EFSA English Shore Samphire Hoe, Dover 2014
The venue for this years English Section Shore Championship was to be Dover Southern Breakwater but due to storm damage the venue was switched to Samphire Hoe. The Championship HQ was at the Grand Burstin, which provided full board accommodation for the anglers at a very favourable rate.
Day 1
After a leisurely breakfast and plenty of time to get to venue the 18 hopeful anglers mustered at the Samphire Hoe car park for bait distribution and drawing of pegs for the day. A short stroll down to the front and time for that last minute preparation in readiness for the 1030 start. Many were soon into fish with Pollack making early showing by just dropping down the wall carefully to try and avoid the rocks that are against wall and out to sea by 20 feet or so These rocks are also home to many species of Wrasse unfortunately many were caught but most not reaching the 20 cm minimum size to score.
Fishing was a case of no pain no gain and the brave that cast out further than the sandy patch just past the wall rock found the snags just off shore. There were fish out there but very snaggy ground so the gloves came in handy to pull the gear out. Sometimes lucky with fish and gear coming free, but often just the main line so other rod into service to continue fishing while repairs to snapped off line.
Other fish to count were some sizable Pout so with the Wrasse and Pollock these made up most of the points on scorecard
Day 2
Same timings as yesterday so again time to retie those rigs that did not get done last night, necessary due to all the losses of the day before. After drawing pegs which today were further along the wall so a good half mile or so walk, some of us did regret not having a set of wheels with us to ease the strain of getting to fishing marks, another lesson learnt.
Fishing was very similar to the previous day but more to be had as shown by the points compared with day before. Paull Curtice did manage the only Garfish in the championship very useful 56cm to score and also gave him the optional pool round fish on day 2. The other fish of note was Barrie Senior that caught the only flat fish in the Championship a TopKnot of 21cm so took the optional pool for flat fish.
On day 1 optional pool there was no flat fish caught so both pools that day went to round fish. Chris Leonard with a Ballan Wrasse of 34cm. The other pool was a 3 way split with Barrie Senior, Paull Curtice and Dave Lovelock all with a Pollock of 31cm.
The presentation was held at the Grand Burstin, where most of us stayed, with the prize table going down to 6th place. With Paull Curtice and Dave Lovelock both zone winners on day 1, day 2 and they were both drawn in same zone with Paull coming out on top with top score of the event with 19 fish for 634cm. So once results were worked out the first place and Gold pin went to Paull Curtice, with Silver pin to Dave Lovelock and Bronze pin to Chris Leonard
After presentation, with many staying that night, we had a social dinner together where amongst other topics of conversation were what could have been and possible venues for 2015.
Report by Kim Bowden.
Full results for Championship
POINTS FISH
1 Paull Curtice 2
2 Dave Lovelock 4 15
3 Chris Leonard 4 13
4 Paul Drake 7 13
5 Kim Bowden 7 12
6 Jerry Knight 7 10
7 Barrie Senior 8
8 Tony Porritt 9
9 Dave Clark 10
9 Budge Brooker 10
11 Reg Clough 11
11 Jan Peach 11
11 Luke Allen 11
11 Vernon Allen 11
15 Alan Jones 15
16 Colin Crocker 17
17 John Campbell Withdrew 2nd day
