LATEST ADDITIONS

Walsall rod scoops £1,000 festival victory. Ian Winter sounded a warning to the rest of the competitors in next weekend's RiverFest 2013 final by taking top spot in this years three day festival with a brilliant 4 point total. The DH Angling grouped angler was delighted with the victory which scooped him over £1,000 in cash plus tackle prizes donated by festival sponsor Shakespeare. "I've had a great three days," a delighted Ian said after the presentation.

Fish worth over £2,000 stolen from Midlands venue. The prolific Barston Lakes near Solihull is famous among specimen carp, and match anglers alike – and has a deserved reputation for being among the country’s most prolific fishing venues. However, last Thursday night it was the victim of a fish theft. Anglers who have visited the venue before cannot have failed to notice the clubhouse’s novel koi carp pond, which is housed in the giant ornamental fountain at the front of the club house.

Stewart Lister reflects on an enjoyable Veterans Festival. I am sure I’m not alone in the belief that we are not getting older, and think we can still do what we did 25 years ago? Sure, the odd niggle here and pain there, are little reminders of the years creeping by. That along with those annoying age category questions that I see all the time on the internet, you know the ones that put us all in nice age brackets like 18 – 24 years, 25 -30 and so on. Well, you know time is marching on when the next bracket that applies to you is over 65! So, what is this all about in a fishing article? Well when you get to the magical age of 55 you become eligible to fish ‘Veterans matches and festivals’ like the Coors Veterans held annually at White Acres! It was really great meeting up with a lot of old friends as I competed in my first vets festival, I am a little annoyed with myself for not doing it a couple of years ago as I have missed out on a really great event, it’s one that will now be pencilled in my diary for as long as I am able.

England Feeder Team embark on South African adventure!England's feeder team are preparing to leave for South Africa, as practice for the third World Feeder Championship gets underway. This Saturday the team - which is made up of Steve Ringer, Phil Ringer, Grant Albutt, Tommy Pickering, Mick Vials, Adam Wakelin and coach Glenn Lawrence fly to Johannesburg, before making the four hour journey by road to the site of this years event, the mighty Bloemhoff Dam. Team stalwart Steve Ringer explained: "We are all really looking forward to getting on the bank and having a go at the event, though truth be told we aren't too sure what to expect! In terms of tackle, we have all had to really scale everything down, as obviously transporting everything that we have over there is a very expensive exercise. Our sponsors, Preston Innovations have generously sent a container over there containing boxes, carryalls and ready rod holdalls, but it still leaves us having to take rods, reels hooklengths and feeders as part of our luggage consignment on the plane.