This year’s Fish O’Mania final ended in the most dramatic fashion in the competition’s history after the first ever re-weigh was conducted.
Lincolnshire’s Westwood Lakes produced yet another tight-knit affair, with just 100g separating top of the pile Dave Shires and second placed Kieran Marsden once the 10 weigh-ins had been added together.
The tiny gap was cast further into doubt because of an error made during Kieran’s first weigh in, with the official announcing that he’d recorded 18.025kg. It was soon noticed that the scales had been set to record in pounds and ounces, with Fish O’Mania using the system of kilograms and grams. That haul was swiftly re-weighed, but the chaos clearly left an element of doubt, especially when the margin was so tight at the end.
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Although the positions of the top three never changed after the re-weigh, their actual weights did, with Dave eventually crowned champion with a cushion of almost 2kg.
Social media sites have been alive with criticism of the Angling Trust’s weighing procedures, calling for changes going forward. The governing body have staunchly defended their decision to re-weigh Dave, Kieran and third placed Jimmy Brooks.
In a statement, they said: “With just 100g difference between two anglers and £50,000 at stake, and with a direct request lodged by one of the anglers in the top three, it was felt important to give confidence to everyone that the correct final order had been achieved.
“It is important to understand that fish which are kept in keepnets can lose weight. Whilst not always visible on camera, all scales are zeroed with a wetted sling by experienced stewards who are briefed in advance and tasked to follow the same protocol for every weigh in.”
The Trust is urging any experienced match organisers that wish to support future Fish O’Mania finals to email competitions@anglingtrust.net
RESULT BEFORE INITIAL WEIGH IN
(1st) Dave Shires – 45kg 650g
(2nd) Kieran Marsden – 45kg 550g
(3rd) Jimmy Brooks – 44kg 150g
RESULT AFTER RE-WEIGH
(1st) Dave Shires – 45kg 150g
(2nd) Kieran Marsden – 43kg 275g
(3rd) Jimmy Brooks – 39kg 750g
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