First Summer match of this season and we kicked off with the first of this year's three coach trips.
As we were travelling down to Warwickshire to Tunnel Barn we stopped off at the A5 truckstop for a very nice breakfast. Then it was back on the coach to Tunnel Barn..........That's when the fun started!
For some unknown reason our driver tried to get in the car entrance which ended up with the coach reversing into someones gate post. The natives then came out for a healthy discussion on gate post engineering!
By the time we parked up, bought pellets, did the draw, match start time was set at 10.45am.
The weather was grim with winds at 19mph and gusts up to 26mph and rain as well, it wasn't fun! Air temperature too was low at about 12 degrees.
Throughout the course of the match several people lost or damaged sections due to the adverse weather.
One of our members slipped and fell in which caused a few moments panic and a hasty rush by several members to rescue him from the water. Thanks to Paul B, Frank and Sue. We then rounded up some clean clothes and got him showered and warm. Thanks to Mike, Kevin and Kaz from Tunnel Barn for all their help which was much appreciated, least of all by Peter who fell in.
Thankfully everything was fine and the match continued to it's conclusion, of course Frank and Sue didn't have the full five hour match, but managed to carry on after the excitement died down.
The weigh-in was carried out by Roly and Alan, the results of which you can see below.
Golden Peg as ever was safe, today Kev Smith was the recipient. Well done to all those who fished including our top three of Mike, Alan and Paul M.
Everything was packed away on the coach, we picked Peter up from the cafe where he had recovered from his ordeal, then it was off to the pub.
This was match referee Roly's call and upon arrival we could see it wasn't for us. Top of the range cars parked in the drive and twenty hairy-ar*sed fishermen pile into the pub, think we may have lowered the ambience??
After a while we decided to backtrack and try a Beefeater Pub we spotted on the way. This was fine and dandy for us, good beer, our own dining area, good food, many thanks to all the staff who could not have been more welcoming given that we had arrived out of the blue.
A good time was had by all and it was back on the coach for the usual antics and sing song on the way back along with a few new names for our swimmer, including Flipper, Nemo and others besides.
Back home unloading was chaos and as usual things were left on the coach, but hey, the day is over, the results are in, and it's on to the next match only a week away at Partridge Lakes on Marsh Canal. With a 22 peg limit we are already fully booked for this forthcoming match, so if you haven't confirmed your place, please don't just turn up as we don't want to be giving you disappointing news.

That's it for now,

See you all soon......Tightlines.....