How to Enter Rules Venues/Results Semi Finals The Final Team Event

Todber Manor This 8 acre Dorset day ticket water sprung into the limelight last year after the BCAC with some brilliant catches of carp and it’s now one of the top day ticket waters in the south west holding carp over 30lbs. It’s an action water where a lot of fish are needed for a qualification place and, like at Chilham, maggots dominated last year.  www.todbermanor.co.uk   CURRENT MOON moon phases Pre-Match Todber Manor sprang into the public limelight last year after a brilliant event in the BCAC where three times BCAC Team Champions for Mainline Messrs Rob Marsh and Lee Merritt dominated the event with an incredible weight of 548.08. This weight totaled more than the second and third placed pairs combined and set an as yet unbroken 48 hour record for the lake. The big question is can they repeat their victory again this year? They’re certainly favourites for the event but their tactics are now known to those that do their homework following years of high profile success in the BCAC. Over the last year Todber has matured into one of the South Wests top day ticket waters, and being situated in the picturesque village of Sturminster Newton means that the setting is superb. However the Dorset countryside will soon be awakened by the sound of bite alarms ringing out as the teams in this years BCAC do battle for the top three places and of course a qualification slot through to the semi’s. There are some capable anglers in the line up here as well so expect plenty of action and a close run finish in Dorset. Match Report Down in Dorset the Oak Tree swim in the corner of the lake was looking favourite before the draw and so it proved as by the tea time score check Lewis Swift and Chris Hillier were in first place from that swim with 4 fish for a total of 44.05. The ever consistent pairing of Rob Marsh and Lee Merritt fishing for Team Mainline and winners of last years event here were snapping at their heels on 41.12 and bringing up the last qualifying lot were the young guns of Karl Palmer and Rob Sparrow on 36.13. It seemed that the fish were on the wind and those at that end of the lake were in the money. Night time was quiet at the usually prolific Todber and by breakfast it was Swift / Hillier who still held the lead with 82.05 from Marsh / Merritt on the opposite bank and who, despite the loss of 12 fish, were still on 71.04. Plastic and bags were the going method for the leading pairs with Palmer / Sparrow leading the chasers on 36.13 and the Army boys of Mark Williams and James Thompson on 34.10 but just out of the podium slots. Through the daylight on Saturday there were spates of activity with a few of the bigger fish being caught. A 31.08 and a few others kept Palmer / Sparrow in third with 123.11. Marsh / Merritt held second with 128.09 but taking a bit more of a commanding lead were Swift / Hillier with 13 fish for 173.03. It looked like a three horse race as fourth placed Barnet / Istead sat on 80.12 and the main shoal of fish were in the area of the leaders. The big question was which order they would end up in? By morning Marsh / Meritt could only manage another 1 fish as their swim slowed down and they fell to third with 10 fish for 137.15 swapping places with Palmer / Sparrow who landed two fish through the night to put them on 146.12. Still leading the way were Swift / Hillier with 173.03 and the nearest placed chaser was on 111.10 leaving a lot to do in the final 6 hours if they were to grab a place on the podium. It finished with a charge as Marsh / Merrit took 3rd on 165.06, and Swift / Hillier (253.15) swapped places at the top with Palmer / Sparrow (256.05) in a very close run final morning. Place Pairing Weight lb:oz Team   1 Karl Palmer / Rob Sparrow 256.05 2 Lewis Swift / Chris Hillier 253.13 3 Rob Marsh / Lee Merritt 165.06 Mainline 4 Mark Barnett / Mick Istead 111.1 5 Jack Stamp / Russell Martin 92.15 6 Mark Williams / James Thompson 77.05 Army 7 Paul Chidlow / Jon Menage 48.01 8 Shane Always / Francis Pavey 42.01 9 Neil Staniford / Greg Taylor 36.06 10 Lee Sherman / Steve Slater 21.1 11 Leon Matthews / Richard Matthews 16.01 12 Graham Routledge / Jason Baker DNS