Pic: Winner Hadrian Whittle (Centre) with fellow qualifiers Kevin Hall (Left) and Mark Downes (Right)

(hi res image available)A few inches of extra water and more pace in the river had local anglers predicting big weights of bream before the draw at the latest RiverFest Qualifier at Newbridge.

The match winner at peg 50 was Ross on Wye based Hadrian Whittle with a superb 39-5-0 from a swim he’s drawn FIVE times in recent years!

“When I pulled out peg 50 in B zone I was more than happy,” he said after the match. “It’s the peg that organiser Kevin Dicks had won off last year and last week and both times I had drawn it for him. Prior to that, I’d drawn it twice for myself in previous qualifiers and somehow It was my turn again this time!

“The main flow was on this side of the river so my main line was pole at 13 metres where I threw in 12 balls of Sensas Gros Gardons and Magic at the start. I had 4lb of roach and perch in the first hour before the swim died. A switch to a flat float saw me foul hook a bream immediately, but unfortunately after 15 minutes playing it, I lost it at the net! The next hour was simply electric with four bream and four skimmers for 29lb plus which all came to a flat float and worm tactics.

“I continued to catch skimmers to the end adding about another 15 fish. I’m delighted to be in the final again as this is the title I want above all others!”

Runner up on the day was Kevin Hall who used feeder tactics and worms to catch five big bream and a skimmer late on at peg 3 in A zone for 33lb. England team manager Mark Downes got through to the final in a tough C zone with 8-7-0 from peg 134.

Special thanks go to Kevin Dicks for organising an excellent qualifier. The next RiverFest Qualifier – Sunday July 30th – River Trent, Shelford, Hamms Bridge, East Bridgford.

RESULT

1. Hadrian Whittle 39-5-0
2. Kevin Hall 33-0-0
3. Dan Ashington 32-3-0
4. Craig Curtis 22-7-0
5 Tony Gilbert 21-0-0
6. Warren Bates 19-2-0

QUALIFIERS
Hadrian Whittle, Kevin Hall and Mark Downes