Fish for a golden £50,000 with new big-match series
QUALIFIERS IN 2017
March 4: Decoy Lakes, Cambs
March 11: Coleman’s Cottage, Essex
March 18: Larford Lakes, Worcs
March 25: Viaduct Fishery, Somerset
April 1: Monk Lakes, Kent
April 9: Larford Lakes, Worcs
April 15: Westwood Lakes, Lincs
April 22: Heronbrook Fisheries, Staffs
April 23: The Glebe Fishery, Leics
April 26: Partridge Lakes, Cheshire
May 6: Viaduct Fishery, Somerset
May 13: Lindholme Lakes, Doncaster
May 17: Decoy Lakes, Cambs
May 24: The Glebe Fishery, Leics
May 27: Barston Lakes, West Mids
June 3: Gold Valley Lakes, Hants
June 10: Lindholme Lakes, Doncaster
June 17: Larford Lakes, Worcs
June 23: Partridge Lakes, Cheshire
July 1: The Glebe Fishery, Leics
July 8: Larford Lakes, Worcs
July 15: Heronbrook Fishery, Staffs
July 19: The Glebe Fishery, Leics
July 29: Tunnel Barn Farm, Warks
Angling Times has teamed up with the creator of some of the richest matches in history to launch a competition in which the winner will scoop a guaranteed £50,000.
The new event is the brainchild of fishery owner Phil Briscoe, who is inviting anglers to take part in the Golden Reel contest for a prize pot of at least £62,000.
A series of 24 qualifying matches will be staged at some of the best commercial fisheries in the country, where the winner from each will make it through to the grand final at Phil’s own Larford Lakes complex in Stourport on August 19, 2017.
The winner of the individual open-to-all competition, of which Angling Times is the media partner, will then scoop the £50,000 first prize.
The runner-up will win £5,000, with third place taking £3,000. Four section winners will pocket £1,000 apiece.
Phil, who was behind the incredibly successful Maver Mega Match This event has pledged that the Golden Reel – which is a totally separate competition – will be a huge hit with anglers and that the prize pot could be even bigger if the qualifiers sell out.
“I’ve been involved in creating and running big matches for 20 years and there’s already a huge buzz surrounding the Golden Reel,” Phil told Angling Times.
“The national spread of the qualifying matches means that everyone will have a match taking place at a fishery within manageable travelling distance.
“If the qualifiers begin to sell out, the prize pot will increase. Big-money matches like this are not only great for anglers that want to compete for incredible prizes like this, but they also serve to boost the sport’s profile, which is what fishing deserves.”
Tickets for each of the qualifiers (listed above) cost £50, and anglers wishing to book their place can do so from Monday, September 19 via the website at www.goldenreelangling.co.uk
Preston Innovations-backed match ace Andy Power, who has won the Maver Mega Match This Final and taken the UK Championships title twice, is one of the top matchmen who are supporting Phil’s new event.
“I’m right behind this competition, and I know there will be so many anglers that will jump at the chance to compete in another match with a massive first prize,” he said.
“The beauty of this competition is that anyone who gets a ticket to fish one of the qualifiers has a chance of winning the £50,000 top prize.”
TV giant BT Sport covers all of angling’s major competitions, and Phil Briscoe hopes that the Golden Reel will be included in its schedule.
Respected angler and TV presenter Rob Hughes has been involved in the coverage of countless big-money events, and is a driving force in getting angling on to mainstream television.
“The launch of the Golden Reel won’t just come as music to the ears of anglers that will be queuing up to fish the qualifiers,” said Rob.
“It also proves how the profile of the sport is being raised all the time.
“This is what will get fishing more and more coverage on TV as we move forward.” commented Rob.