Thursday September 18th 2025.

This match is fished annually in memory of our longstanding former bailiff  Mick Pritchard and is organised by his son Lee. With virtually no rain throughout the summer, this match was looking like it may have to be cancelled, but with rain falling throughout the 2 weeks leading up to the match the conditions looked much more favourable with around a foot of water being added to the level. However the weather on the day was horrendous with persistant heavy rain throughout the day making it a difficult match for the 40 anglers taking part. The match was pegged on the Tennis Courts, Bartonsham, Eign and Field Farm sections, and with the extra water and some colour now in the river the fish were more likely to be spread out and so some good catches of barbel and chub were expected along with dace and some roach.

The match fished well despite the conditions with lots of 20lb weights being caught. Winner on the day was visiting  Association member Charlie Gooch, who was pegged on the Field Farm section just below the island. Using stick float and whip tactics he took 56lb of mainly chub and dace to the scales to ensure his name was inscribed on to the trophy. Runner up was local hot rod Dave Roberts  with a mixed bag weighing 38lb taken from a peg in the withy beds at Bartonsham. Third was Wye regular Kev Ellaby who weighed in 33lb from the Tennis Courts section. Well done to all who took part and thanks to the Brewers Arms for hosting the event and providing the after match hospitality.

All in all a good start to the Wye Match season with the Joe Burrows Charity Match the next match to take place on Sunday 28th September followed by the 36th Wye Team Championship on Sunday 5th October. With the river now having had a flush through hopes are high that it will be another good Autumn/Winter on the river.