Ellesmere Port Angling Club: Match Report

Date: 17 May 2026

Venue: Hampton Springs – Willow lake

The Overview

It was a dramatic day on Willow lake for the latest Ellesmere Port Angling Club match. Anglers had to contend not just with the wily fish, but with a severe curveball from Mother Nature. Just one hour into the match, a torrential hail storm battered the venue, bringing sudden temperature drops and fierce wind gusts of up to 26 mph.

The icy downpour definitely put the brakes on the feeding patterns, forcing everyone to work twice as hard for their bites. Despite the atmospheric rollercoaster, a few anglers managed to find the key to unlocking the venue under tough conditions.

The Weather Breakdown

According to the UniFish data, conditions were far from stable:

• Precipitation: A massive spike of 1.8 mm of rain/hail hit hard midday.

• Wind: Strong West-South-Westerly winds peaking at 26 mph, creating tricky presentation issues.

• Pressure: Hovering around a steady but low 1008–1009 mb.

Match Note: The sudden influx of cold hail water drastically cooled the margins, forcing many to look into deeper water or change bait tactics to spark the fish back into life.

Section Summary

Section A: Crimes Commits a Masterclass

Jimmy Crimes absolutely dominated the day from Peg 1, putting together a fantastic net of 55 lbs 7 oz to take the overall match win. He managed to keep the fish coming despite the mid-match freeze. Syd Taylor also put in a stellar performance from Peg 16, securing 3rd overall with 31 lbs 8 oz.

Section B: Davies Dominates the Middle

Over in Section B, Mark Davies put on a clinical display from the hot-seat at Peg 8. He managed to pick off 23 lbs 8 oz of hard-earned fish, comfortably securing the section win and a brilliant 5th place overall finish on a very difficult day for the middle pegs.

Section C: Boydell's Late Charge

Gary Boydell pushed the winner all the way from Peg 13. He figured out the fish post-storm better than most, landing a superb 47 lbs 15 oz to take 2nd place overall and standard-bearer honors for Section C.

Summary

A tough but rewarding day at Hampton Springs! Hats off to Jimmy Crimes for a brilliant match win and to everyone who braved the elements and stuck it out through the hail.