Long Eaton Victoria AS's team competing in the 2007 BW Makins Winter League has smart new team colours.  Each team member now wears a matching black fleece jacket and baseball cap, embazoned with team and new sponsor's name.

 In a sponsorship deal agreed with the Sarah Mansfield Public House (situated at Willey, near the BW Makins Fishery on the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border), the Sarah Mansfield  covers the team's complete entry fee for the series.  As part of the deal, each team member has been provided with a smart black fleece jacket with matching baseball style cap. These have 'TEAM LEVAS' and 'Sarah Mansfield Pub' embroidered in gold lettering on them. 

This year's squad of 13 (in alphabetical order) is: John Adamson, Jamie Adcock, John Allsopp, Tony Billington, Terry Cockburn, Lee Ensall, Dave Kent, Ray Ketcher, Dave Smith, Chris Waite, Lee Westwood, Andrew Williams and Anthony White.  Two other reserves are also available for emergency cover.

Team LEVAS’s 2007 Preston Innovations BW Makins Winter League campaign has been mixed, with up and down performances to date in the 17 team league.The team’s sponsorship by the Sarah Mansfield public house (in the village of Willey, close to the BW Makins Fishery) has been a great success with every indication of further backing for next year’s Winter League, and possibly other team events.

In Match 1 (7 October), the team made a reasonable start in the 17 team league with seventh place.  Jamie Adcock (37 lb 4 oz from Thames peg 2), Terry Cockburn (63 lb 10 oz, Lizard peg 10) and Lee Westwood (54 lb, Lake 2 peg A2) all gained section money, and the team weighed in around 350 lb for their 101 point total.  Other good performances were: John Allsopp (53 lb Lake 2 A4), Ray Ketcher (47 lb 8 oz Lake 4 8), Dave Smith (31 lb Crater 1), and Andrew Williams 32 lb 4 oz Lake 5 1).

Match 2 (21 October) saw a very disappointing slump in performance, 127 points for 16th place.  John Adamson took third place overall in the match with 78 lb 4 oz, Lake 5 peg 4, but there were no other money winners.  Decent results came from Lee Westwood (41 lb 8 oz, Lake 2 A8), Dave Kent (29 lb 14 oz, Lizard 39), Jamie Adcock (27 lb, Lake 1 17), and Terry Cockburn (20 lb 12 oz Reptile 12).

Match 3 (4 November) and team LEVAS took 8th place with 108 points.  Money winners were Tony Billington (64 lb 5 oz, Lake 5 7) and Ray Ketcher (17 lb, Severn 11).  Anthony White (37 lb, Lake 4 13) Terry Cockburn (31 lb 4 oz, Crater 10) and Andrew Williams (31 lb, Reptile 1) were the other leading weights.

Match 4 (18 November) was fished in gales and heavy rain, and LEVAS had 118 points for 10th place.  Winning section money were: Anthony White (46 lb Lake 2 A4), Dave Smith (28 lb 6 oz Lake 4 8) and Tony Billington (17 lb 12 oz, Derwent 30).  Other good scores were John Adamson (24 lb 10, Lake 1 14) and John Allsopp (20 lb Crater 1).

Match 5 (2 December) saw a return to gales and rain, and from the same set of pegs as matches 1 and 4 (and scales duty once again) LEVAS managed 107 points for 6th place.  Section money winners were Jamie Adcock (24 lb 10 oz Lake 4 8) and Tony Billington (22 lb 12 oz Severn 1).  Best of the rest was Dave Kent (23 lb 8 oz Lizard 10).Match 6 is on 16 December .  Watch this space for details.