Gloucester Park regular Geoff Byatt stormed to a spectacular win in the second match of Mick Toomer's Ridley Angling Products sponsored winter series.

At the scales his 50lb 2oz catch nearly doubled the rest of the field's combined haul!

A biting easterly wind saw the normally obliging Gloucester Park fish at Basildon hard to tempt, although Geoff certainly had a lot of carp in his swim.

He got a clue before the match started. Whilst plumbing the depth he foul hooked and landed a decent carp!

The fish were still in residence when the match started, and Geoff soon began getting bites on his waggler tactics and luncheon meat baits.

By the final whistle he had landed eight carp, with the best one close to double figures. The win was worth £88 in pools' monies.

Second place went to Stanford-le-Hope angler, John Musson, with a 17lb 10oz cockle bank haul. John fished feeder tactics and maggot bait to land three carp and the £58 second prize.

After elimination of the two major prize winners Ricky Cook took a £40 section win with 4lb 6oz. This consisted of a handful of roach and a quality chub.

Section B was won by Bernie Robinson who collected £40 for his 1lb 14oz tench.

The Ridley Rollover lucky peg worth £150 was drawn by Wayne Candy. As Wayne did not win the match the Ridley Rollover has been increased to £200 for the next match.

The next Ridley Angling Products sponsored match will be the ever popular Gloucester Park Christmas Open on Sunday, (December 23). Meet at the western end of the lake from 7am for a 7.30am walk off. Fishing time will be 8.30 until 2.30pm. Barbel, zander and pike may not be weighed in, and bloodworm is barred.

The match will be a walkoff and will not affect pleasure anglers at the venue. Match entry will be a further Ridley Angling Products sponsored Gloucester Park Open on December 30. For more information telephone Mick Toomer on 01268 282317.

Published Tuesday December 18, 2001