Bank Holiday Monday's charity open match for the Essex Air Ambulance at Hockley Angling club was contested by 39 fishermen and split into six sections.

The winners in sections one, two and three were Jeff Church (215lb 2oz), Dave Ealding (133lb), and Dave Lord (70lb 2oz) respectively.

Peter Steward (68lb 9oz) came first in section four, while Tony Atkins (44lb 14oz) and Richard Manshield (59lb 8oz) were triumphant in sections five and six.

Other noteable weights recorded on the day were Martin Foster (201lb 9oz), Peter Roue (167lb 5oz), Peter Marshall (142lb 13oz), and Colin Hardy (69lb 2oz).

Mark Sugden (62lb 6oz), Trevor Lowry(56lb 13oz), Jim Hodges (40lb 4oz), Peter Darling (79lb 13oz), Frank Thomas (62lb 5oz), Mark Howard (44lb), and David Hayles (62lb 8oz) also did well. The total weight of fish caught was 2,184 lb 6oz.

A silver fish prize went to Les Wisbech (28lb 4oz) and Mark Foster (201lb 9oz) won the carp award.

The winners of the guess the best individual winning weight competition for the charity were: A Phipps, M O'Brien, D Randall, C Stringer, S Hayes, S Wyatt, P Gridland, T Milton, N Payne and Mr Merry.

They will be contacted shortly to choose their prizes, kindly donated by Hockley Angling club and Mark Howard of Trading Card UK Limited.

Published Wednesday September 1, 2004

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