Puddledock Farm match record smashed

Venue records are usually smashed at the height of summer but Alan Tuck broke the Puddledock Farm five-hour best with 203lb in dire conditions.

After drawing peg 5 on the Snake Lake at the prolific Essex complex, the VDE Angling Direct rod used bread and maggot towards the far bank to take carp to 7lb at regular intervals.

That was more than double the weight of the nearest chaser, with Ockenden Bait & Tackle angler Steve Banks securing the runners up place with a hard earned 101lb 12oz net.