Championship Match 17 (for the Shipstones' Cup) was fished on a warm and balmy day on Lake Two at Robinwood Lakes (Swarkestone).  Unfortunately as the water remained cold the fish continued to believe it was winter and generally remained in their winter quarters at the deep end of the lake making the draw crucial.

Dave Cotterill made excellent use of peg 15 towards the end of the lake by fishing long pole to the end margin.  Baiting with pellet he managed to tempt 7 carp to put 23-08 on the scales for a clear win.

Dave Cotterill is pictured below with his 23-08 winning catch

'Venue Expert' Steve Wilcock on peg 12 made the decision to fish waggler over loose fed maggot, and baiting with a single maggot on a size 20 hook he landed 3 carp (best fish close to 10 lb) and a few small roach for 15-02 and second place.

On the opposite bank Jake Hemmings on hot peg 21 fished long pole and pellet for a mixed catch of small carp and skimmer bream weighing 10-10 for third, pushing the on form Pete (Budgie) Bywater on peg 22, who had 6-00, into fourth place and Anthony White (who had 5-06 of ide) to fifth.

On unfancied peg 26 Malc Munn recorded an excellent performance to catch 2 small carp and some ide from his right margin to take 6th spot and move into top spot in the Championship with 218 points.  John Adamson is second with 213, Paul Richardson third on 206 and Dave Kent fourth on 200 (top 10 may be seen on match result pages of this site).

The final match of the season will be on Sunday 11 March at Longford Fishery (Carr Wood Pool).