Alf is on Hand for fine victory (From Redditch Advertiser)

Alf is on Hand for fine victory

2:00pm Sunday 23rd September 2012 in Sport

ANGLING ALF Hand took the honours at the latest Redditch Federation open match on Arrow Valley Lake.

In response to popular demand, this was a pole only affair in which no other fishing methods were allowed and the result was a cracking match with some close weights and an average catch of over 30lb per man.

The lake’s massive population of small skimmer bream up to about the 12oz mark continued to to provide brilliant sport all along the Shakepeare bank.

Worcester’s Hand took the honours with a level 51lb bag of skimmers taken on soft pellet hookbait.

Venue regular Mo Williams continued his strong form in second spot, taking skimmers all through the match on the next peg to the winner for a 46lb 13oz catch using red maggot on the hook.

Third place went to another Worcester angler, Colin Harvey who was just a couple of fish behind with 45lb 8oz.

Result: 1 Alf Hand (Worcester) 51lb; 2 Mo Williams (Sensas Chiltern Baits) 46lbs 13oz; 3 Colin Harvey (Worcester) 45lb 8oz; 4 Keith Woodhead (Redditch Kingfisher) 45lb 6oz.

l Astwood Bank’s Dark Lane AC fished their eighth aggregate on Saturday on the Arrow.

Club veteran Tony Sabin returned to winning ways with a 17lb 2oz haul from Bleachfield section. Les Spencer finished second with 15lb 7oz on Mill Lane ahead of Tony Avery who weighed in with 9lb 10oz.

Section winners were Graham Burford, Phil Smith and Barry Feldhahn.