Long-serving WDAA ace Geoff sadly dies
It was with sadness that members of the Worksop and District Anglers’
Association learnt of the passing away of their former president Geoff
Barker, following a long illness.
There are few local anglers or members of the WDAA who have never heard
of Geoff.
He was a member of the Executive Committee for over 30 years and reluctantly
retired earlier this month.
In every position he held on the committee, he carried out the duties
with the passion, enthusiasm and dedication we came to expect of him.
In addition to his administrative attributes, Geoff was a very competent
angler.
He represented the association at national level, and his trophy cabinet
reflects the success he achieved with the numerous clubs he was involved
with.
His commitment to these clubs did not go unrecognised and led to Geoff
being made a life member of the WDAA, Lower Trent Anglers’ Alliance,
Worksop Piscatorials, British Gas AC and Stanley Street Sports and Social
AC.
Geoff was very much a ‘hands-on’ type of person and could be
seen every year either building steps, replacing pegs, strimming, clearing
litter or making and erecting signs on association holdings.
Geoff’s passion for angling was unquestionable and if he could help
or offer advice, he would readily do so.
Even when he was no longer able to fish, he would get his wife Eileen
to drive him to venues where he knew association or club matches would
be taking place. He would then spend time sitting and chatting to the
many friends that he had made over the years.
He was also very enthusiastic with getting youngsters into the sport of
angling.
He supported and attended numerous events and fund-raisers involving juniors.
He even made sure that he had horses paid for and donated prizes for the
raffle at the fund-raising horse race night held less than two weeks ago.
Geoff was a ‘gentle giant’- a big man with an even bigger heart.
He will be greatly missed by the many people who knew him, but they can
be comforted in the knowledge that they were acquainted with this great
ambassador for angling in the local area.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, wife Eileen, Steven and
Julie, Linda and Robert and grandchildren Thomas, Robert, Adam and Rachael.
Notice Board
Don’t forget
that it’s the Chatsworth Angling Fair this weekend, tomorrow and
Sunday from 8am to 6.30pm.
Entry fee is £8 on the day. Children aged 14 and under, when accompanied
by an adult, are admitted free.
Go Baits open matches at Langold Lake on Sunday. Entry fee is £15
all-in with the draw at 9am and fishing from 10am to 4pm.
Go Baits are also holding midweek open matches every Wednesday at Langold
Lake. Draw is at 5pm and fishing from 6pm to 9pm, £10 all-in.
Telephone 01909 540105 for more details on either event.
Woodhouse Inn’s second match is the High School section of the Chesterfield
canal at Retford tomorrow.
Anglers are to meet at Retford Road at 7.30am. Contact Les on 01909 482225
for more information.
Worksop United’s match at Bank End fishery is on Sunday 6th June
and names are now being taken.
Phone Malc on 01909 484649 to book your place.
Station Hotel AC/ Shireoaks season tickets are now on general sale for
their stretch of the Chesterfield Canal, which is open all year round
and runs through Shireoaks.
Day tickets are also available on the bank and anglers are reminded that
the marina section is now closed until November.
At the moment the stretch is producing good mixed catches of chub, roach
and perch with the odd carp to pole fished maggot and pinkie.
Both sections can also be booked for club matches. Please contact Dave
Marsh on 01909 479057 for all season ticket and booking information.
Grafton AC are organising a 40 peg British Waterways Junior Angling Commemorative
Match on the John Shaws section of the Chesterfield Canal Friday 18th
June. Draw to take place at the Lock Keeper pub at 5pm, fish 6pm - 9pm.
Open to anglers from 10 to 16 years of age. To enter, please forward £2
fee including names etc to Ken Wards Tackle, Carlton Road. Excellent prizes!
Tickets on a first come first served basis. Entrants are requested to
have a parent or guardian with them on the day.
Worksop Piscatorial are holding their first match on Sunday 6th June at
Sandhill Lake, pegs six to 30.
Draw is at 8.30am. Call Denise Payne on 01909 733885 (evenings) for details.
Prospects
Massive hauls of big
bream are being taken at Langold Lake.
Go Baits owner Stewart Goulding fished peg 17 last Tuesday week, and amassed
seventeen slabs to 7lb in an estimated catch of between 70 and 80lb.
“I always underestimate my catches, I never exaggerate,” he
told me.
Close to him at peg 19 was Paul Unwin; he had 10 big bream to 8lb in weight.
They both used groundbait feeder and either red maggot or castor/worm
fished at 30 yards.
Stewart has reluctantly decided to call it a day in the tackle trade and
his business is now up for sale.
Anglers who know him are aware of his on-going ill health and it is this
that has taken its toll.
“I’m selling up and having a good old rest with plenty of fishing,”
was his comment.
Round-up
Worksop United AC
fished their Bracebridge section on Sunday and found the sport very frustrating.
The hot weather encouraged the fish to bask on top of the water and reluctant
to feed.
M. Hothersal with 4lb 8oz of mixed fish took the honours using mainly
pellet and pole tactics.
Second was J. Keyworth 3lbs 11ozs. Third M. Drage with 3lbs 9oz.
If you want to get in contact with Martin to give him any results, stories or information, you can e-mail him at Mgintrona@aol.com