On Saturday 12th July, an idea from Dave Newnham and Dan Lumsden finally became reality: the first SMAC Open Bass Competition. Not content with just that, they introduced several new (to us) features: it was to be Catch & Release, entries based on fish length; it would have a shotgun start and we would also pre-sell entries the evening before. Most significant of all, Chairman Steve Kelly was taking a well-deserved break so it was to be organised and managed by Dave and Dan, plus Neville Merritt. They say you should never make several changes at once but we are brave souls and ignored that.

After much investigative work by Dave and Dan we found a reliable supply of standard fish measures, we had prizes from our loyal sponsors and we also had a very welcome last-minute sponsorship from Rapala VMC. The rules were similar to other SMAC competitions but with one significant difference. Fish length on the SMAC measures was to be verified by a short video to be checked by the SMAC organisers. This proved to be very successful and meant fish could be returned quickly if required. In total 39 competitors and 16 boats took part.

The day dawned gloriously sunny and calm to start with, although a breeze picked up later in the day. After all registrations were complete and fish measures hired out together with a pack of free lures from Rapala, the boats gathered at the Roway wreck marker at 7:30am for a shotgun start. This was quite dramatic, because you don’t often experience 16 fast angling boats all heading to their marks together! (See videos below).

Competitors made the most of the time available, returning to Southsea Marina to register their claims by 6pm. After each claim form was checked against the video, we were able to rank the winners. At 6:30pm the Marina Bar Garden was full of anglers and friends all waiting for the results. Prize sponsors included Andy’s Baits ; British Big Game Fishing ; Cosham Angling; Fishon Bait N Tackle ; Victory Plumbing and Heating ; Southsea Marina Bar; Newnham Builders; Prestige Builders; Mark Oldfield Heating Plumbing and Gas Services and Rapala VMC .

Local Rapala Agent Mark Wright was also taking part in the competition so we invited him to award the prizes. There were no Ladies registered so we had the main prizes plus Junior prizes to hand out. These were won as follows:

1st: Steve Tambling, 70cm (£445 cash, rod and reel from Rapala)

2nd: Jim Atkins, 68cm (£222 cash plus rod from Rapala)

3rd: Matt Budd, 67cm (Andy’s Baits voucher plus rod from British Big Game)

4th Fergus Morrison (Junior), 66cm (Fishon Voucher plus Junior bonus of a rod from Mark Oldfield and reel from Newnham Builders)

5th equal: Richard Pack and David Miller, 65.5cm (Cosham Angling voucher and tackle voucher from Victory Heating)

7th equal: Dan Lumsden and Peter Atkinson, 64cm (each tackle packs from Rapala and British Big Game Fishing)

9th: Sam Cofie, 63.5cm (Meal for two from the Marina Bar)

10th: Ken Farmer, 60 cm (Bottle of Gin from Newnham Builders)

11th equal: Eddie Walsh and Dennis Fuller, 58cm (Bottle of Gin from Prestige Builders and Cooler from Rapala)

Junior 2nd place: Luca Bogza, 56cm (Reel from Newnham Builders)

Congratulations to all the prize winners, and many thanks to all the competitors who supported the event. We are very grateful to all our sponsors and to Premier Marinas for their continuing support of the club. Finally, thanks again to Dave Newnham and Dan Lumsden for all the hard work involved in creating a new angling competition for SMAC.