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Deal & Walmer Angling Association

2016 Competition Results and Reports (archived)

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Secretary: Mr. Douglas Pettit
Hon. Treasurer: Mrs S. Pettit
108 Blenheim Road
Deal, Kent CT14 7EY
Telephone 01304 365617
Email pettitsandou@aol.com

Founded in 1904
- and -
Affiliated with the Angling Trust

2016 Competition Dates
Venue Sat Nav Date Time
Horsa Road (groynes) 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 3rd January 3pm to 7pm
Chequers 51.251010, 1.39189 Sunday, 14th February 1pm to 5pm
Horsa Road (groynes) 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 6th March 5pm to 9pm
Hythe (Imperial Hotel - flatfish only) 51.06768, 1.09396 Sunday, 10th April 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Deal Pier (promenade deck) 51.223707, 1.404842 Sunday, 1st May 5pm to 9pm
Chequers 51.251010, 1.39189 Sunday, 12th June 3pm to 7pm
Walmer Castle (top car park) 51.202032, 1.402374 Saturday, 23rd July 8pm to midnight
Cambridge Road (gardens) 51.210211, 1.402760 Saturday, 13th August 8pm to midnight
Cambridge Road (gardens) 51.210211, 1.402760 Saturday, 27th August 8pm to midnight
Chequers 51.251010, 1.39189 Sunday, 25th September 5pm to 9pm
Horsa Road (groynes) 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 23rd October 4pm to 8pm
Horsa Road (groynes) 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 20th November 1pm to 5pm
Horsa Road (groynes - Xmas match) 51.231428, 1.404148 Sunday, 11th December 1pm to 5pm

D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 11th December 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

This was the Association's last beach match of the year. Being Christmas, and a no-points comp, there were plenty of prizes for the members to fish for. A total of 15 meat vouchers, plus Xmas hampers and pool money was on offer. Although the tide was not totally favourable for most, it still produced fish from the north Deal venue. Dabs and whiting made up most of the bags with the dogfish putting the extra weight into to them. At least the weather was half-way sensible and, up till darkness, stayed sunny and mild.

Winners were Andy Manning with 11 fish for 1.710 kg, in second place Dave Eaglestone 1.600 kg and Tim Fagg took third place with 1.560 kg. Heaviest fish was a dog of 0.550 kg caught by Andy Manning and heaviest flat (0.220kg) was shared by Dave Eaglestone and Sam Collier.

After the weigh-in the competitors retired to the Deal Rowing Club where they received their prizes and pool monies. Also the Club's points winners received their annual medals for an excellent effort throughout the year. In first place with 511 points was Sam Collier, just beating Graham King by 11 points. Julian Attwood came third in the Club's championship with 449 points in a hard-fished year of matches. Heaviest fish in the matches was a cod of 2.540 kg landed by Martin Jenkins and heaviest flat, a sole of 0.640 kg, was caught by Joe Smith.

Thanks were given to the officers and committee who have organised these competitions and for all the help to those who have helped in the pegging, weigh-in and running of a smooth year's matches. Here is to next year, and I wish you all the best of luck and a Happy Christmas.

Sam Collier (1st) Julian Attwood (3rd)
Joe Smith (largest flattie) Graham King (2nd)

D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 20th November 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

Storm Angus was billed to be the big one with 80 mph winds. It must have put our away competitors off as only ten members fished the latest club match in the groynes at north Deal. Well, by the start of the match at 1pm, Angus must have gone back to Scotland as there was only a fresh south west breeze which fined away to nothing. The only remnant of the storm was a nasty swell breaking alongshore. The fish were waiting to be caught and young Luke Hutton obliged them when he put 60 sizable in his bucket for a winning weight of 12.640 kg. The points championship was fought out by the leaders and remained the same with Sam Collier beating Graham King for second and third spot with 10.070 kg and 9.780 kg. Whiting and dogs made up the catches with a few pouts as well. Fred Leach had heaviest fish with a dog of 0.780 kg and Luke the heaviest flat, a dab of 0.100 kg.

View the detailed match results and updated (final) leaderboard here.

The Xmas match, for D&WAA members only, will be held at Horsa Road (groynes) (51.231428, 1.404148) on Sunday, 11th December (1pm to 5pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Horsa Road (groynes) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 12:30pm and you can book in from 12 noon at the shelter opposite.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 20th November 2016

Urgent announcement by Brian Smith and Andy Manning

The twelfth (and final - the Xmas match being 'pointless') D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign, which was originally to be held at Walmer Castle (top car park) on Sunday, 20th November (1pm to 5pm), will now be held at Horsa Road (groynes) (51.231428, 1.404148) which venue is better sheltered from the strong south-westerly winds (30 mph gusting at 40 mph) which are forecast for early Sunday afternoon. The date and time of the match remain the same. Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Horsa Road (groynes) venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 12:30pm and you can book in from 12 noon at the shelter opposite.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 23rd October 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

A keen easterly wind greeted 18 members as they fished the latest Deal & Walmer Angling Association's beach match on Sunday. The early evening competition venue was along the Marina at north Deal and was fished over the high tide. The wind direction may have put the fish off feeding as the weights were below what was expected and were a disappointment for some. Sam Collier managed nine fish, which included the heaviest fish a dog of 0.690 kg, for a total weight of 3.070 kg. In second place was Graham King with 2.0 kg and third was Tim Fagg's 1.750 kg. Heaviest flat went to Steve Swan with a dab of 0.160 kg.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The twelfth (and final - the Xmas match being 'pointless') D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Walmer Castle (top car park) (51.202032, 1.402374) on Sunday, 20th November (1pm to 5pm).


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 25th September 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

After every comp I usually analyse the reason for failure. In my case, after five blanks in a row, the constructive analysis is just becoming silly excuses. However, being a masochist, I continue to do so until I, myself, will need an analyst or even counselling! (That ship sailed long ago - Ed).

So what went wrong last night, or the best excuses for my poor results? I was obviously in that group of Bermuda Triangle pegs that did not fish. Looking at the result sheet can see the space where four competitors blanked in amongst the rest of the field that didn't. My apologies to Martin Jenkins for picking the next peg to me… the kiss of death. Or was it that seal which looked more like Godzilla swimming through (I noticed it didn't stop to look for any fish opposite me). My attitude at the start of the match was just to try for a sizable pout for a win. Needless to say, I realised that was a bad choice when Alan Underdown caught a dog within five minutes of the start. Then word got back that Louie Smith was on the dogs, and as I cannot compete with their distant casting my little plan took a dive. Again, my apologies to Martin Jenkins who was putting his tackle into French territorial waters (and should have bagged-up on the dogs), that his peg was next to Jonah. So the albatross that I have been wearing this year around my neck is getting heavier and is starting to smell somewhat. All I can look forward to is the return of the suicidal whiting. My wife feels the reason for my failures is that I'm competing against younger men who have more energy than me (she diplomatically did not say talent). So there you have it, the only excuse I haven't used is that I'm being totally outclassed. (Fo' shizzle my nizzle - Ed).

Sixteen rodsters fished the Chequers on a rising tide, as said, a dog showed for Alan Underdown within the first five minutes, although that was his only fish. A few 'exotics' showed up at the scales - red mullet, tub gurnard and golden grey mullet. Dave Andrews used a quiver tip and 10 lb line to lure two golden greys in a 15 minute feeding spree for 1.230 kg. His best went 0.750 kg which is specimen size for this species.


Golden grey mullet
Tub gurnard
Red mullet

Five pouting, and the only ones seen, came to Sam Collier's rod for 1.110 kg. Sam felt he was on a bit of rough ground which held the fish. Yet again Luke Hutton came up with the goods by bagging the heaviest fish, a hound of 1.510 kg, and a couple of dogs for the winning weight of 2.720 kg. Second place were Louie Smith's three dogs for 1.640 kg, just beating Tim Fagg's three dogs at 1.600 kg. Out of two flatfish caught, Alan Fuller's flounder of 0.200 kg won that pool money.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The eleventh D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Horsa Road (51.231428, 1.404148) on Sunday, 23rd October (4pm to 8pm).

With two matches to go, the heaviest round and flat fish caught in this year's competitions to date are, respectively:

  1. a codling weighing 2.540 kg (5 lb 9½ oz) caught by Martin Jenkins on 3rd January
  2. a sole weighing 0.640 kg (1 lb 6½ oz) caught by Joe Smith on 12th June.

For a discussion of the distinction between "cod" and "codling" click here.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 25th September 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The tenth of the D&WAA members-only 2016 competitions takes place at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 25th September (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Chequers venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.

There are just three matches to go - the Xmas match being 'pointless' - and, for those who need an incentive, the match leader-board is published here …


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 27th August 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

Well, we all knew this 'sole-only' match was going to be a 'grueler', therefore the Club made some running repairs to the rules so that the prize money could be paid out. If there were no soles caught, then other fish - regardless of size - would count under a modified 'measure and return' system. As it was, Julian Attwood not only caught a fine 38 cm sole weighing 0.490 kg but another smaller one to take first place, heaviest and second heaviest prizes. The fishing was dire for the other 11 members, and second and third places went to Tony Peaty and Andy Manning with, respectively, an undersized whiting and pouting. The weather was warm and pleasant in the 8 pm till midnight comp at Walmer Gardens and it was a great shame that the fish did not want to cooperate.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The tenth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 25th September (5pm to 9pm).

Editor's note: the round fish catches of Tony Peaty and Andy Manning were recognised by the Club for prize purposes but, this being a 'sole-only' match, were considered to be ineligible for leaderboard placings and points other than a nil return.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 13th August 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

Well, what can I say … the best men won. Yet again conditions were going to be very hard and we all knew the match was going to be a "grueler". However, dogfish desperado, Graham King, stuck to his usual methods and his magic produced three for a winning weight of 1.820 kg. In his bag was also the heaviest round fish of 0.680 kg.

Sam Collier and Brian Smith used their skills to conjure up five scad apiece in a somewhat barren sea. Sam also managed a dog in amongst his haul to beat Brian into third place with 1.160 kg against 1 kg and that dogfish, weighing 0.460 kg, won second heaviest round fish, no sizeable flatties having been caught during the match. The only other sizeable fish were poutings of 0.280 kg and 0.210 kg caught, respectively, by Andy Manning and Fred Leach.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The ninth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.202032, 1.402374) on Saturday, 27th August (8pm to midnight). This match is "flatfish-only (sole)" the rules for which can be viewed here.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 23rd July 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

The recent heat wave (which, in the old days, we used to call summer) has put the bottom-feeding fish off their grub. Summer time blues for the match anglers is not unusual and darkness can usually solve some of the problems. This was how it was in the latest Deal and Walmer Angling Association beach match held at Walmer Castle last night. The 8pm till midnight comp attracted anglers who were experienced enough to know that there was not going to be any mega weights weighed in. The tactics of the dogfish desperados were, in Buzz Lightyear casting-mode parlance, 'to infinity and beyond', and the snatchers with their small hooks fishing in the margins. It did not make that much difference as, apart from Fred Leach with size 4 hooks catching a 1.600 kg bass and two pouts for 2 kg, most of the rest of the field ended up with a single fish, mainly pouts. Second place went to Luke Hutton with a dog of 0.610 kg and third Dave Andrews with a 0.460 kg dog which were the only dogs caught. Julian Attwood landed a flounder weighing 0.250 kg which was the heaviest flat, much to his relief, as that was the first bite he's had in the last three matches. Me, well I kept up my series of blanks as no eels are allowed … and I caught two!

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The eighth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Cambridge Road (gardens) (51.202032, 1.402374) on Saturday, 13th August (8pm to midnight).


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 12th June 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

Deal and Walmer Angling Association held its sixth members-only match at the Chequers end of Sandwich Bay. The 19 participating anglers targeted the dogfish and they (the anglers) were not disappointed. The new club rule of weighing-in the three heaviest dogfish and then allowing 0.500 kg for each of the other doggies which were promptly returned was applied. The clear winner, with 9.030 kg, was Martin Jenkins. Also "on the dogs" was Graham King with 8.080 kg and in third place was Luke Hutton with 6.860 kg. The heaviest round fish was a dog of 0.860 kg caught by Sam Collier and the heaviest flattie, a fine sole of 0.640 kg, had been lured to Joe Smith's rod.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The seventh D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Walmer Castle (top car park) (51.202032, 1.402374) on Saturday, 23rd July (8pm to midnight).


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 12th June 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The sixth of the D&WAA members-only 2016 competitions takes place at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 12th June (3pm to 7pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Chequers venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 2:30pm.


D&WAA Pier Competition: Sunday, 1st May 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

On Sunday evening, Deal Pier was the venue for the Deal and Walmer Angling Association's monthly competition. Eighteen (18) match anglers drew for positions on the Pier stem with a clear sea and a flooding tide. The four hour match lasted until darkness and the fishing was hard with over half the members not even catching a fish. However, the ever obliging dogfish did show up, although not in great numbers. In first place was Sam Collier with two dogs for 1.200 kg just beating Alan Fuller by 0.080 kg. In third spot was Julian Attwood who had the heaviest fish on his last cast, a dog of 0.840 kg and, with no flatfish being caught, Dave Eaglestone was awarded the second heaviest round fish prize for his 0.780 kg dogfish.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The sixth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 12th June (3pm to 7pm).


D&WAA Pier Competition: Sunday, 1st May 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The fifth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign is to be held at Deal Pier (promenade deck) on Sunday, 1st May (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at Deal Pier Approach no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.

For those who need an incentive, the match leader-board is published here …


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 10th April 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

For a change the latest club match was fished at Hythe. Plaice were the target as they seem to be far and few at Deal. The 18 competitors did find some, although there were dabs and flounders to make up the weights in the flat fish only comp. The venue was Kevin Scott's favoured angling spot and he proved his point with a win which comprised 14 sizeable flats for 1.820 kg. His heaviest plaice was 0.310 kg which was outweighed by Tim Fagg's 0.600 kg flounder. Tim came second with a total weight of 1.790 kg and 10 flats beating Alan Underdown's 1.350 kg. Alan did have the second heaviest flatfish in his 10 fish bag, a plaice of 0.330 kg. The conditions were fine with sunshine most of the day and a moderate easterly wind.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The fifth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Deal Pier (promenade deck) (51.223707, 1.404842) on Sunday, 1st May (5pm to 9pm).


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 10th April 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The fourth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign is to be held at Hythe (Imperial Hotel) on Sunday, 10th April (12:30pm to 4:30pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Hythe venue (i.e. in the car park located at the junction of the Marine and Princes Parades opposite the Hythe Imperial 4-star hotel and Twiss Groyne - see Google Maps link above) no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by high noon.

This match:

For those who need an incentive, the match leader-board is published here …


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 6th March 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

A cold north-west wind greeted the 20 anglers who fished the incoming evening tide. Hopes were not overly high as the fishing has been a bit slow throughout the past week. Over the four hours the fish came in dribs and drabs and mainly undersize. It was obvious that a dogfish or two was going to make the difference in the top weights; therefore, decisions had to be made on the fishing tactics. It was a no brainer, if you wanted to win then it was all out for dogs. On form Graham King found the pack and came first with 3.320 kg followed by Mark Wilkie with 2.790 kg. Third was Steve Swan with 1.980 kg and heaviest fish was a dog of 0.920 kg caught by Dave Andrews. As no flatfish were caught David Chamberlain took second heaviest fish with another dog of 0.870 kg.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The fourth D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Hythe (Imperial Hotel) (51.06768, 1.09396) on Sunday, 10th April (12:30pm to 4:30pm).

Please remember that:


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 6th March 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The third D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign is to be held at Horsa Road (groynes) on Mother's Day (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Horsa Road venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.

For the record, the original campaigner for creating Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, explicitly wanted an apostrophe, and she wanted it to be before the "s" as it was to be a singular possessive, for each family to honour their mother, not a plural possessive commemorating all mothers in the world.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 14th February 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

A freezing north-east wind with rain is not the ideal conditions to go fishing in. The wife once said to me "You would not take me shopping in those conditions, yet you go fishing in them - you must be mad". It is not worth the hassle of trying to explain to her how dedicated and how much we love our sport no matter what the conditions are like. How we would chance a blizzard to wet a line. How we would suffer from near hyperthermia and get soaked to the skin just to catch a fish. Thinking about it, I must be mad, but she is right … I wouldn't take her shopping in those conditions.

The second D&WAA beach match was held from the Chequers in Sandwich Bay. Twenty (mad) anglers turned out to fish the four hour match in horrible weather. The flood tide created a nasty swell alongshore and the cold wind numbed the hands. The fish loved Valentine's Day and it was certainly no massacre - hardly any were caught. Top weights were from the south side of the venue in the deeper water and Martin Jenkins showed form again to win with 1.380 kg. Saul Page followed up with 0.940 kg for second and heaviest fish, a dog of 0.710 kg. Third place went to Junior, Joe Smith with 0.900 kg. Best flatfish was a dab of 0.140 kg caught by Steve Swan.

View the detailed match results and updated leaderboard here.

The third D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign will be held at Horsa Road (51.231428, 1.404148) on Sunday, 6th March (5pm to 9pm). Please remember that competitors should be present at the Horsa Road venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 4:30pm.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 14th February 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The second D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign is to be held at Chequers on Valentine's Day (1pm to 5pm). Please remember that all competitors should be present at the Chequers venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 12:30pm.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 3rd January 2016

Report by David Chamberlain

I've heard it said that fishing's a funny old game. Well, it was no joke and certainly no fun in last night's four hour match on the north Deal sea front. Torrential rain and a southerly gale reduced a third of the 24 anglers within the first half of the competition. Not only was it the weather, but also the sea conditions. Tackle was being cast out, only to be washed ashore within minutes. Then, after two and a half hours into the match, the rain stopped, the wind fell light and the temperature rose as the weather front moved away. For the remaining part of the comp the fish came back with a vengeance. Martin Jenkins successfully brought in a 2.560 kg cod (which was the heaviest fish) through the surf to boost his bag to 6.560 kg and win the match. Catching whiting three at a time put Saul Page's 33 fish into second place with 6.450 kg just beating Sam Collier by one fish at 6.270 kg. Heaviest flat was won by Dave Andrews with a dab of 0.170 kg. A few dogfish also made up the bags and some of the whiting were of better size than of late. A night to forget …


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 3rd January 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The first D&WAA members-only competition of the 2016 campaign, which was originally to be held at Chequers on Sunday, 3rd January (3pm to 7pm), will now be held at Horsa Road (51.231428, 1.404148) which venue is better sheltered from the strong southerly winds (30 mph gusting at 44 mph) and rain which are forecast for Sunday afternoon. The date and time of the match remain the same. Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Horsa Road venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 2:30pm.


D&WAA Beach Competition: Sunday, 3rd January 2016

Announcement by Doug Pettit

The first of the D&WAA members-only 2016 competitions takes place at Chequers (51.251010, 1.39189) on Sunday, 3rd January (3pm to 7pm). Please remember that all competitors must be present at the Chequers venue no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time i.e. by 2:30pm.


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