Andy bags a hat-trick for going the distance

May 8 2008 by Our Correspondent, South Wales Echo

ANDY Copping turned in a fine performance to finish overall winner of the Surfcast Wales tournament at Crack Hill, Cowbridge.

He punched a 125gm weight out 240.50 metres to win that class from Wayne Saunders on 229.80m and Nigel Davies who cast 223.85m.

Copping’s 255.83m was best with a 150gm weight and this time it was Glyn Baldwin in second place with 243.62 m and Chris Brayley third with 242.57m.

The hat-trick was completed in the 175gm class with a cast of 244.75 metres that left Glyn Baldwin and Nigel Davies trailing behind with casts of 230.09m and 223.62m.   

Gwent SAC members travelled to Chesil Beach for their competition and Ivor Smith returned victorious to Rogerstone after beaching six dogfish for a weight of 4.15kg.

Junior member Zac Williams took second prize with two dogfish, one ray and 3.65kg while Scott Brown’s five dogfish weighing 3.23kg was the third best catch.

Junior member Matthew Wall out fished the adults when Newport Sea Anglers fished the tidal Usk at Coronation Park.

He caught a whiting and an eel for a weight of 0.36kg to beat John Wall’s 0.20kg flounder and the 0.14kg eel that put Granville Thomas in the third place.

The junior prize went to Joseph Bunce with a 0.10kg eel.

The Penarth SAC competition was won at the ledges where Dave Pilcher reeled in two codling to put 1lb 13oz on his card.

Junior member Ken Westgate hooked a 1lb 3oz dogfish from the promenade to take second prize while Fred Chick caught a whiting and a dogfish weighing 1lb 1oz at Ranny Pool to share third place with Germaine McGuire who matched the weight with a single dogfish from the pier.

Cardiff SAA chairman Derek Gamlin is doing well in the club competitions and he won again when members lined the beach at Cold Knap.

He caught five dogfish and a 3lb spotted ray for a total weight of 10lb 13oz.

Dave Notley’s four dogfish weighing 5lb 9oz took second prize while a 3lb 5oz dogfish brace put Mike Rowley in third place.  

Champion anglers set the pace when Elysian SAC fished at Southerndown.

Reigning Seamaster Champion Andrew Hutchings won the day with a catch of three rays and nine dogfish giving him a weight of 31lb 3oz.

Joe Arch, Cardiff’s past World Shore Fishing Champion, was runner up with 22 dogfish and a weight of 27lb 3oz and Phil George third with 20lb 11oz.