Brian Alderdice totalled 2kg 950 but still took the top prize in the Scottish National Championship at Strathclyde Country Park, the 45-year-old beating 40 other anglers, including several Scottish internationals, to take the silverware.
Peter Dick was runner-up with 2kg 350 and Dave Corcoran third on 2kg 235. Derek Brady was fourth with 2kg 255 and Bobby Marshall fifth with 2k 200, with James Woodrow, sixth on 1kg 950 while Martin Greene seventh with a haul of 1kg 725.
George Glen was eighth with 1kg 700, Gus Brindle the organiser, a Scotland cap and the chairman of the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling, ninth on 1kg 575 with Danny O’Rourke completing the top ten with 1kg 400.
Alderdice said the venue had fished well in the build-up. Hopes were high for some big weights, but fishing was difficult and the winner admitted: “I really did not expect to win and hoped that I would not be embarrassed as it was the first match for me in 28 years.
“I practiced twice in the week before and, because of the wind on the day, I used my 16m pole at 10m and 11m. It would have been easier to fish shorter which I would have liked as the wind made it difficult to hold the pole at 11m, but I had to stick with it as that is where the fish were feeding. My tactics, of not feeding hard, worked on the day.”
Brindle said that anglers fed their pegs based on what they caught in practice when they were fishing in groups or two or three spread out along the bank.
He added: “When you put 41 anglers in a line all starting at the same time, on a venue which has not seen a match of that size for 30 years, the fishing is often a lot harder.”
PICTURE: Brian Alderdice with glasses fishing on his way to the National title at Strathclyde Country Park. Picture Nigel Duncan
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