Within the celebrations of his 40th birthday this week, Formby’s Gareth Charnock put another notch on his amazing milestone of angling achievements.
On Sunday he again showed why he’s noted as easily the best canal angler on the circuit.
Notably quiet and modest within his personality, Gareth is a much loved and respected member of our fraternity and one who’s certainly recognised as one who has worked his way through his angling career, associating with many great Liverpool anglers.
Starting off as a youngster, following in the footsteps of his father Paul, on joining the Mersey Dockers AC as a youth, young Gareth and his brother Gavin revelled in their new found membership, in a club that was infectious with not only so many loveable characters within its membership, many of the best rods that have graced the banks nationally were also fellows of it.
Even today all three lads are still members of the Dockers and as Gavin proudly stands as the club secretary, trips together are still being enjoyed to keep up in revelling within the friendship that this great club still promotes to this day.
READ MORE: Angling: Charnock crowned ‘King of the Cut’
Within that journey, Gareth however has without doubt also become one of the most remarkable match anglers of recent years.
His wins have been numerous at every level ever since those early apprenticeship days and he has become a name to be reckoned with on every canal throughout the region.
Last weekend, summing up this year alone, his achievements have not only earned him the clear Match Man of the Year title, it has also netted him thousands of pounds as he has progressed to win the Canal Master on the Shropshire Union Canal in Staffordshire, The King of the Cut on Wigan, the L&DAA Fred Moss Memorial and last Saturday, the Frank Holding Memorial.
After celebrating Saturday’s win, Gareth, a member of the Liverpool AS Blue team, then played a part in his Sunday’s team achievements.
Here, in fourth position going into this last round, the LAS Blue team took second place on the day to move up to second overall final position in the league.
That fantastic result saw the team’s total of 95 points enough to just follow overall winners Drennan Blue team with 105. Others, Drennan White 107. Sensas NW Green 107 (on weight).
Still on the progress of up and coming young anglers within a match scene that is definitely seeing a resurgence upon it, a special mention on the achievements of young Lewis Whitman with the LAS Red team.
Again worthy of a mention, here’s another young man who’s again enjoying his match fishing.
Whitman, still in his 20s and from Warrington, took 9.2.0 for a tremendous section win for the red team to also take third place individually on the day.
On the club scene, Huyton’s Kevin Bradshaw is still in form as he took the day’s Alliance honours upon their home venue.
Bradshaw weighed in 82.13.0 keeping Lydiate’s Colin Pellow at bay with his 68.10.0.
Over on Mescar Fisheries, these matches now held on Mistral on the fabulous Downholland venue has seen some tremendous catches since their return.
Colin Craven (Dockers) took 87lb with carp to 15lb taken on the pole within the margins on maggot win this one. Wirral champion Jamie Hughes took second place with 63.12.0.
