The 2003/2004 season has been a reasonably successful year for the East Midlands Angling League, considering the amount of anglers that were lost due to out of area commitments. The EMAL summer league saw some tremendous turnouts with an average match attendance of twenty-four anglers, and a total of forty-three different anglers representing their various Units in the league.

This year a few new venues were used and I think we were pleasantly surprised how well they fished, especially the first match of the summer league on Lodge Farm, where an average of eighteen pounds of silver fish per angler was banked. Congratulations to Pete Dawson who broke the Lodge farm record with 46lb of skimmers, roach and perch.

The summer Individual league was yet again hotly contested with a number of anglers in winning and second place contention throughout. Gary Vongyer showed us all a clean pair of heels and finally won with several points to spare, Pete Dawson finished second and with Mr Phil Foster in third. The battle for 4th, 5th and 6th was hotly battled out. By Paul Coombes, John Summerson and Ian Craft respectively, all tying on points but weight was to separate these anglers. The team event on the other hand was nowhere near so close, with RAF Waddington A side clear winners, and subsequently winning all the league matches. A feat never attained in this league before. Runners up for the summer were RAF Waddington B.

The winter this year has not been as successful in terms of weight of fish caught per person in relation to previous years, this was due to the Boston drains being devoid of fish for the majority of the winter period. However alternate venues such as Moat Lake at Tattershall have served the league well on numerous occasions. One particular worthy note here, Andy Courtney’s fifty six pounds of carp, on a cold and blustery March day.
The winter league team events have seen the other competing teams, RAF Conningsby, RAF Cottesmore, RAF Digby and RAF Waddington all winning various matches throughout. Eventually though Waddington’s strength and depth proved too much and they went on to win the double. Individually though Mr Stu Nesling fishing for the Old Lags took the top honours, whilst yet again Gary Vongyer popped in at second. EMAL fish a one off match, to conclude the winter league, the Individual final winter match with Baz Bright picking up that piece of cut glass.

This year the leagues Individual anglers have again showed there class and quality, with Pete Dawson, Paul Coombes, Ian Craft and Chairman Gary Vongyer all achieving full representative colours for the RAFCAA at different events. Special mention must go to Paul Coombes for winning the European Championships held on Willow Park Aldershot, with two section wins and individual placing of third in the 2003 RAF Championship. Also worthy attention should be paid to our up and coming anglers, John Summerson who represented PTC in the Inter Command Championship and attaining third highest placed PTC angler on the day, Neil Rochelle, Andy Courtney and Neil Tederidge to mention a few, are now all learning, winning and competing with the best. Well done to you all. I have noticed that pools money is being paid out to greater variety of anglers, which shows that there is a good and healthy amount of competition throughout the league. I just wish more people would stay behind for the results and wash-up, so I don’t have to chase them, to give them their winning envelopes!

The league gained a lot of positive publicity and respect by reaching the final of the Angling Times Supercup event. Upon the way, Steve Harper won the 1st and 2nd round matches. John Summerson won an open match (50 pegger) in practice for the 2nd round, which we won seven anglers to one. Stu Nesling won his section at the Semi Final and Gary Vongyer winning the Semi final match outright. The day itself proved a step too far for the team. However Mr Phil Foster won the man of the match nomination (decided by Mark Addy and Bob Nudd no less!) for his third place overall. Thanks again to all league members who participated, ran the bank or just lent time and tackle in last year’s event. Now on to this year’s Supercup. A lot of practice went into the first round draw against George Fisher AC, after an abysmal day, RAF EMAL won through easily, we all waited for the second round draw and were hoping that 2002 winners Spilsby wouldn’t be drawn against us! Woops, we lost out on both, the draw and the match. Baggy Allen was the only one to bring an envelope back from that escapade. Never mind, we’ll be back!

The Inter league match was fished on the Old Nene at Benwick and we struggled to raise a full team however Baggy Allen managed a credible individual second. He also won the PTC Command competition with Mr Al Jones Second, both fishing for RAF Digby A and B respectively, Digby A pushed RAF Wyton A, very hard on the day but yet again it was not to be!

On the same day as the 2003 RAF Championships last year, the RAFCAA held another competition, the Clubman competition, designed around and for the up and coming anglers. Well done to Rob Jones for picking up the winner’s inaugural trophy.

On the note of Clubman competition the EMAL Committee thought it such a great idea, we started our own, a resounding success and very deserved well done to Daz Dickinson for adding a fine piece of crystal to his mantle piece.

In summary I feel that we have the strength and depth to do well as a team at this year’s Inter League, and would hope, individual Units will be able to field their best teams for the RAF Championships as both are being held on so called local waters.

Lastly, but by no means least, thanks to all the EMAL Committee, for their help in running, booking and just plain old badgering others in keeping the best league going forwards and upwards.

Tight Lines to you all, and I hope your nets are full, in the forthcoming events.

SAC Pete Dawson