Dean Barlow has won the Wychavon Championship today with a fine 9lb 10oz catch of roach from a tough River Avon at Evesham.
He told Pole Fishing magazine after the event: “To be able to take this Wychavon Championship trophy home and put it on the mantelpiece means the world to me. I can remember it being on our sideboard as I was growing up, because my dad (Frank Barlow) won it back in 1983. He is sadly no longer with us, so to win this trophy really means the world to me.
“I’ve had a lovely match – taking a few dace on pole and bloodworm early, before adding some nice chublets to my net on waggler. My peg really came to life when some coloured water came into the match length around halfway through the day, there was only a thin strip of colour down the central track but it made a big difference.
“From then on, I caught quality roach on bloodworm – not loads of fish, but when I got a bite it was generally from something worth catching. When I found out I had done enough to win, I was over the moon!”
Drennan’s Jon Arthur also made the frame in 4th position. With no roach showing in the area he set his sights on bigger fish, bagging himself a quality river tench, plus a decent perch and an eel for 7lb 3oz.
Result
- 1st Dean Barlow (Drennan) 9-10-0 (peg 6) £2,000
- 2nd Lee Kerry (Preston) 8-3-0 (peg 51) £1,250
- 3rd Jeff Spiers (Evesham Bait Box) 7-7-0 (peg 1) £900
- 4th Jon Arthur (Drennan) 7-3-0 (peg 13) £500
- 5th Steve Ashmore (WB Clarke) 6-4-0 (peg 2) £350