Our Presentation Night is one of the social highlights of our calendar when we can celebrate all the successes of the previous season and have a few drinks and fun as well. As usual, this year we combined the SMAC Awards with our friends from SMDAC and packed the room at the Marina Bar. Steve Kelly had once again done a huge amount of work organising the cups, engraving, prizes, venue and food. On top of that he compered the evening with his usual efficiency and humour making it a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

The running order of the night was the SMDAC Awards, then the SMAC Awards and finally after some food to sustain our energy levels, the raffle. Before we got on to the main business we had to catch up with a Fish Of The Month award for Ray Plomer from November. Next item was to hand out all the Angling Trust Specimen Certificates and Medals which covered 13 specimen fish caught by members last season.

The club awards were presented by our good friend Rupert Bremer who has supported SMAC at Premier Marinas since its inception. SMDAC cups and awards cover beach, boat and lake fishing and were presented as follows.

  • Mixed Freshwater Lake Cup – Frank Chatfield
  • Largest Freshwater Fish – Tony Tadd (Mirror carp, 13lb)
  • Silver Fish Species Cup – Frank Chatfield
  • Combined Beach and Pier Competition – John Wearn
  • George Dominy Trophy – John Wearn
  • Best Specimen – John Wearn
  • Cod Cup – John Calton
  • Species Hunt – Frank Chatfield
  • Runner Up Champion – Tony Tadd
  • Club Champion – Frank Chatfield

The SMAC awards were then presented by Rupert Bremer as follows:

  • Plaice Cup – Dave Newnham (1lb 15oz)
  • Bream Cup – Dan Lumsden (3lb 1oz)
  • Bass Cup – Steve Tambling (8lb 10oz)
  • Cod Cup – Darren Price (7lb 10oz)
  • Pollack Cup – Mark Banks (16lb 5oz)
  • Best Specimen Turbot or Brill – Dan Lumsden (Brill, 2lb 9oz)
  • Turbot or Brill Runner Up – Richard Pack
  • Ladies Cup – Soulla Banks
  • Junior Cup – Jack Dickson
  • Catch & Release Cup – Jock Park (Thornback 15lb)
  • Best Specimen – Peter Churchill (Gilthead 3lb 6oz)
  • Species Hunt Cup – Peter Churchill (39)
  • Ladies Species Hunt – Pam Eckersall (23)
  • Junior Species Hunt – Jack Dickson (6)
  • Nelson Mandela Cup – John Wearn
  • Bream Open, best placed member – Dan Lumsden (2nd)
  • Inter Club Competition – Ray Plomer
  • Cod Open, best placed member – Neville Merritt (3rd)
  • Cod Pool, First – Darren Price (7lb 10oz)
  • Cod Pool, Second – Neville Merritt (4lb 3oz)
  • Bill Arnold Memorial Trophy – Neville Merritt
  • Pairs Cup – Steve Tamblin & Dan Lumsden
  • Club Champion Runner Up – Steve Tamblin
  • Club Champion – Dave Newnham

The Bill Arnold Memorial is awarded in memory of our now departed but very dear friend Bill, to the SMAC member who has made a significant contribution to the running of the club during the year. Unfortunately Bill’s sister Mary was unable to present this in person but we hope to welcome her again in future years.

After pizza and chips we moved on to the raffle. We have one free raffle for members and then a fundraising raffle. In addition to prizes bought by SMAC we were also very grateful for prizes donated by SMDAC and Premier Marinas. The raffle raised £760 towards the cost of the evening, so many thanks to all that contributed.

Congratulations to all the competition, award and prize winners! We have lots to look forward to in the coming year including a new Open Bass Competition plus our regular fixtures of competitions and annual BBQ. All we need now is some warmer weather.