Last Chance 2006.

Harleston Junior Angling Club hosted its annual end of season fishing competition, aptly named "The Last Chance Open" on Saturday 25th in the prolific Club Lake at their Weybread complex. This four-hour competition attracted a high-class turnout with eighteen anglers attending some from as far away as Reading, London and Hilgay boosting the attendance. The young competitors were also blessed with some good weather with a warm South wind pushing up the lake warming the water after the freezing conditions during the week.

Venue expert and four times club champion Daniel Elliott topped the field for the second year running beating off a strong challenge from Reading visitor Luke Handcock. Daniel drew peg sixteen and opted to fish long pole at thirteen metres feeding the bottom of the shelf carefully with a pole cup to keep the bait tight on a hard day. Alternating between corn, caster and pellet hook baits was the key to keeping the fish interested, Daniel was soon into his rhythm regularly catching small hybrid F1 carp and quality skimmers, two decent specimens late in the match boosted his winning weight to 19lb 5oz. Daniel took home a trophy and tackle prizes for his efforts.

Second placed Luke Handcock from Reading made the trip worthwhile with an excellent performance from noted peg seven pressuring Daniel all the way to the final whistle. Once drawn Luke gleaned all the local information he could about his peg, ignored it and done his own thing fishing chopped worm with worm on the hook thirteen metres into open water to land one big Mirror Carp and three smaller F1 hybrids topped up with some silver fish for a weight of 17lb 8oz second place and a big 'up yours' to local knowledge.

Sean Blackshields from Hilgay made the trip worthwhile claiming third place from peg twenty-six, he again sought local help after the draw and made the most of his info to land two big carp and some small fish for a very creditable 14lb 1oz and well earned third place.

Diss star Ricky Leggett landed fourth place in his last junior competition with two Carp weighing 12lb 6oz.

Full Result.

1. Peg 16 Daniel Elliott 19lb 5oz
2. Peg 7 Luke Handcock 17lb 8oz
3. Peg 26 Sean Blackshields 14lb 1oz
4. Peg 12 Ricky Leggett 12lb 6oz
5. Peg 30 Aiden Collett 9lb 5oz
6. Peg 8 Rob King 8lb 6oz
7. Peg 10 Gavin Woodward 8lb 4oz
8. Peg 11 Edward Howman 8lb
9. Peg 27 Shane Riches 7lb 10oz
10. Peg 29 Chris Kelly 6lb 14oz
11. Peg 28 James Collings 6lb 7oz
12. Peg 17 Philip Shulver 5lb 9oz
13. Peg 19 Jack Weatherley 4lb
14. Peg 23 Harry Marsh 3lb 3oz
15. Peg 3 Oliver Elton 2lb 9oz
16. Peg 4 Travis Woodward 2lb 7oz
17. Peg 21 Reece Clayton 1lb 4oz
18. Peg 13 Charlie Elton 15oz