More than 100 Easter Eggs donated by anglers at the Liverpool & District Angling Association Good Friday Open

-Credit:UGC

It was a superb effort by anglers attending the Liverpool & District Angling Association Good Friday Open. Held on the canal over the Easter break, competitors booked on with a hand delivered Easter Egg.

Match secretary Mike Dickson does an incredible job raising funds for many charities that the L&DAA supports throughout the year.

He put this together again with the aim to assist teams within Sefton Council family centres reaching out to support families and more than 100 eggs were delivered to two centres, which were very gratefully received.

On the match itself, and with the canal starting to show some promise now that the warmer weather is beginning to show some form, this one had nearly 50 anglers turning out – stretching from the drum’s at Lydiate, back to Westway Bridge at the end of the duck length.

Taking the top honours on the day and making his way all the way from Oswestry was a familiar name as a winner over here in Merseyside, Gordon Griffiths. Pegged on the popular Running Horses Length near the famous pub itself, Griffiths made no mistake from this fancied area as he put together a class performance, taking 11.4.0 of skimmers and roach.

Skelmersdale’s John Carroll, who was pegged on the drum’s length on an area that was slightly more open to the gusts of wind, was rewarded with the second best catch on this one as he took a mixed bag which included a couple of bonus skimmers for 6.12.13. In an incredibly tight finish, it was one that saw just drams in it on splitting the frame.

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Stu Cutler took third place with a very close 6.12.7. Leigh’s Anthony Lloyd took fourth with 6.7.0.

Staying with the canal scene, the L&DAA will be holding a memorial match for past chairman Fred Moss on Saturday, May 3 2025. Draw time is 9am at the MCA at Green Lane Maghull and all are welcome.

Once again, Mike Dickson will be holding his ‘Dicko’s raffle’ that everyone involved enjoys so much as part of the day’s celebrations. On the club front, catching up with one of Merseyside’s most popular outfits, the Alliance & Leicester stayed at their home venue at Chapel Pool on Sunday to enjoy another great match on this superb venue.

Winner on the day was club stalwart Richard Bamber. Bamber stuck to a tip approach with pellet to take carp for the top club points on the day for 63.1.0. Gary Green took second place with 54.11.0 and Dave Langton a close third with 53.13.0.

ECHO columnist Joe Farrell received more than 100 Easter eggs from L&DAA's Mike Dickson that were shared across Sefton — ECHO columnist Joe Farrell received more than 100 Easter eggs from L&DAA’s Mike Dickson that were shared across Sefton -Credit:UGC

Also on Sunday, St Helens AA held their annual two-day memorial for a past member Joe Lee, with the second leg on Monday. With another great turn out, this one was about the competitors using their aggregate weights over the two days. Making the most of it was St Helens local Peter Tickle.

Tickle took the top weight of the day on Sunday with 13.8.0 and Monday following that on taking a section win with 7.10.0. Overall Tickle’s 21.2.0 was enough to take the top honours and the coveted trophy.

Winning the match with a superb 16lb on Monday, St Helens rod Phil Holland put that on top of his previous day’s catch of just 3.6.0 to put together a second overall 19.6.0.

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