Stanford angler's major festival success (From Thurrock Gazette)

Pembrokeshire event suits borough angler Riley

2:00pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in Sport

FISHING: STANFORD le Hope angler Steve Riley beat former world champion Ian Heaps to triumph at a fishing festival in Wales.

Riley was up against a strong field of anglers at the Autumn Festival held at Heaps’ Premier Fishery in Llawhaden, Pembrokeshire.

The Essex matchman lost a number of larger carp on the first day but still secured a Tench Lake win thanks to a steady stream of crusian carp caught on chopped worm and caster.

Day two saw Riley draw peg five on the Match Lake, which had given Heaps a 100lb-plus bag on day one. It produced two more weights in excess of the ton, but Riley’s 90lb of carp to 12lb gave him third place and second place overall after two rounds.

Riley drew peg seven for the final day on the Carp Lake, which had not produced a good weight in the first two days.

But using advice from friend Colin Miles, Riley concentrated on fishing eight metres on top of the sunken island with double red maggot over loose-fed maggot and micro pellet.

The tactics saw him land carp to 15lb in an overall 70lb weight that earned another lake win and the overall victory.

Riley also picked up the prize for the biggest fish.