2025 UK Police Community Match Chew
UK Police Tri Service Community Match, Chew Valley Lake 17th Apr
The MVFFC were once again invited to take part in this Police Sport UK event, which moves around the UK annually. This year's event was held at Chew Valley lake near Bristol so a team of Southern members were recruited to take part. The team was made up of Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force Veterans.
@ Neil Smith
@ Neil Owen
@ Nige Evans
@ Sag Griffith
@ Eamon Mounter
@ Mick McLintic
@ Phil Thomas
@ Dave Newing, Captain
@ Nick Hammett, Reserved
Some of the team were fortunate enough to have had some time on Chew in the preceeding 2 weeks as the RAF Greylags had fished an Airflo heat and the first AMFC round in that period. During these competitions it was clear that twiddling was the way ahead and there was a good head of fish near the out of bounds area between Wick Green and Morton (the buoy line). A large area of the lake big enough to take the fleet, fortunately.
During the first day of practice our 4 boats were well spread looking for other concentrations of fish but during our lunchtime meeting it was mainly the buoy line that had fished. In the afternoon with conditions warming slightly, feeding fish were found in fairly open water outside Spring Bay and at the back of Denny island and the Bird Hide. Unfortunately, plans for the second day were scuppered by the weather as all boats were cancelled by the water due to the forecast wind. Fortunately, this cancellation came before the bar shut, and a quiet night ensued! That and a plan for a very late breakfast…
After said late breakfast there were a few flies tied up and a team meeting over lunch. Although disappointed with no second day, hopes were high as the forecast for the following day was for good fishing conditions. Then an early night..
Match day weather was good with a light breeze, sometimes too light and too variable so not much water was covered. There was a good split of boats at the start with equal numbers for boats heading for the Dam, the buoy line, Denny and Spring Bay.
It was obvious from the start that the fish weren't really on the feed with only a few rods bending and then not the same ones. At around lunchtime the team had a few fish with all but 2 rods with at least 1 or 2 fish in the boat. Boats had started motoring around, a sure sign of struggling to catch but Dave Newing stuck it out at Moreton to bag 9 fish on deep straight lined buzzers and DBs, top rod on the day was a Police rod with 10. Phil Thomas had a purple patch from 3 pm netting 6 fish before the close on small buzzers between 2 dries to finish on 7, As did Sag Griffith as he did a tour of the lake for his fish.
As the attached results show it was a close run thing for second place, with MVFFC just pipping the local lads, but the GB police team were 10 fish ahead and deserved winners.
Many thanks to all the team for the commitment and effort in attending this competition.
Here's to another successful event next year at Rutland water, if we are fortunate enough to get an invite. We did work hard at impressing the organiser in the Bar…
Tight Lines