Gale force winds and driving rain couldn't stop Gloucester Park regular Kevin Williams from powering to a win at Sunday's Gloucester Park Open.

Despite the atrocious conditions which saw branches broken from trees and many fishing umbrellas wrecked, Kevin managed to land seven carp, a tench, and several good chub for a total of 23lb 3oz.

He took the tench on pole tactics early in the match, before the increasing wind forced him to switch to the quivertip.

An open ended feeder and red maggot bait cast tight to the island produced the rest of his fish.

Second place went to pole angler Les Lavotha who fished the canal stretch just east of the island.

He finished the day with 14 fish for a total of 19lb 1oz. This consisted of tench, crucians, a skimmer bream and a big roach.

Jim "Shrapnel" Redburn took third place with 12lb 15oz, despite packing up early.

Jim's big bay haul consisted of 3lb 7oz of roach, and a single mirror carp of 9lb 8oz. The carp took him fifty minutes to land on his pole gear!

With more than an hour to go the wind was so strong that it made Jim decide to pack up rather than risk smashing a section in his very expensive pole!

Fourth place in the match went to Stan Howard with a 10lb cockle bank haul, whilst Terry Lock fished the big bay to take fifth place with 9lb 11oz.

Pleasure anglers have also been taking some tremendous catches at Gloucester Park with Ray Roberts netting a near 40lb haul from the cockle bank. Ray fished pole and caster at close range to take over 20lb of quality roach, completing his bag with tench, barbel, crucians, a small carp and a big perch.

Mark Ross fished the Gloucester Park cockle bank to include a roach of 1lb 4oz in a tremendous 24lb 12oz all roach haul. He fished pole tactics, feeding hemp and fishing caster, to keep bites coming throughout his session.

Kevin Williams displays part of his Gloucester Park match winning haul.

By Stuart Hillis

Reporter's e-mail: stuart.hillis@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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