Francis hooks fine double

Popular Boldings regular John Francis (Rod & Gun) enjoyed a weekend double victory at Boldings Pools, and recorded the top weight of the week in winning the Saturday open.

Having pulled peg 15 on the Larch from the drawbar, John offered pellet out at 14 metres to tempt carp to 7lbs.

As the match progressed he pulled steadily clear of Pete Plant (Maver Tipton) who operated with his favourite caster bait, alternated between the five and 10 metre lines at peg 24 on the Larch.By the finish "Franner" had slipped the net under a total of 51-9-0, while Pete had 42-3-0 of carp to 6lbs and roach to a pound. Third went to a Chestnut best of 36-13-0 from Paul Cartwright (OB Wolves) and fourth was taken by a Sycamore best of 31-5-0 by Alan Naylor (Rod & Gun).

On Sunday, Francis drew the peg which gave third place on Saturday, number 35 on the Chestnut, and converted it to a winner with another pellet approach.

This time he alternated between five and 12 metres for a mixture of bream and carp, with bream to 2lbs and carp to 8lbs helping him to edge out Phil Rhodes (Middy ML) by 6ozs. John scaled 33-2-0, while Phil, who caught carp to 5lbs at peg 14 on the Ash with maggot and pellet, finished on 32-12-0.

Another Middy rod, Mick Jameson, finished in third with the top catch from the Beech, 27-2-0, and he was followed by Jason Elwell (Wednesbury) on 25-13-0 at Chestnut 37.

In the week there was more success for Kevin Melville (Phoenix Tackle) when he drew the Beech Pool again.

This time he was on the point, peg 7, and didn't have to go out far to find carp from 1lb to 4lbs with corn and maggot, to build a 36-12-0 winning net.

Just around to the right of the winner, Boldings boss Ed Turner had bigger fish on pellet, in the side and out at six metres, but he couldn't tempt enough of them, and had to be content with second when the scales settled at 29-0-0.

Bob Conway (Lichfield) turned in the best performances on the Hawthorn to take third with 24-3-0 and an Oak best of 20-0-0 saw Mick Jameson in the frame again.

Jameson made three frames out of four on Thursday, but that elusive top spotÊwas out of reach again, and he had to settle for second this time with yet another pool best.

The Man standing in his way here was Dave Hailey (WAC Tackle) who turned out to be the "framer" on the Deepdale Pool.

He got the fish going on maggot, up in the water, at peg 12 and eased ahead by over 10lbs, ending the day on 45-10-0. Jameson used the pellet at peg 1 on the Middle Pool, where smaller fish left him on 34-6-0.

Dave Barnard (Maver Wolves) led the way on the Stock Pool for a close third on 32-3-0 at peg 6 and next to him Nige Clarke (RAF Trabuco) completed the frame on 29-0-0.