. Some qualifier venues may now be utilised now as club match venues. These club matches will still offer good payouts for club members and we are presently having to rearrange our entire calendar as a result of the cancellation.

The ABC Match Information section will be changed very shortly to reflect the changes to our club competitions and members should keep their eyes on this section.

The company hopes that you understand our decisions and why it was necessary for us to cancel the competition at this time. For the vast majority of members this will not make any difference as they were not interested in the match in any case. We do apologies to those anglers that like us, were looking forward to the competition but we assure you that we have not ruled out a big competition of this kind in the future. We sincerely hope you will continue to be a member of the ABC and that you will take full advantage of the 33% discounts available to you during your membership period.

Denzil Thorpe
The Angling Bait Club

[tommy]

I have to agree with the guy who said we would happily flutter £50 at the horses.
But i am also a bit confused, yes the manager bloke might have done a bunk..but to quote the uptake on the match being low….well the tickets were only on sale from today..unless they mean the uptake op peeps spending the 50 quid to join.
I spoke with Denzel last month and he sounded really postive about the match and its concept. I am also of the opinion that a lot of “Big names” and their sponsors would try to scupper this sort of event.
Stan Piecha wrote a great article about sponsorship (Or the lack of it) within the sport. And how most big matches are self financing. This will never change when match fishing is destroying its image (Whatever that is or was) a few good/”Elite” anglers have become very clicky and protectionism seems to be in place to prevent others who are not in the fold from breaking through. Thank god for blokes like Steve Ringer at one end of the spectrum and Dennis White at the other. Both shit hot anglers who have time for the sport and the people who take part in it. Their interest and participation in the sport encourage others to take part.
I think it is a shame this match didnt really get off the ground, I think it is also a shame that there are no sponsors for big matches. But then who would want to take on a sport where some of the participants demand automatic entry to a match because they won a few quid the year before..!!!
Bring on Barry Hearn…

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

Big Scam all day long !

[TF_MarkT]

@Anthonywaters wrote:

Big Scam all day long !

How is it a big scam?

They’ve offered to refund anyone that joined so that negates it being a scam. If it was a scam they would of shut up shop and folded straight away as there a ltd company.

People seem to forget that the £50.000 match was a bonus, the joining fee was to join the bait club for dicounted bait deals and not to fish a one off match.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

You can offer to refund till the cows come home fact is most people wont take up a refund and most people wont buy the bait, its a misleading way of selling something.

[TF_MarkT]

There the fools for not taking the refund then but i don’t see it like that, so what your saying is that people don’t take refunds? of course they do.

Obvisouly you haven’t read into it properly then, how was willis worms suppose to know that the director who put up the money was going to walk out on the whole thing?

Nobodys lost out on anything apart from willis worms, who’s name will be tarnised with this now for a long time.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

Why should Willis worms name be be tarnished ? I think inviting people to pay 50 quid to join a bait club was not the intentions of the majority of the people who paid they wanted to fish a 50k match that was the carrot being dangled im sorry but how ever its dressed up it reads as nothing more than misleading to me.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

If you think back fisho was very poorly subscribed in the early days so its hardly surprising that the ABC match was likewise. I think if they had been able to stick with it then it would have grown as fisho has. The problem is the more events that crop up like this one and then dont get off the ground the more sceptical anglers become.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

But the emphasis on this match was you pay 50 quid for a discount card enables you to get 20% off and you get entry into a 50k club match a guaranteed ammount not dependant on number of entrants,was the guy who pledged this ammount actually solvent or was he just trying to raise money for his cashflow ?

[lewis]

I’m not surprised. 50k is a lot of money in today’s climate not to be getting a lot back. If it wasn’t coming from member fees it was coming from someone’s pocket and why on earth are they going to waste 50k on a few press releases and 68 anglers? I thought it was a bit keen at the time.

I do a bit of business with Denzil, and he’s a top man. I certainly wouldn’t want to see him risk his livelihood over a 50k match.

Inject 50k extra into White Acres, Fisho and Maver Pairs and they’d be sure to get far more exposure and already have the numbers to play with. Even then it sounds strange to be talking about spending that amount in this industry – 50k goes a long way.
Don’t believe me? Ask Steve Ringer, it takes him a whole week to earn it!

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Lewis, have i had a pay cut or do you know something i dont?~sick

[lewis]

It’s dangerous to presume Steve but I was basing my guess on several factors. The main one being your reluctance to buy me another jaigermeister when I blatantly needed another.

Saw on Clint’s FB page 100lb plus of F1s being caught on Trelawney. Sounds good. Hope the weather in the next two weeks gets a bit better.

[TF_yorkshire]

The word ringfenced means the 50k was
in hand, and would always be available,
also untouchable. I was also led to belive
as the money was ringfenced the event would
go ahead, regardless of uptake.
Where’s the 50k gone? If it was never there
me and a number of my mates where seriously
missled when we handed over our money.

[TF_geepsterParticipant]

I think maybe the focus of this also need to look at why match anglers didn’t respond.

On the face of it, it was a brilliant opportunity for ordinary anglers to compete for a prize even bigger than Fish O Mania, yet it was snubbed by the match angling community.

Why?

Denzil is feeling like he’s been kicked in the teeth at the moment, and as someone who has set up/run matches/series myself that have failed to draw a decent response, i know how he feels.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

The concept required too much commitment, how many matches would you need to fish before the final ? People have other things to do festivals, family holidays, work commitments I think the ammount of matches was the issue, then people will always be dubiuous about having to buy a discount card ? If somebody wants to seriously plan a 50k match put the plan together and approach camelot.

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

It didn’t sell because 50 quid is too expensive even with a 50k jackpot carrot. Fisho sells out because its pitched at the same price as an ordinary open. If you want bums on seats then try charging a fiver and go for volume.

[TF_tewton]

@Anthonywaters wrote:

Big Scam all day long !

exactly

[TF_D.W.]

@baitchef wrote:

It didn’t sell because 50 quid is too expensive even with a 50k jackpot carrot. Fisho sells out because its pitched at the same price as an ordinary open.

But joining the Angling “Trust” (the “T” word used in the loosest sense of the meaning as if you want to talk about people being done over a cropper, the AT have a lot of explaining to do to the club I am on the committee for) costs you £20 then the price of each ticket per qualifier that you enter. With the £50K match you bought your tickets as & when you wanted to fish the qualifying matches rather than hope to get a ticket via a “raffle” system as per Fisho. The £50 was just like the £20 AT joining fee – not the cost per match to fish. The £50 ABC membership could EASILY be recouped through savings on worms alone (33% saving for club members).
I fail to see why it is a “rip off” as others have mentioned? If the guy that was putting the money up for the match pulled out & left the company, the only person really that has been tarnished unfairly is Denzil, who is one of the genuine nice guys of the industry. I believe that offers of refunds to those that want them have been made. If it was a “scam” or “rip off” then this offer would not be made especially as Willis Worms are not a “fly by night” or new company.

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

Its not a rip off, but I think they were expecting far to much if they thought that anglers will part with fifty quid in the first place. Anglers are an extremely sceptical bunch and we like the tackle shop where we can be rewarded with discounts for cash and repeated custom. I have said it before, but the single most important factor is trust. If the customer doesn’t have trust then they will not buy.

[TF_Serious Sam]

@Geepster (moderator) wrote:

I think maybe the focus of this also need to look at why match anglers didn’t respond.

On the face of it, it was a brilliant opportunity for ordinary anglers to compete for a prize even bigger than Fish O Mania, yet it was snubbed by the match angling community.

Why?

1) £50 is way too much for a match

2) Angling has a track history of high money events being promised and not delivered, people now rightly treat them with scepticism.

One thing makes no sense here – this is a limited company right (?) if so the 50k belonged to the company as a whole not an individual, one director CANNOT simply walk away from the company and take 50k with him – the 50k was promised, it never actually existed.

[TF_MarkT]

[quote=”Serious Sam)
Why?[/quote”:2135y2zp]
1) £50 is way too much for a match
.

Your not paying £50 to fish a match the £50 was to join the ABC bait club and be able to gain discounts with it.

[TF_bremesParticipant]

D.W. wrote:

The £50 was just like the £20 AT joining fee – not the cost per match to fish. The £50 ABC membership could EASILY be recouped through savings on worms alone (33% saving for club members).

Unless im missing something,& i maybe?,please tell me how you could easily get your money back on bait at 33% off,UNLESS you live localish enough to collect in person.If i was to order 1pint caster/1pint squatt & 1/2kilo worm how much would that cost me as a member inc p/p?,it is around £13 in my local shop.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

People didnt want the Fecking discount club they wanted the match theres the con its deception stop trying to dress it up.

[TF_bremesParticipant]

£13/13-50 in local shop,£11.50 at ABC+£6.87 P/P…Total £18.37

[TF_MarkT]

@Anthonywaters wrote:

People didnt want the Fecking discount club they wanted the match theres the con its deception stop trying to dress it up.

Wind your neck in theres no solid proof that it’s a con, what are they suppose to have a crystal ball to see that a director was going to walk out on the whole thing and take his money with him, no.

There offering there money back and the matches will still go a head if the members want them to but not with a £50.000 one of match.

[TF_mosellajase1]

where is the info for the refund and the info on running the matchs as normal matchs just been on website nothing on there can any one help

[TF_MarkT]

@mosellajase1 wrote:

where is the info for the refund and the info on running the matchs as normal matchs just been on website nothing on there can any one help

It says it in one of the posts on the first page on this thread.

[TF_yorkshire]

Angling bait club LTD told us the 50K was ring fenced. IE there and untouchable. we paid our money.

A director cant just take company money, especially ring fenced that would be deposited in another account???

ABC hmm theres an anagram there alright~think

[Mattie73]

Just received promised refund from ABC

[TF_rocketFeeder]

As far as I can see, if you’ve paid your £50 to join the club you can get it back, where is the problem? I feel for Willis Worms, sounds like they’ve been shafted good and proper. I’m sure they will survive, their worms and other products are top quality IMO. As for the discount, for anglers like myself who can’t buy worms locally and rely on mail order, I’m sure I could save £50 in the long run…

[BestyParticipant]

I personally feel for Denzil, YES !!! he has been shafted good and proper by both his partner who was investing the money into the event and by the vast majority of the match fishing fraternity who are destroying Match fishing with their negative attitudes towards the sport and anything new. I for one thought the ABC was a great idea and will confirm that Denzil is as honest as the day is long. Unfortunately, yet another case of over opinionated taliking about something they know nothing about.

If you weren’t gonna fish it in the first place, then why moan about it. I personally wish Denzil and his family all the best as they are all feeling the pressure of the events failure, I personally would never publicly take the p*ss or ridicule anyone who had trusted another party or organisation and put his neck on the line to be shafted by said parties and potentially destroy his exceptional reputaion with in the industry.

[TF_mottty]

how can it be a con if denzil is offering the money back????.also nobody forced people to join so people should stop knockin him and get a life.i class denzil as a personal friend and know for a fact that hel b gutted bout all this.i wouldnt mind bettin that half the people on here that are on here moaning didnt even join anyway and are just jumpin on the band wagon .

[TF_Wheely Crap Angler]

Can we put this thread to bed now please? While it is good to debate we dont want to turn this into a witch hunt or a slanging match.

[TF_bully100Participant]

If the bait club had taken off that may have been another nail in the coffin for a few more tackle shop which are have a really hard time at the mo.

[fishfearmeParticipant]

This is the first time i have heard anythig about this club/match. Has it been it the angling press? and have the Angling Trust contacted their members to make them aware of it.They are the governing body after all. Or perhaps they didnt because there was a possible clash of interests with the Fish o mania.Does anyone know?

[fishfearmeParticipant]

No one knows then.

[TF_MarkT]

@fishfearme wrote:

This is the first time i have heard anythig about this club/match. Has it been it the angling press? and have the Angling Trust contacted their members to make them aware of it.They are the governing body after all. Or perhaps they didnt because there was a possible clash of interests with the Fish o mania.Does anyone know?

Yeah it was in the Angling times and the was an article posted on here by Geeepster about it.

The Angling trust had nothing to do with it, it wasn’t like the fish’o mania where you had to be a member of the trust first.

[fishfearmeParticipant]

That explains that then. I dont read the angling times any more.But im a bit suprised that the AT who now say they represent ALL of angling didnt put their weight behind it as i think it was the highest money event ive heard off at £50,000, but i could be wrong.That surely would have benefitted match angling.

[TF_MarkT]

@fishfearme wrote:

That explains that then. I dont read the angling times any more.But im a bit suprised that the AT who now say they represent ALL of angling didnt put their weight behind it as i think it was the highest money event ive heard off at £50,000, but i could be wrong.That surely would have benefitted match angling.

Look at the backlash fish’o’mania got when they announced you had to be a member of the AT to get tickets.

Maybe the abc bait club didn’t want them involved becos it’s alrite the angling trust saying they represent all of angling but they only have 14000 members and thats not alot compared to anglers in this country.

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

I aint been on for a few days but telling me to wind my neck In wont do any good what is this site ” If we want your opinion we shall give It to you ? ” Might aswell live in the Soviet Union Trav849.

[Author]

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