Lindholme Lakes, peg 27 Bonsai. Photo credit: Lee Ganderton
The Maver-Dynamite North-West (MDNW) boys were out in full force on April 29th at Lindholme Lakes in Doncaster for this year’s Angling Trust Commercial National. A competition rife with civil rivalry between some of the best commercial anglers in the country, 23 teams of ten (10) anglers entered this year’s event, making up 230 anglers across the complex.
This competition is worked on overall team points based on section placings. A section win grants one (1) point, second place gives two (2) points, and so forth. The aim is to achieve the lowest collection of points as a team to become champions.
The MDNW team had a very mixed bag of pegs from the morning draw, with some better than others, but the importance was securing the best section points possible for the team.
Making his debut for the team was Nik Jenkins on Laurels lake, peg 20. Catching best to the island at 16m in only 18 inches of water, he’s been able to steadily keep ticking over until the end of the match to weight 36.225kgs and win his big section, collecting one (1) valuable point for the team. A great start for him under the Maver-Dynamite North-West banner.
Part of the Maver-Dynamite North-West squad! From left to right: (TOP) Lee Ganderton; Lee Murphy; John Nugent; Paul Kaye (BOTTOM) Mike McGrath; Sean Berry; Warren Crolla; Steve Bellion. Photo credit: Steve Bellion
Sitting on Benny’s 47 was Mike McGrath, who after initially looking at the tight pegging, thought it would be difficult. However, he’s managed to catch by bouncing two lines in 3ft of water for an eventual weight of 22.750kgs, winning his small section and second in the big section for a great two (2) points for the team.
Team Captain Paul Kaye had a productive day also on Benny’s lake, situated on peg 14. Starting short on maggots before switching to casters shallow, then rounding out with micros and corn down the edge, his 19.125kgs total was enough to secure two (2) points for the overall tally.
Lee Murphy had a steady day over on peg 52 on Bonsai lake. Fishing a simple maggot match, he’s caught towards the pallet of peg 53 for the first two hours, then switched to fishing between either side of him until the end. He’s netted 38.100kgs, gaining three (3) points.
Over on peg 30 on Willows, it was a frustrating day for teammate John Nugent. After a 2-hour catching spell long at 14m with casters, the lake has changed, resulting in an extremely slow rest of the match. However, his earlier efforts did not go to waste, placing 25.075kgs on the scales for another three (3) points towards the team score.
Beeches peg 20 was Warren Crolla’s home for the day. He’s caught mostly at 14m pinging pellets, before ending up down both of his edge swims fishing groundbait and corn. His total weight of 26.475kgs brought home six (6) crucial points in a close-fought section.
Sean Berry has a tough day on Willows lake. Sat on peg 41 with not much room, he’s chosen a negative approach, feeding micros, and using maggots on the hook. Finishing up with a weight of 13.800kgs – made up of four F1’s, a carp, and 8-10 skimmers – was enough to beat those around him but couldn’t challenge the corner pegs in his section. Taking back eight (8) points for the team was a good result, with Sean admitting this was the best he could do with the draw he had.
Maver boss Steve Bellion joined the MDNW crew for this event and pulled out peg 17 on Strip lake. Starting his match short at 5m on hard pellets, he’s finished out long at 14.5m, amassing a weight of 21.550kgs for a seven (7) point score on a difficult lake.
Peg 27 on Bonsai was Lee Ganderton’s office for the day. After starting at 16m with a ‘flick rig’ for some new stock fish, he’s come short to keep the bites coming, then ending his match down the edge with groundbait and worm to net some better stamp F1’s. Beating both anglers either side of him with his 15.400kgs catch, he’s grabbed nine (9) points from the hard-fished section.
Finally, Matt Goulding has a laboured day over on Loco, peg 21. Describing his match as “slow-going”, he’s fed casters at 14m where he’s caught silverfish to start. Swapping swims and tactics has proved fruitless, so he decided to stick with his caster line where he was rewarded with a few F1’s and carp. Come the final hooter, he’s retained 14.500kgs for nine (9) points to add to the team score.
The presentation later revealed that the Maver-Dynamite North-West team collated 51 points for a brilliant 5th in the overall standings, with only two points separating them from third.
Speaking to team captain Paul Kaye, he said: “From what was a reasonable draw with some good and mediocre pegs, we had a plan, and each and every team member knew what they needed to do.
“It was never going to be a bagging match, but they needed to get their heads down and catch whatever was in front of them.
“Every year we have improved and next year we will improve again.
“Well done to new team member Nik Jenks for winning his big section and receiving a medal, and to Mike McGrath also winning his section – fantastic achievement! But most of all to the team who really demonstrated true team belief and passion for the sport we all love.”
The full list of results can be found here on Hot Fishin’
Congratulations everyone, from all of us at Maver UK.