Page 12 - Chiron Autumn/Winter 2023

Cpl Denslow 103 Sqn Military Working Dog Training Team
The Army Course Angling Championships was held
at Heronbrook Fisheries in Stafford on the 04th of September for five days. The Championship is the final event of the angling calendar and the time to showcase your angling ability to the official Army team recruiters.
SSgt Miles and I attended this event with the aim to compete at the highest level of Army Match fishing. The week consisted of individual, and team matches with the regions selecting their best anglers to represent the regions. Day one
was the Maters Cup. The Masters consists of all the topflight anglers who are affiliated to Army match fishing, fish against each other as individuals with the overall winner taking the trophy.
I was lucky enough to draw peg 28 on Match Lake and after sitting out in the baking sun for the six-hour match, I ended up weighing in 76kg of carp which gave me the match win and taking home the Maters Cup. Day two was the Open Plate event, which is a two-day event as individuals.
To win this event, we would need two good draws. SSgt Miles drew the same peg as he did well on the day before, peg 9 on Island pool. I drew peg 25 on Bridge pool, which gave both of us the opportunity to score maximum points. Fishing was tough for all, as some cold weather came in, however both SSgt Miles and I ended up winning both our sections.
This meant we were both sat on one point going into day two and both having big weights meant we were both in contention to win the Open Plate.
Day three of the championships was Open Plate Day 2 and the both of us were praying for a good draw, as a bad draw alone could cost us. Someone was looking over us that day as we both drew well, and we skipped to our pegs. The weather was very similar to the day before and after a long chat about tactics and what bait to use, we had a plan. The six-hour match was tough for us both and after a few phone calls to each other we were scratching our heads. SSgt Miles ended up finishing second in his section and with a last hour tactical decision and catching a load of big carp down my edge. I ended up winning my section and winning the Open Plate. There were a few individuals on two points over the two days but with my combined weight being the largest. The Open Plate was mine.
So, three days in, I was the championship leader on a perfect score of three and taking home two major trophies. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the championships with SSgt Miles at my heels.
Day four, SSgt Miles and I once again fished an individual match
as we were not part of a team throughout the 2022/2023 fishing season. Today was the day it all came crashing down for me as I drew terribly. SSgt Miles also didn’t draw great, however his fishing ability really shown through and ended up winning his section. I ended up with five points and coming last in my section.
The final day and probably the most important was the Presidents Shield. This event is where each region of the Army can put the top five anglers in their group against the other top anglers and fish a team event. Each anglers’ points are added with the rest of the teams’ points to
create a team total. SSgt Miles and I were selected for Gp 3s first team, which is a huge achievement. I was lucky enough to draw peg 28 on Match Lake again where I won the match in the Master’s Cup event.
The rest of the team also drew well, meaning game on. SSgt Miles and I were in the winning team the year before, so keeping it would mean a lot to the both of us. The six-hour match went by and the team where all calling each other up and trying to add our points up, this process just showed we needed to re do our level one math NVQ. I ended up winning the whole match with
a massive 88kg of carp, SSgt Miles ended up winning his section and to cut a long story short the team also fished their hearts out.
After the match officials did the maths and calculator who came where. Gp 3s gold team where at the top of the leader board by a huge margin.
This is such a huge achievement for our region and huge for our development as anglers. SSgt Miles ended up finishing 7th overall in the whole championships, with me ending up 4th. We had the same number of points over the five days but my two huge weights from peg 28 put me higher up the leader board.
We look forward to next year’s festival and holding the Presidents Shield for the third year in a row, which has never happened before. SSgt Miles and I have been selected to fish for the official Army Course Angling team after the back of our performance during the season and the championships.
10 / Chiron Calling