Fur and Feather

Sunday 14th December 2025- Brian Putt Trophy - Fur & Feather 

For once the weather played ball at the annual Fur & Feather match with blustery winds dropping off as the match progressed during a largely overcast day.

All the talk over breakfast was of having to draw the Lower Basin to have any chance in this contest and for those drawing 'green' the best bite of the day would be the Brendon Arms bacon and eggs, but the results proved otherwise.  The winner did come from the favoured Basin with Simon Allen banking 8lbs 5ozs off peg 13, a bag boosted by a foul hooked 4lb slab.  Meanwhile in the perceived 'section of death', Ian Gray was plugging away on peg 31 to bring 6lb 2ozs to the bank, silencing the pre draw critics with the runner up spot.  Mark Gratton continued the theme of unfancied pegs fishing well with a bag of silvers for 3lb 14ozs from peg 2 in the Narrows section, taking third place overall.

The even distribution of weights continued with the 4th, 5th and 6th places taking default wins in their respective sections.  Steve Whitehouse went for broke and sat out for a 'biggun' and was rewarded with a 3lb 6oz slab to win the Second Basin section, Adrian Hill took a different tack and blasted the small roach with the bread punch all day for a 3lb 2oz catch on peg 5.  Tony Hillas was left to regret his decision to chase the bream as he banked 3lb 1oz of silvers off peg 20 to win the Upper Basin section, but could have built on that weight had he stayed on the silvers.

There were a few interesting fines in the evening, not least Dave Allen who wanted to arrange his ground bait by hand, thankfully he did not go all the way in the canal!  The draw raised £100 for charity and this will be added to the pot for Talans Trust, the clubs chosen Charity for 2025.

Lesson of the day must be never to underestimate the peg you draw, you never know.  A merry Christmas and see you all on the bank as we regroup on the 25th January (or before for the brave amongst you).

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           Mark Gratton, 3lb 14ozs of Silvers

Full Result and Winter League: