The 12th Championship match of the current campaign, for the W Hardy Memorial Trophy, and the only one scheduled for the Club stretch of the River Trent, produced excellent sport for those fishing.  The average weight per angler was 9 lb 12 oz, and most of the competitors had bites throughout the whole match.

The river was 'sock on', about a foot up and slightly coloured.  The weather held (mild for the time of year and sunny throughout), and competitors were able to fish in very enjoyable countryside conditions, with kingfishers working the river and flocks of long tailed tits (a sign that cold weather approaches) in the bank side trees, and the odd narrow-boat chugging past. The only sounds that spoilt the peace were a chain saw on the Thrumpton side, and the constant chatter from the eventual match winner.

The pegs selected were at the lower end of the club's Long Eaton stretch, running from the gravels, through the bushes, and down to the fence end.  Being on the inside of the long bend, these pegs all give easy flow and float fishing potential.

Pete James, pegged two back from the fence end, started the match by balling in about 10 'oranges' and starting on the pole.  After this produced only half a dozen tiny roach in the first hour before dying completely, he switched to a groundbait feeder.  He persevered with this for the remainder of the match, baiting with bronze double maggot.  At first he caught the odd roach, some gudgeon, a ruffe and a few small skimmers (bream), until the last hour when he landed several decent skimmers (to around 2 lb) for his 14 lb 7 oz winning weight.

Fishing the downstream end peg, in contrast to the winner, Dave Kent 'loose fed' only.  Alternating between pole and straight bomb fished close to the bushes he caught small roach on bronze maggot for the first 3 hours of the match, after which things went quiet.  He then fed very heavily with caster and switched to double caster on the pole against his downstream bush, and 15 minutes from the end was rewarded with a big black bream, which probably weighed close to 7 lb, lifting his weight to 13 lb 10 oz for second place.

 The next three anglers all caught on float tactics.  John Adamson fished long rod and a 4grm 'bolo' over loose fed hemp and caster in this 'parrot cage' bush swim for 11 lb 9 oz of roach and skimmers (all taken on caster bait) for third place, whilst Paul Richardson and Malc Munn, both pegged on the gravels, caught roach, perch and skimmers on stick float and bronze maggot for their 8 lb 13 and 7 lb 8 oz respectively and fourth and fifth place.