Chilham Mill
One of the top waters in the country, Chilham is a favourite with the big names especially as the fish average such a good weight. There’s usually a clash of the titans battle at this event but the big boys don’t always win. If you fancy a battle, put your name down and there is a big chance of the biggest fish o the tournament from this venue
CAPTAIN |
VICE CAPTAIN |
Belton and Coleman will be back again at Chilham
this year, but watch out for Toughy and Co |
Darren Belton |
James Colman |
Darren Ready |
Lee Clapperton |
Phil Bury |
Joe Hubble |
Simon Bury |
Matt Brown |
Daniel Vallis |
Steve Clarke |
Andy Wilmot |
Mike Feather |
Lee Jackson |
Gary Peet |
Dave Cook |
Carole Cook |
Paul Goskie |
Steve Rowe |
Bret Green |
Julian Binks |
James Armstrong |
Richard Stewart |
Rob Tough |
Tom Dunlop |
www.midkentfisheries.co.uk
Pre-Match Round Up
Always a favourite, Chilham Mill is one of the jewels in the Mid Kent Fisheries crown and a venue that is always popular with BCAC entrants. Run as a permit water by Loggy and the boys of Mid Kent, round three sees a hefty line up of local talent and regular qualifiers aiming to get through to this years semi’s. Former champions lee Jackson and Gary Peet top the bill, especially as they qualified at Chilham last year, but lookout also for Ready / Clapperton, and Belton/ Coleman who also qualified last year from this venue. Mix in a load of talent,a nd then put regular finalist and team champion Rob Tough, this year fishing with Tom Dunlop, and Chilham is going to be a cracker.
Boilie and a bit of spod seems to be the main tactical approach and with a very large head of twenties and good few thirties to go for, a big weight is expected. They don’t like pressure though, so a stealthy approach is necessary if you want to get the best out of the fishery.
Chilham Mill Round Up
Results
1st - Darren Belton and James Colman - 148lb 15oz -Team Hydro Link
2nd - Daniel Vallis and Steve Clarke - 145lb 10oz
3rd - James Armstrong and Richard Stewart - 126lb 13oz
Those of you who have fished the championships in the past will all know that it’s the draw that counts and when you’re last out then it seems that all is lost. The O’connors at Farlows came out last and still won. Holehouse and Huntington did the same last year on Chilham Mill. So don’t be disappointed if your names are called out lower from the hat. If the fish are showing in one place what’s to say they will move from pressure or the wind changes and they do the off. All these things I see are listed by some anglers. Weather checklists, recent catch reports, what baits are been used, Ariel photos etc etc. It’s all exciting stuff. On the other hand there are lads that turn up chose a swim that has carp in it and make hay while the sun shines. What I’m trying to say is that if you’re lucky enough to come out high then you still have to fish that swim as hard as the guys that come out lower in the draw. Remember 3 pairs qualify and it’s never the first three out of the hat that make it through.
Chilham Mill’s reputation is second to none. Home of some very big carp and home of some very entertaining BCAC matches. The weather however didn’t dampen the anglers. Strong winds and heavy rain fell for almost all the match and it wasn’t long before the first carp graced the net of Darren Belton and James Colman with a 23lb mirror shortly followed by a 23lb 03oz mirror for Simon Bury and Matt Brown. Just up the bank in peg 1 Daniel Vallis and Steve Clark banked a stunning 23lb 04oz common putting all three pairs up on the leader board only ounces between them. The wind and rain continued through the day and into the night were for just a few hours the lake became calm and reports came in saying that it felt very “spooky”. By the evening results 1st was Darren Belton and James Colman added two more twenties to there sheet on 78lb.07oz. 2nd was Daniel Vallis and Steve Clark on 37lb 15oz and 3rd was Simon Bury and Matt Brown on 23lb.03oz. With a long way to go, all was still to play for.
 Day two arrived as day one finished with a bit more rain and wind. Belton and Colman were still heading the list with three more early morning carp taking them up to 132lb.09oz. Followed by Vallis and Clarke on 127lb14oz and still in third was Bury and Brown on 23lb.03. So with only 23lb to beat the match was still on. A handful of carp graced the net for a few over the next few hours so by the evening result check the top two hadn’t changed places with Belton and Colman still holding there heads up high on 148lb.15oz followed closely by Vallis and Clarke on 145lb.10oz. The battle was for third the last qualifying place. James Armstrong and Richard Stewart on 63lb 01oz, Simon Bury and Matt Brown 23lb.03oz and behind them on 22lb.10oz was Rob Tough and Tom Dunlop. Now entering the final stretch what would the final few hours bring.
Sunday morning saw a flurry activity for Armstrong and Stewart pushing them firmly into third place on 126lb 13oz only to find out that Bury and Brown along with Tough and Dunlop putting in a late charge on 102lb.03oz and 61lb 12oz respectively. But as the final hooter dew closer the top three had held on to their lead. |
