Sunday March 8th 2026.
This match sponsored by tackle firms Milo and Bait-Tech was originally scheduled to take place on the 11th and 12th February, but due to predicted high water levels on the days leading up to the match, the decision was taken to postpone it until last week. However there were no concerns with river levels this time round with the river having settled down nicely following high water levels at the weekend preceeding the match. Temperatures were also milder meaning that the fish were likely to be spread throughout the match length at Belmont and Tennis Courts with all speies likely to feed. The 54 anglers taking part were met with a river level of around 1.5m with a hint of colour and temperatures around 10C or above.
This festival is fished on a points system, with the match length split into 2 zones, A and B. The competitors initially draw to find which zone they will fish on Day 1 and will then fish the other zone on Day 2. Having drawn for the zone they then draw for their pegs within that zone. Each zone is the split into 6 peg sections. It is essential to win your section to have any chance of winning the festival and a section win on both days will give you 2 points. If several anglers manage 2 points, then their aggregate weight over the 2 days decides who comes out top.
Day 1. As expected the river fished well, with the fish well spread out throughout the match length. There were no less than 40 weights over 20lb.but as usual the majority of fish came from downstream of the old railway bridge.. Winner on the day was Milo backed Andy Neal who drew peg 81 on the Asda bank. He put together a match winning net of chub, dace and perch to weigh in 80lb 10oz. Runner up was Tom Boulton pegged on the Asda bank at 92. He weighed in 66lb 13oz and collect that all important section win. Third was match organiser Dave Roberts who was pegged 2 downstream of Andy Neal. He caught 65lb 14oz but he had to settle for 2 section points being in the same section as the winner. A good draw on the 2nd day was essential for those anglers who had 1 or 2 points from Day 1. It was all to play for.
Day 2. With another fine Spring day on the cards the fish were likely to be more mobile with the milder temperatures forecast. It was likely that at least one of those anglers who scored 1 point on Day 1 would win their section again. As it turned out there were three, Tom Boulton, Keith Easton and Andrew Cranston. It would then be be down to total weight caught over the 2 days. As it turned out Tom Boulton took top spot on Day 2 with a catch of 72lb 3oz from peg 59. Keith Easton took 2nd place on Day 2 with a catch of 66lb 12oz from peg 65 next to the rowing club. Third was newly crowned Wye Feeder Champion Kevin Dicks with 64lb 4oz from peg 91. With a combined weight of 139lb over the 2 days, Tom Boulton was crowned Festival winner with Keith Easton finishing runner up and Andrew Cranston coming 3rd. Another cracking festival with good weights throughout.
This festival first took place in 2017 with the inaugural winner being Colin Harvey with a weight of 44lb 11oz. It was decided during the week that in future the trophy would be called the Colin Harvey Trophy in memory of Colin who died recently while on a salmon fishing trip to Scotland. Colin was a well liked angler on the local match scene for many years and was the only angler to have won the prestigious Wye Championship on 4 occasions. He will be greatly missed. His funeral will take place on 1st April 11.30am at The Vale Crematorium, Evesham Road, Fladbury, Pershore, WR10 2QR.
