The Drennan Silverfish Festival 2016

Jack Reid

Congratulations to Paul Yates for winning the 2016 Drennan Silverfish Festival at White Acres!

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Festival winner Paul Yates (centre) with runner-up Kian Wardle (right) and 3rd placed Des Shipp (left).
Paul Yates' impressive Day One catch from Pollawyn.
Paul Yates’ impressive Day One catch from Pollawyn.

This event is now in its third season at the popular Cornish holiday complex and saw 75 anglers taking part. This year there was a 13m pole limit and the fishery was also split into two zones. On Pollawyn, Sycamore, Acorn and Twin Oaks lakes it was silverfish only, while crucians, carassio and F1s were allowed on Trelawney, Python and Jennys. Each competitor had to fish both zones over the weekend.

Only two anglers scored a maximum two section wins and it was Paul Yates who did best with a hard-earned 54lb 12oz total. On Day One he weighed in a terrific 48lb 12oz catch from Peg 27 on Pollawyn, consisting of roach and skimmers at 13 metres plus seven large barbel to 5lb in the latter half of the match. The next day, Paul drew the toughest section in the match, but still mustered a section-winning 6lb 5oz of F1s and skimmers from end peg 23 on Python.

Kian Wardle's section-winning catch from Day Two.
Kian Wardle’s section-winning catch from Day Two.

Kian Wardle also scored maximum points and took 2nd place overall with a 42lb 9oz total. He caught 22lb 12oz of roach and skimmers from peg 11 on Sycamore on Day One. The next day he drew peg 14 in the wides on Python and caught five F1s on the waggler plus skimmers on the short pole for 19lb 13oz.

The chasing pack saw six anglers all on 3 points, but it was the ever-impressive England ace Des Shipp’s 104lb 2oz total that was enough to clinch 3rd.

The top 10 and all of the section winners picked up cash prizes and there was over £3,000 of Drennan tackle up for grabs in the post-match raffle. The £400 random team prize also went to Paul Yates, Tom Scholey, Simon Mottram and Stewart Lister.

Thanks to all of the competitors for taking part, Gary Barclay for organising the event, fishery manager Clint Elliott and all of the hard working staff at White Acres for looking after everyone so well. We hope next year’s event will be even bigger and better!

Drennan Silverfish Festival 2016 Top 10:

  • 1st Paul Yates (Drennan) 2pts (54lb 12oz)
  • 2nd Kian Wardle (Garbolino) 2pts (42lb 9oz)
  • 3rd Des Shipp (Preston Innovations) 3pts (104lb 2oz)
  • 4th Chris Vandervleit (Drennan) 3pts (92lb 5oz)
  • 5th Frankie Gianoncelli (Preston Innovations) 3pts (85lb 15oz)
  • 6th Jon Arthur (Drennan) 3pts (79lb 6oz)
  • 7th Dean Barlow (Drennan) 3pts (63lb)
  • 8th Andy Power (Preston Innovations) 3pts (42lb 15oz)
  • 9th Darren Davies (Drennan) 4pts (95lb 1oz)
  • 10th Lee Kerry (Preston Innovations) 4pts (56lb 4oz)