Angling Times and Parkers crown best off-roader 2019
Parkers.co.uk and Angling Times have chosen the new Dacia Duster as the Best Off-Roader in the Parkers New Car Awards 2019.
The impressive new small SUV was praised for its long excellent finance and value for money, as well as being good to drive and having a tough and spacious interior.
The Duster is the perfect choice for the first Parkers Best Off-Roader award. The old model proved itself unstoppable in some of the world’s most hostile environments, and this one looks set to continue that car’s lead.
But the new Duster is more refined, better to drive, and has a much higher quality interior than what’s gone before, making this an excellent SUV for families who enjoy adventuring. The compelling price merely sweetens the deal.
The new Dacia Duster is a worthy winner
Parkers editor Keith Adams said: “The Duster really is all things to all people, and clear proof that Dacia is a car manufacturer on the move.
“Low-cost PCP and keen list prices might drive people into showrooms for this family SUV with great off-road potential, but the car’s all-round excellence is what will have them returning time and time again.”
The winning off-roader has been tested rigorously by the Parkers.co.uk team, which judged the best cars on a combination of running costs, value for money, cost-per-month figures and fitness-for-purpose.
It beat the highly recommended runners-up, the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota Land Cruiser, both of which have enviable reputations for their off-roading prowess.
Ideal for all your fishing kit, and very competitively priced
Keith Adams, Parkers.co.uk editor, added: “In the second year of running the New Car Awards, we’re excited to have come up with such an interesting selection of winners.
“We’ve applied what we know about what our users are viewing on Parkers, with the combined team’s century of editorial expertise. We’re happy to award the Dacia top honours alongside Angling Times.”
See more on the winning cars at www.parkers.co.uk/awards
INTERVIEW: Star of BBC's This Country is angling fanatic
“This is my best interview ever – for once I’m talking to someone who’s willing to listen to me talk about fishing!”
Charlie Cooper’s enthusiasm for angling is clear from the moment our chat begins. The 28-year-old is the co-star and co-creator of BBC Three mockumentary This Country, which recently returned for a second series.
Charlie Cooper as Kurtan in This Country
The exquisitely observed comedy was created by Charlie and his sister Daisy – they play cousins ‘Kurtan’ and Kerry Mucklowe – and draws on the pair’s own experiences of everyday life in a Cotswolds village.
Charlie was taken fishing by his dad as a youngster, but returned to the sport seriously fairly recently.
He said: “Two or three years ago I became totally obsessed, it’s consumed my life!
“It coincided with work getting busy and it’s just a great way of escaping and completely switching off. I like doing things that I’m completely consumed by.
“On the bank I don’t have to think about anything other than fishing.
“My dad worked in a school with kids in an exclusion zone and he would take them fishing. It was amazing that fishing was one of the only things the kids would focus on.
“It’s amazing what it can do, it can teach you so many things.”
This Country was created by and stars Charlie and his sister Daisy
Charlie fishes for a range of species, aided by the variety of venues available close to his home.
“At the moment I love river fishing – I live in the Cotswolds and the Thames is close by, and the Avon isn’t too far away.
“One thing I haven’t quite got into yet is carp fishing – it seems the lakes around me are always so packed with carp anglers, so it’s hard to get a swim – but I’m sure that’s the next step.”
Carping might be the next stage of Charlie’s fishing career, but he’s already had plenty of memorable moments.
Charlie's 14lb Thames barbel
“At Buscot on the Thames last summer I had a 14lb barbel. I wasn’t aware there were many in there and I had 5lb line and a John Wilson Avon Quiver rod that was almost bent in two – it was about a 20-minute fight!
“I actually sent it into Angling Times and you published a photo – I need to get it framed! I also had a 13lb 8oz barbel at Christmas.”
Aside from barbel, perch are one of Charlie’s favourite species and his inspiration comes from a source familiar to many fishermen.
“I’m a massive Chris Yates fan – A Passion for Angling sort of changed my life. I love those programmes and the vintage tackle.”
Filming This Country takes four or five weeks of the year and the rest of Charlie’s time is spent writing, affording the Fulham FC fan plenty of time to go fishing.
Charlie managed to get a fishing scene into series two, but would love to write more about the sport
“I’m lucky that we can dictate when we work. I can work in the morning then get out fishing in the afternoon or evening. When the weather is good, I’m pretty much able to pick when I go.”
Episode four of the current series (available on iPlayer from March 19) features a fishing plotline, and Charlie told Angling Times he would be very keen to create a comedy based on the sport.
“I would love to write something purely about fishing. All of the characters you meet…from the bailiffs to the people you meet in the clubhouse.
“I was speaking to the first AD [assistant director] on the show and he’s into fishing, and we talked about people who go sea fishing – they’re like a different breed and I’d love to write something about that.”
The whole of series one of This Country is currently available on iPlayer, along with current episodes of series two.
New carp website promises news, tactics and laughs
A new website for carp anglers has been launched.
Carpfeed.com covers every aspect of carp angling and is updated daily.
The site features in-depth venue guides, comprehensive carp tackle reviews, step-by-step rig-tying tutorials, catch news and much more.
There are longer reads to keep you entertained on the bank, interviews and a huge array of tactical tips.
Carpfeed editor Thom Airs said: “Carpfeed acknowledges that modern carpers are always searching for information, often on their phones and tablets on the bank, and our aim is to provide it.
“We’ve got bespoke carp fishing venue maps, catch reports and tactical features, but we’ve also got entertaining reads written with a sense of humour.”
Carpfeed can also be followed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
VIDEO FOOTAGE: Terry Hearn catches the Parrot at 63lb
Former British record holder Terry Hearn has this morning caught the current record carp at exactly 63lb.
The giant mirror, known as the Parrot, came from Cranwells Lake on the Wasing Estate in Berkshire during strong winds.
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Terry cradles the might mirror. Pic courtesy of Wasing Sporting
Its top weight of 68lb 1oz is the current official British record carp.
Mark Hibbs, the fishery manager at Wasing, told Angling Times: “It was last caught in September, so he’s been a while. He’s obviously been laying up as he was covered in leeches, but he was in absolutely pristine condition.
“I was praying he would catch that fish. He’s such a nice chap, you couldn’t wish to meet a better person. It’s all come together for him and it was howling with wind and rain as he landed it – perfect conditions.
The Parrot at 63lb. Pic courtesy of Wasing Sporting
“He’s over the moon with it. Obviously it’s not a record but it’s a new personal best."
UK's first 70lb carp now has 60lb common for company
The water that produced Britain’s first 70lb mirror has now seen its biggest common top 60lb for the first time.
Tarka, a fish which escaped an otter attack in its early years, fell to Luke Edwards at the Avenue yesterday morning (January 18) at 60lb 8oz.
Tarka at a top-weight 60lb 8oz.
The Shropshire venue, run by Rob Hales, is also home to Big Rig, a 71lb 4oz mirror which was last month denied an official British record because it was stocked at a weight close to the existing benchmark.
Wolverhampton angler Luke, who is a regular at the venue, previously caught Tarka at 56lb 12oz last year.
“I've been having a quieter year on here,” he told Angling Times from the bank. “Fishing's been a little tricky at times.
“I arrived at the avenue around 12pm and started angling at 2pm-ish. I aimed to get into an area which I caught from last week but someone was in the peg so I opted for the one next door.
“After a few casts about with the lead I clipped up on my chosen spots and deposited 10 spods over each rod then chucked the rods onto the spots and carefully set up with backleads.
“After an uneventful but restless night I started to receive liners at around 4am.
“At around 8am the rod gave a single bleep and I shot out of my bag and watched the bobbin move left to right.
“I shouted ‘Tarka!’ to Leon Rohrer next to me. He asked how I knew and I said ‘because I had it last year and everything was 100 per cent the same’.
“It plodded around until Leon netted it and there she was, a little bigger than last time!
“We did the photos and hoisted her up and she went 60lb 8oz, which was a right result. I'm chuffed for Rob as he and his family work their socks off.”
RIG & BAIT
- Fluorocarbon D rig
- Hook: Size 8 Fox Edges Curve Shank
- Hooklink: 16lb Fox Trans Khaki Illusion
- Lead: 2oz on a clip
- Hookbait: Yellow Mainline Cell wafter
- Loosefeed: Mainline Cell and Aniseed White boilies, sweetcorn, particle mix
