Quest for £60,000 prize kicks off for 2016

The eagerly-awaited Maver Mega Match This campaign for 2016 got underway on Saturday with a sell-out eliminator on the prolific Glebe and Mallory Park Fisheries in Leicestershire.

It was one of matchfishing’s most well known names who bagged a final spot at the first time of asking as Simon Fry beat a strong field for victory.

The Garbolino man has enjoyed a glittering career, with Division 1 National individual gold alongside a host of medals with Starlets. Now he’ll be fishing for that massive prize of £60,000 this summer at Larford Lakes after weighing in an unbeatable 203-12-0.

Drawing peg 46 on the fancied Uglies Pool, Stratford-upon-Avon-based Simon kicked off his match on bomb and pellet to bank 10 big carp for a great start, but when he switched to his 14m pole line with the same bait, things got going as he lifted into 14 more of the lake’s chunky residents, including a 14lb fish, to see him home.

Second went to one of the country’s up-and-coming young anglers Tom Edwards, as he replied with 180-0-0 fishing long pole and maggot and feeder and pellet to find fish into double figures, although he was unable to match Simon’s pace.

Result: 1 S Fry, Garbolino, 203-12-0; 2 T Edwards, Dynamite Baits, 180-0-0;

3 B Chapman, GOT Baits, 174-0-0; jt 4 R Lidgard and N Stones, both 139-8-0; 6 A Kinder, Maver, 115-0-0.

MATCH THIS QUALIFIERS

Simon Fry may have already booked his place in the big Maver Match This final, but there is still plenty of opportunity for you to join him in the eagerly awaited showdown at Larford Lakes.

Qualifiers are set to be staged at top class commercials up and down the country between now and mid-August, and there is almost certain to be one within a stone’s throw of your home.

Take the plunge and get involved in Maver Match This – you’ve got to be in it to win it!

Tickets are priced at £50 each and you can buy as many as you like on a first come, first served basis by visiting www.mavermatchthis.co.uk

Woodland View, Worcs – April 9

Heronbrook Fisheries, Staffs – April 23

Lindholme Lakes, N Lincs – May 1

Westwood Lakes, Lincs – May 7

Larford Lakes, Worcs – May 14

Partridge Lakes, Cheshire – May 21

Gold Valley Lakes, Hants – May 28

The Glebe/Mallory Park, Leices – May 29 (SOLD OUT)

Decoy Lakes, Cambs – June 8

Lakeview Fisheries, Leics – June 11

Larford Lakes, Worcs – June 12

Viaduct Fishery, Somerset – June 18

Hayfield Lakes, S Yorks – June 25

Monk Lakes, Kent – July 9

Partridge Lakes, Cheshire – July 16

Larford Lakes, Worcs – July 17

Colemans Cottage, Essex – July 23

The Glebe/ Mallory Park, Leics – July 27 (SOLD OUT)

Heronbrook Fisheries, Staffs – July 30

Hallcroft Fishery, Notts – August 6

Barston Lakes, W Mids – August 7

Decoy Lakes, Cambs – August 10

Tunnel Barn Farm, Warks – August 13