Basildon Angling Centre squad member Alan Busby underlined his man of the moment status by taking his second consecutive win in the Ridley Angling Products Gloucester Park series.

His tremendous haul of 19lb 3oz quality roach was taken in just five hours through a hole smashed in the ice.

With an inch of ice covering lakes most weekend matches were cancelled.

However Gloucester Park Fishery Manager Mick Toomer refused to be beaten by the conditions.

Mick donned chest waders to wade out into the lake to smash competitors individual pole sized holes in the ice.

And despite the delay reducing the match to five hours, every one of the 25 competitors weighed in.

Alan fished a swim in the centre of the cockle bank to take fish steadily.

He used a pole, starting off with red maggot before switching to caster to take better quality fish towards the end of the match. Alan won £90.

Second place and £60 went to Browning Crowsports man Alan Milsom with a 13lb 10oz 8dr roach haul.

Alan also fished the cockle bank where he used pole tactics alternating between maggot and caster baits.

The £40 third prize went to Wickford Angling Centre squad member Peter Steward with 12lb 11oz of roach.

Published Wednesday, January 15, 2003

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