PHOTO:
Haydn Cole, Alan Porter, Colin Crocker and Phil Lustig
The Annual Welsh Cod (Boat) Championships was recently fished out of Birkenhead in the River Mersey, for the 12th year running and after an empty basket on the first day it was Alan Porter who came back with a bang on the second day to win the gold pin traditionally awarded to winners.
The number of competitors was down on the average over recent years and the weather over the two days was somewhat mixed, being very blowy on the Saturday, making getting on and off the boats a bit hairy, and somewhat calmer on the Sunday but the event was completed in fine style.
Cracking first day for Crocker
After day one, Colin Crocker, a regular attendee from Essex, was in the lead with five cod for 202, points holding sway from Welsh international boat angler, John O’Connor, from Pembrokeshire, with whom he had a nip and tuck battle all day, with three cod for 169 points.
As they both fished off the same boat ‘Girl Grey’, the skipper must have known something the others didn’t as he also recorded the most fish, 13 on the day. Lying in third was another Welsh International Boat angler, Kevin Preston, who caught the only cod on the other boat ‘Goldilocks’, scoring 55 points. Other catchers only recorded one or two small fish but all was to play for on the second day.
Porter pounces as fish numbers increase
In the end the first day’s first two placings were not maintained as more than double the numbers of fish were caught on the Sunday, 30 compared with 14 on Saturday. Colin’s pal, Alan Porter, with whom he travelled up on the Friday, had a great catch with five cod for 255 points, edging out Colin by 18 points as Colin only managed the 1 fish for 35 points on the Sunday.
So Alan took the Gold pin and Colin the Silver, their first-ever pins. Alan also had the longest fish on day two of the competition. In third position, taking the Bonze pin, was another regular, but this time from Pembrokeshire.
Cole waves Pembrokeshire flag
Haydn Cole, who, having blanked the first day, caught five cod, also for 237 points, in effect tying with Colin but losing out on count-back. However, this nudged his travelling buddy, John O’Connor, second after day one, but blanking on day two, down into fourth place.
However, there was some consolation as John had the longest fish on day one and drew the first ticket out in the post-match raffle. Haydn also went on to win the pairs event with EFSA Wales Chairman and organiser, Philip Lustig who, like many, blanked on the first day but managed four fish on day two for 151 points.
Our thanks go to Phil Lustig for organising it and sorting the raffle prizes, Derek Gregory for helping get the bait, John for taking the photo, John and Haydn for sorting the bait, the boat skippers for finding the fish, the staff of the Bromborough Hotel, Birkenhead, for their hospitality and help with bait storage, and of course the anglers for turning up and making it a very friendly and successful event. We look forward to more and even bigger fish next year and hopefully at least as good an entry.