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The BCAC 2009
Broadlands was looking superb for the finals of BCAC 2009 as the top 14 pairs of this years 382 angler entry list met for the culmination of a years competition carping. The event saw Essex anglers Joe Atkinson and Matt Carter lift the trophy by the finest of margins in a battle that was full of drama and tension.
First blood came just 15 in to the competition to peg 5 at the end of carp alley. It weighed 13.05 and the captors were Paul Crocker and Jack Meyer, the lads that initially qualified through the wild card entry of catching the biggest fish of the tournament by a non qualifier. Darren Stevens and Dave Forward quickly followed them with a 9lb common and it was clear that there were a few fish at the western end of the lake. With 4 hours on the clock there were 6 pairs on the score sheet as both ends of the lake started to perform.
It was virtually even stevens by dusk with a lot of the field recording just 1 fish but sneaking ahead with 39.07 were Matt Carter and Joe Atkinson from peg 2, the car park point. Meyer / Crocker held second with 36.10 and Stevens / Forward sat in third on 27 exactly. Nine of the fourteen teams were now on the board, and all were keen to make the most of the hours of darkness.
By dawn it was Carter / Atkinson that emerged well ahead of the field. They had a manic night landing 5 fish through the hours of darkness to put them on 95.08 by dawn. Their closest rivals were Meyer / Crocker who were static on 36.10. However, as the day wore on the fish started to feed in earnest around the pond and performed a circuit around the main island starting from the west end , travelling up carp alley to pylon point, before coming back down the motorway bank finally stopping at Slingers.
As they circuited the lake for the first time there was a big battle in carp alley as the swims there started catching. By 10 am second place was taken by Jamie Simpson and Jason Allaway who landed 6 fish for 74.01 after a hectic morning feed. Third was mid way up the alley where Simon Bury and Matt Brown landed 4 fish for 53.12 and at the Blackwater end Crocker / Jack Meyer now sat on 52.08. It was getting close at the top, and Stevens / Forward in swim 1 were watching in dismay as the leaders stretched their legs. However the carp ended their circuit of the main island directly in front of them and in a frantic period of activity they managed to up their total to 94.08 by 2pm, just 1lb behind the early leaders who could only watch from the swim next door.
As the match wore on third and fourth places jockeyed for position with fifth sitting just one fish out of the money cut. The big battle though was between Atkinson / Carter and Stevens / Foward. Eventually it was the latter pairing who took the lead in the early afternoon with a mirror of double to put them on 106.00 against 95.08.
Their lead lasted just an hour and a half as Carter / Atkinsons swim produced their first of the day to the relief of the boys. Stevens / Forward hooked one at the same time but theirs fell off, and to rub salt into the wounds Carter / Atkinson hooked another. It was their first action for almost 10 hours and the two bites in succession were converted into captures to increase their total to 115.00 to re-take first.
The east end of the lake was relatively quiet, the carp preferring the sanctuary of the main island and the comfort of Blackwater bay but the match was still wide open and incredibly exciting with 5 swims in contention having just under 30lbs between them. At Broadlands that can be just two fish and the way the carp were moving around the pond and feeding, that could be as little as 20 minutes work for any of the top teams.
As dusk drew in the drama unfolded once again as Carter / Atkinson (115.00) lost the lead to Stevens / Forward (118.02) once again. To add to the pressure Jamie Simpson and Jason Allaway had a good run into dusk and were now in 3rd with 113.05. Just under 5lbs separated the top three with the chasing pack snapping at their heels. In Blackwater corner Tom Smith and Ian McReady had been quietly chipping away at the leader board and were catching up. 20kg of boilies had been introduced little and often through the day and it was now paying dividends as they snuck in under the radar. A run of fish including two good doubles put them into 4th on 92.03 and with 4 rods working and open water to play with they were looking good for action throughout the night.
The hours of darkness would be absolutely crucial as the top 6 pairs were all now within 3 fish of taking the lead. It was incredibly tight and incredibly tense and the night session would make or break some o f the teams mentally.
Carter / Atkinsons swim came alive again through the night and they emerged at dawn in first with 152.13, a lead of some 25lbs 8oz from the new second placed pairing of Simpson / Allaway (127.05) whose inch perfect casting was producing them fish. Third were now Smith / McReady (126.09) who caught fish through the night and still had bite time left in the morning session. Stevens / Forward (118.02) dropped down the list to 4th as they expected to do, but their feeding period was yet to come and they were within striking distance of catching up.
These four teams would be the ones to watch for the last 5 hours as any one of them could take the title. The tension was incredible and some of the other teams actually reeled in to watch the drama unfold. Carter / Atkinson were just ahead, but their swim was not a day time swim and they could only watch and hope as the others started catching. By 8am it was McReady / Smith that were snapping at their heels with 140.13, then just an hour later it was Simpson / Allaway who were in second with 148.15. Stevens / Forward were still in 4th on 128.05 and needed 12.09 to get into the money slots and needed just 24.09 to take pole position. Carter / Atkinson were in bits as they could see what their challengers were doing, but a bonus 9lb fish would calm their nerves a little and give them some breathing space on 161.13.
Suddenly there was more drama. McReady / Smith needed a twenty. They had lost two fish earlier in the morning that would have put them on top, and now they were into another. It battled hard and a rod length out looked like it could be big enough to put them in first. In a cruel twist the hook pulled and that was the final straw that took the wind out of the sails of the third placed pairing. Psychologically it was incredible between the four pairs in contention, and to add to the drama with just 45 minutes left on the clock Stevens / Forward had a bite and landed the fish. It looked good but the crowds gasped in disbelief as , at 11.11, it was just ounces short of the 12.09 needed for third place and £1000.
They were all so close now that the final forty five minutes seemed to last forever. Everyone’s nerves were in bits and eventually the hooter sounded the end of the match but Carter / Atkinson could still not celebrate. It was so close that they had to wait for confirmation from the judges that none of the chasing teams were still playing fish. They weren’t and the cheers went up from the spectators confirming their victory by the narrowest of margins. They had become the new British Champsions. Simpson / Allaway sat with mixed emotions, pleased that they had netted 2nd and £4000, but gutted they were only 1 fish away from the main title, and McReady / Smith were still shell shocked at the earlier hook pull that may well have been the difference between 1st and 3rd. Stevens / Forward had finished just out of the money in 4th and came over from next door to congratulate the new champions before returning to their swim to the sound of a buzzer. It went off at 8 minutes after the hooter and was big enough to net them second place but was sadly for them just that little bit too late.
The 2009 Final: 11-13th September
Broadlands was looking superb for the finals of BCAC 2009 as the top 14 pairs of this years 382 angler entry list met for the culmination of a years competition carping. The event saw Essex anglers Joe Atkinson and Matt Carter lift the trophy by the finest of margins in a battle that was full of drama and tension.
 First blood came just 15 in to the competition to peg 5 at the end of carp alley. It weighed 13.05 and the captors were Paul Crocker and Jack Meyer, the lads that initially qualified through the wild card entry of catching the biggest fish of the tournament by a non qualifier. Darren Stevens and Dave Forward quickly followed them with a 9lb common and it was clear that there were a few fish at the western end of the lake. With 4 hours on the clock there were 6 pairs on the score sheet as both ends of the lake started to perform.
It was virtually even stevens by dusk with a lot of the field recording just 1 fish but sneaking ahead with 39.07 were Matt Carter and Joe Atkinson from peg 2, the car park point. Meyer / Crocker held second with 36.10 and Stevens / Forward sat in third on 27 exactly. Nine of the fourteen teams were now on the board, and all were keen to make the most of the hours of darkness.
By dawn it was Carter / Atkinson that emerged well ahead of the field. They had a manic night landing 5 fish through the hours of darkness to put them on 95.08 by dawn. Their closest rivals were Meyer / Crocker who were static on 36.10. However, as the day wore on the fish started to feed in earnest around the pond and performed a circuit around the main island starting from the west end , travelling up carp alley to pylon point, before coming back down the motorway bank finally stopping at Slingers.
As they circuited the lake for the first time there was a big battle in carp alley as the swims there started catching. By 10 am second place was taken by Jamie Simpson and Jason Allaway who landed 6 fish for 74.01 after a hectic morning feed. Third was mid way up the alley where Simon Bury and Matt Brown landed 4 fish for 53.12 and at the Blackwater end Crocker / Jack Meyer now sat on 52.08. It was getting close at the top, and Stevens / Forward in swim 1 were watching in dismay as the leaders stretched their legs. However the carp ended their circuit of the main island directly in front of them and in a frantic period of activity they managed to up their total to 94.08 by 2pm, just 1lb behind the early leaders who could only watch from the swim next door.
As the match wore on third and fourth places jockeyed for position with fifth sitting just one fish out of the money cut. The big battle though was between Atkinson / Carter and Stevens / Foward. Eventually it was the latter pairing who took the lead in the early afternoon with a mirror of double to put them on 106.00 against 95.08.
Their lead lasted just an hour and a half as Carter / Atkinsons swim produced their first of the day to the relief of the boys. Stevens / Forward hooked one at the same time but theirs fell off, and to rub salt into the wounds Carter / Atkinson hooked another. It was their first action for almost 10 hours and the two bites in succession were converted into captures to increase their total to 115.00 to re-take first.
The east end of the lake was relatively quiet, the carp preferring the sanctuary of the main island and the comfort of Blackwater bay but the match was still wide open and incredibly exciting with 5 swims in contention having just under 30lbs between them. At Broadlands that can be just two fish and the way the carp were moving around the pond and feeding, that could be as little as 20 minutes work for any of the top teams.
As dusk drew in the drama unfolded once again as Carter / Atkinson (115.00) lost the lead to Stevens / Forward (118.02) once again. To add to the pressure Jamie Simpson and Jason Allaway had a good run into dusk and were now in 3rd with 113.05. Just under 5lbs separated the top three with the chasing pack snapping at their heels. In Blackwater corner Tom Smith and Ian McReady had been quietly chipping away at the leader board and were catching up. 20kg of boilies had been introduced little and often through the day and it was now paying dividends as they snuck in under the radar. A run of fish including two good doubles put them into 4th on 92.03 and with 4 rods working and open water to play with they were looking good for action throughout the night.
The hours of darkness would be absolutely crucial as the top 6 pairs were all now within 3 fish of taking the lead. It was incredibly tight and incredibly tense and the night session would make or break some o f the teams mentally.
Carter / Atkinsons swim came alive again through the night and they emerged at dawn in first with 152.13, a lead of some 25lbs 8oz from the new second placed pairing of Simpson / Allaway (127.05) whose inch perfect casting was producing them fish. Third were now Smith / McReady (126.09) who caught fish through the night and still had bite time left in the morning session. Stevens / Forward (118.02) dropped down the list to 4th as they expected to do, but their feeding period was yet to come and they were within striking distance of catching up.
These four teams would be the ones to watch for the last 5 hours as any one of them could take the title. The tension was incredible and some of the other teams actually reeled in to watch the drama unfold. Carter / Atkinson were just ahead, but their swim was not a day time swim and they could only watch and hope as the others started catching. By 8am it was McReady / Smith that were snapping at their heels with 140.13, then just an hour later it was Simpson / Allaway who were in second with 148.15. Stevens / Forward were still in 4th on 128.05 and needed 12.09 to get into the money slots and needed just 24.09 to take pole position. Carter / Atkinson were in bits as they could see what their challengers were doing, but a bonus 9lb fish would calm their nerves a little and give them some breathing space on 161.13.
Suddenly there was more drama. McReady / Smith needed a twenty. They had lost two fish earlier in the morning that would have put them on top, and now they were into another. It battled hard and a rod length out looked like it could be big enough to put them in first. In a cruel twist the hook pulled and that was the final straw that took the wind out of the sails of the third placed pairing. Psychologically it was incredible between the four pairs in contention, and to add to the drama with just 45 minutes left on the clock Stevens / Forward had a bite and landed the fish. It looked good but the crowds gasped in disbelief as , at 11.11, it was just ounces short of the 12.09 needed for third place and £1000.
They were all so close now that the final forty five minutes seemed to last forever. Everyone’s nerves were in bits and eventually the hooter sounded the end of the match but Carter / Atkinson could still not celebrate. It was so close that they had to wait for confirmation from the judges that none of the chasing teams were still playing fish. They weren’t and the cheers went up from the spectators confirming their victory by the narrowest of margins. They had become the new British Champsions. Simpson / Allaway sat with mixed emotions, pleased that they had netted 2nd and £4000, but gutted they were only 1 fish away from the main title, and McReady / Smith were still shell shocked at the earlier hook pull that may well have been the difference between 1st and 3rd. Stevens / Forward had finished just out of the money in 4th and came over from next door to congratulate the new champions before returning to their swim to the sound of a buzzer. It went off at 8 minutes after the hooter and was big enough to net them second place but was sadly for them just that little bit too late.
This event was, without any question, the most gripping final in the whole 11 year history of the BCAC. The anglers were incredibly sporting, the lake fished well, and the tension and drama virtually all the way through the event had to be seen to be believed. However, as the dust settled it would be Matt Carter and Joe Atkinson who will be remembered as they shook the champagne and hoisted their trophies to the applause of a great crown at Broadlands.
TV Coverage of the whole BCAC semi finals / finals / and Champion of Champions series kicks off on Monday 21st September and runs every Monday and Tuesday for a month.
| Name |
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TEAM PROFILE |
Peg |
Weight |
Fish |
| Matt Carter |
Joe Atkinson |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Mat Carter
Age: 30
Home Town:
Essex
PB:
33lb 12oz
Qualified:
1st at Aquatels
2nd at Bradleys (Semi’s)
Rank: Unseeded |
Name:
Joe Atkinson
Age: 18
Home Town:
Essex
PB:
36lb 10oz
Qualified:
1st at Aquatels
2nd at Bradleys (Semi’s)
Rank: Unseeded |
|
2 |
161.13 |
15 |
|
|
| Jamie Simpson |
Jason Allaway |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Jamie Simpson
Age: 36
Home Town:
Ilkeston
Derbyshire
Occupation:
Maintenance Team
Leader
PB:
34lb 6oz
Qualified:
Cuttle Mill |
Name:
Jason Allaway
Age: 36
Home Town:
Ilkeston
Derbyshire
Occupation:
Manufacturing Manager
Rangemaster
PB:
39lb 12oz
Qualified:
Cuttle Mill |
|
7 |
148.15 |
13 |
| Ian McReady |
Tom Smith |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Tom Smith
Age: 27
Home Town:
Bridgwater, Somersett
Occupation:
Waterboard Worker
PB:
32lb 12oz
Qualified:
Barston 3rd
Bradleys 4th
Rank: Unseeded |
Name:
Ian MacReady
Age: 26
Home Town:
Bridgwater, Somerset
Occupation:
Bricklayer
PB:
34lbs 8oz
Qualified:
Barston 3rd
Bradleys 4th
Rank: Unseeded |
|
4 |
140.13 |
10 |
| Darren Stevens |
Dave Forward |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Dave Forward
Age: 44
Home Town:
East Sussex
Occupation:
Scaffolder
PB:
46lb 05
Qualified:
Farlows |
Name:
Darren Stevens
Age: 36
Home Town:
East Sussex
Occupation:
Landscape Gardener
PB:
44lb 12oz
Qualified:
Farlows |
|
1 |
140.02 |
12 |
| Simon Bury |
Matt brown |
Read Profile
Names:
Simon Burry & Matt Brown
Qualified:
Chillham Mill
Ranking:
61
|
6 |
123.09 |
11 |
| Jack Meyer |
Paul Crocker |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Paul Crocker
Age: 43
Home Town:
Bournemouth
PB:
33lb 8oz
Qualified:
Wild Card Biggest Fish
Chilham Mill 1st at Bradleys (semi’s)
Rank: Unseeded |
Name:
Jack Meyer
Age: 18
Home Town:
Bournemouth
PB:
38lb 9oz
Qualified:
Wild Card Biggest Fish
Chilham Mill 1st at Bradleys (semi’s)
Rank: Unseeded |
|
5 |
97.05 |
9 |
| Lyndon Hodgson |
Phil DaSilva |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Lyndon Hodgson
Age: 42
Home Town:
Essex
PB:
44lb 6oz
Qualified:
1st at Walthamstow Lower
3rd at Bradleys (Semi’s)
Rank:Unseeded |
Name:
Philip Dasilva
Age: 43
Home Town:
Bedfordshire
PB:
43lb
Qualified:
1st at Walthamstow Lower
3rd at Bradleys (Semi’s)
Rank:18 |
|
8 |
73.15 |
5 |
| Lewis Porter |
Matt Quibell |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Lewis Porter
Age: 25
Home Town:
Sheffield
PB:
43lb 8oz
Qualified:
1st at Thorney Weir
5th at Bradleys (Semi’s)
Rank: Unseeded |
Name:
Matt Quibell
Age: 25
Home Town:
Sheffield
PB:
31lb 4oz
Qualified:
1st at Thorney Weir
5th at Bradleys (Semi’s)
Rank: Unseeded |
|
3 |
64.11 |
5 |
| Nick Davies |
Ches Boughen |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Chesley Boughen
Age: 26
Home Town:
Wisbech
PB:
31lb 2oz
Qualified:
3rd at Silverwood
6th at Bradleys
Rank: Unseeded |
Name:
Nick Davies
Age: 36
Home Town:
Wisbech
PB:
40lb 3oz
Qualified:
3rd at Silverwood
6th at Bradleys
Rank: Unseeded |
|
12 |
40.15 |
4 |
| Tony Robinson |
Steve Gee |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Tony Robinson
Age: 35
Home Town:
London
Occupation:
Advertising Director
PB:
29lb
Qualified:
Brooklands |
Name:
Steve Gee
Age: 40
Home Town:
Bexleyheath, Kent
Occupation:
Builder
PB:
40lb 4oz
Qualified:
Brooklands |
|
14 |
33.14 |
3 |
| Billy Flowers |
Jamie Londors |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Billy Flowers
Age: 21
Home Town:
Romford, Essex
PB:
37lb 12oz
Qualified:
1st at Barston
Cast off winners at Bradleys
Rank: 46 |
Name:
Jamie Londors
Age: 26
Home Town:
Romford, Essex
PB:
38lb 4oz
Qualified:
1st at Barston
Cast off winners at Bradleys
Rank: 46 |
|
11 |
24.02 |
2 |
| Paul Allen |
Jordan Allen |
Read Profile
 |
|
Name:
Jordan Allen
Age: 24
Home Town:
Stroud
Gloucestershire
Occupation:
Plasterer
PB:
24lb 7oz
Qualified:
Todber Manor |
Name:
Paul Allen
Age: 32
Home Town:
Stroud
Gloucestershire
Occupation:
Plasterer
PB:
29lb
Qualified:
Todber Manor |
|
13 |
17.01 |
1 |
| Kev Grout |
Matt Wylde |
Read Profile
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|
Name:
Kev Grout
Home Town:
Dereham , Norfolk
Ranking:
77
Qualified:
Elphics |
Name:
Matt Wylde
Home Town:
Dereham , Norfolk
Ranking:
77
Qualified:
Elphics |
|
10 |
16.12 |
1 |
| Ali Hamidi |
Gaz Fareham |
Read Profile
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|
Name:
Gaz Fareham
Age: 29
Home Town:
Struminster Newton
Dorset
Occupation:
Art Teacher
PB:
54lb 4oz
Qualified:
Chilham Mill |
Name:
Ali Hamidi
Age: 29
Home Town:
Essex
Occupation:
Korda marketing
Manager
PB:
40lb 1oz
Qualified:
Chilham Mill |
|
9 |
14.11 |
1 | |
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