Here you will find our latest match reports:
Alan Gilbert Memorial 2019 (Match report and accounts)
Following a very hard-fought contest I’m please to say SAMF won the 2019 AGM challenge match against teams from Belgium and Holland. The SAMF team of; Saul Page, Nathan Elliott, Jacob Gainey, Paul Gunner, Dorian Partridge, Mark Pinder, Malcolm Stote, Ian Bowell, Bob Gascoigne, Ken McCoy, Stephen Roberts, Dave Lane, Dave Chidzoy, Toby Oldfield and Stuart Withyman took to the beaches of Preston, due to a strong south-westerly gale making Chesil unsafe and most likely unfishable.
SAMF won day 1 and finished a close second to a strong Dutch Team on day two managed by Arthur van Tienen, to take the title for 2019. Jacob Gainey was the top SAMF angler, a fantastic achievement at his first attempt. SAMF having lost the last two challenge matches so it was great to get the winning feeling back, however there were some tense moments, particularly on day two which saw all the teams fishing for bass and garfish in very difficult conditions. It was an honour to receive the trophy from one of the UK’s top anglers Ian Golds. My personal thanks go to Joeri Devisch Rudi Jacobs and Arthur van Tienen for their support and all the SAMF, Dutch and Belgium team members, as their help and cooperation made this a fantastic event.
The win was underpinned by a brilliant team effort, with all the anglers sharing information on rigs, practise results and generally encouraging anyone who needed help. The weather played a significant part as due to strong south-westerly gales, fishing the main Chesil beach was impossible and unsafe. Instead the backup venue of Preston was used, and it proved a worthy venue, making anglers work hard for their fish. Hugh thanks also go to Chris Clark, Doug Thorpe, Rory Eastlake, who gave up their time to steward the competition while Dave Lane, not only fished, pegged the beach and sorted out the presentation venue and food.
The presentation was held in the Weymouth Angling Club House, who were fantastic hosts and my thanks go to them. Another vote of thanks to the Heights Hotel, Portland for looking after the teams. Fish caught were garfish, bass, gurnard, bream, the odd whiting, strap conger, sole, plaice, flounder, smelt, thornback ray, red mullet, smoothound and yes I got a monster shad in practise, so all in all most species in the sea! This was a bait provided match so again more thanks to Christchurch Angling Centre in Bournemouth, Tom Bagnall and Toby Oldfield were fantastic. Sadly, some people who wanted to be there couldn’t for several reasons, to all of you who offered to fish, did fish or supported the event in many ways, a personal thankyou from me. Managing a team, organising the event and then having to fish was at times too much and a pint or two of Stella was needed to calm the nerves!
Balance Sheet
Costs Income £6915.00
Hotel £5480.00
Bait £1125.00
Food £600.00
Total £7205
Overall SAMF made a loss of £290 (SAMF sponsored the bait for our team)
Prizes for the top angler in each team @ 3 x £14.99 and 2 x £25.00 managers gifts sponsored by Ian Bowell.
Up and Coming SAMF Challenge Events
The next challenge match is the Combined Armed Forces on Friday 21 st and Saturday 22nd February. This match, hosted by the Police takes place at Hythe in Kent. If anyone wishes to be a part of the team then please let me know by email (ian.bowell@icloud.com) by 30th November.
The Alan Gilbert Memorial 2020 is taking place in Belgium between the 5 th and 7th June. If anyone wishes to be a part of the team then please let me know by email (ian.bowell@icloud.com) by 31 st January 2020.
The Scottish challenge is yet to be arranged, however it will be held on the Tyne this year so lookout for the dates. Bob Gascoigne will again captain the side and will post the dates ASAP.
If any SAMF member wishes to be a part of the challenge matches then please send your contact details to me, stating which teams you wish to be considered for. These are great events to be a part of and give you a stern test of angling ability. Thanks very much for all your support, please keep up your SAMF membership as without you this organisation is pointless. SAMF has links to all the UK federations and welcomes all men, ladies and junior anglers. For £20 per year membership you get free entry into our specimen competition, insurance whenever you fish, access to safety information to fish and run matches safely, along with the opportunity to fish against some of the best anglers in this country and abroad.
2019 Combined Forcers Report
Last March SAMF fished against the Police and Combined Armed Forces, in our annual competition. 15 anglers in each team competed against each other at Kelling, a well-known Norfolk match stretch. The Friday match was fished into darkness, which resulted in over 1500 fish being carded, mostly whiting, with a good showing of dabs, along with some dogfish, pout, flounder, rocking and I think a small codling! The second day was an all daylight match, but still over 700 fish were carded. SAMF won the competition, taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th overall individuals; Ken McCoy, Malcolm Stote, Paul Gunner and Bob Gascoigne. Most of the team packed well in the top 20, making it a fantastic weekend for SAMF. It was pleasing as manager not only to do well but to see the effort all 15 members of the SAMF team put into the competition, and I was extremely proud to manage a team of both men and ladies, with Kimberly Kimberley Lawn the First Lady to represent SAMF in an event like this, let’s hope there’s more to come. The rest of the team included: Stephen Roberts, Henry Randell, Simon Knight, Mike Watts, Anthony Thomas, Nathan Elliott, Dave David Wright, Roger Cunnington, Doug Thorpe and Richard Hipperson, all supported by Adam Molloy who run the beach superbly. It was fantastic to see Dave Wright back on the beach, reacquainted with Bob Gascoigne, and also our newer members doing well, particularly Simon, who is making a comeback into match fishing since joining SAMF.