This September saw the return of Cofton’s fishing festival, the Cofton Cup, for its seventh event. Over the course of five fishing filled days, Cofton Cup VII saw a total of 44 angles all vying to win the coveted title of the Cofton Cup Champion.
Over the first three days each angler took part in a qualifier and battled it out for a place in the Grand Final. The top 7 anglers from each qualifier, plus the best runner up, made it through to the final, whilst the remaining anglers all got to fish again in the Cofton Plate ‘B’ final.
Calm, pleasant conditions dominated the week, but the match lake wasn’t going to give up her bounty easily. After a very busy of summer fishing on the lakes the match lake was fishing hard and records were in no danger of being broken. Some impressive fishing was still to be had and by the close of the week it was Andy Everill who was crowned Cofton Cup VII Champion.
This was Andy’s third consecutive Cofton Cup title and his fourth overall. His haul of 70.03 from peg 24 was enough to win the trophy and top prize of £500.
Michael Wills netted a total of 54.02 from peg 1 to win the runner up prize of £250 and Les Thompson rounded out the top 3 with a catch of 51.01 from peg 16.
In the Plate final it was Geoff Boardman who scooped the top spot with a total catch of 58.03 from peg 17. This is the second time Geoff has won the plate final and first winning it at in Cofton Cup V. Lee Prophet finished as runner up with 42.13 from peg 23 and Richard Woodsford came in third with a weight of 28.10 from peg 24.
Heaviest fish of the week was caught by Kevin Gunn who netted a carp weighing 12.10 during the final. Special mention also goes to Kevin for the catch of week netting a total wight of 40.06 during the final from the much unfancied peg 7 and finishing 4th.
Despite the hard fishing of the lake, eventual winner Andy Everill still managed to haul in an impressive 81.14 during the first qualifier from peg 15 to rank as the highest total weight of the week.
Winner – Andy Everill – 70.03 peg 24
Runner-Up – Michael Wills – 54.02 – peg 1
3rd Place – Les Thompson – 51.01 – peg 16
Kevin Gunn – 40.06 – peg 7
Tony Rickard – 36.03 – peg 17
Ken Carter – 29.07 – peg 5
Stephen Bridle – 22.09 – peg 12
Scott Preece – 21.14 – peg 25
Ashley Nunn – 20.06 – peg 14
Gary Hennessy – 19.01 – peg 19
John Barker – 17.06 – peg 21
Michael Nunn – 16.11 – peg 10
Graham Nicklin – 15.00 – peg 26
Craig Smith – 13.02 – peg 4
John Davies – 11.12 – peg 8
Ian Somerset – 11.00 – peg 15
Steve Bond – 10.14 – peg 11
Brian Barker – 10.12 – peg 13
Craig Parkes – 10.08 – peg 22
Bert Burgess – 7.11 – peg 20
Darrell Edwards – DNW – peg 3
Tony Bird – DNW – peg 23
Winner – Geoff Boardman – 58.03 – peg 17
Runner-Up – Lee Prophet – 42.13 – peg 23
3rd Place – Richard Woodsford – 28.10 – peg 24
Charlie Rostron – 25.05 – peg 19
David Edwards – 21.11 – peg 15
Chris Preece – 20.06 – peg 22
Steve Saxton – 18.12 – peg 11
Paul Bland – 16.10 – peg 26
Trevor Wild – 13.08 – peg 5
Mike Flory – 13.02 – peg 8
Peter Hall – 12.03 – peg 3
Colin Whitehead – 8.10 – peg 21
John Simpson – 7.08 – peg 12
Carol Williams – 3.05 – peg 7
Ian McMillan – 2.11 – peg 1
Rick Billingham – 1.14 – peg 10
Ian Wills – DNW – peg 4
Daniel Fawcett – DNW – peg 13
Stephen Prophet – DNW – peg 14
Richard Davies – DNW – peg 20
Bob Rand – DNW – peg 25
Andy Everill – 81.14 – peg 15 (Q)
Stephen Bridle – 41.14 – peg 12 (Q)
Brian Barker – 37.11 – peg 10 (Q)
Tony Bird – 37.04 – peg 3 (Q)
Steve Bond – 35.01 – peg 19 (Q)
John Davies – 33.10 – peg 13 (Q)
Craig Smith – 27.01 – peg 8 (Q)
Michael Nunn – 26.14 – peg 17 (Q)
Trevor Wild – 26.06 – peg 23
Richard Woodsford – 22.04 – peg 21
Paul Bland – 21.01 – peg 5
Mike Flory – 9.14 – peg 22
Rick Bellingham – 8.01 – peg 1
Colin Whitehead – 2.15 – peg 5
Steve Saxton – DNW – peg 25
Darrell Edwards – 32.03 – peg 22 (Q)
Ian Somerset – 28.04 – peg 19 (Q)
Gary Hennessy – 26.08 – peg 15 (Q)
Kevin Gunn – 25.12 – peg 5 (Q)
Graham Nicklin – 25.05 – peg 13 (Q)
Ashley Nunn – 20.15 – peg 17 (Q)
Ken Carter – 17.11 – peg 23 (Q)
Charlie Rostron – 17.10 – peg 12
Peter Hall – 16.12 – peg 25
Bob Rand – 10.08 – peg 8
Daniel Fawcett – 9.11 – peg 1
Chris Preece – 6.03 – peg 10
Richard Davies – 3.09 – peg 3
John Simpson – DNW – peg 7
Colin Charles – DNW – peg 21
Scott Preece – 55.10 – peg 25 (Q)
Les Thompson – 55.07 – peg 21 (Q)
Tony Rickard – 36.06 – peg 10 (Q)
Michael Wills – 28.10 – peg 1 (Q)
Craig Parkes – 26.05 – peg 22 (Q)
John Barker – 17.10 – peg 8 (Q)
Bert Burgess – 16.00 – peg 19 (Q)
Lee Prophet – 14.08 – peg 3
Stephen Prophet – 11.15 – peg 15
Geoff Boardman – 8.15 – peg 7
Carol Williams – 8.10 – peg 23
Ian McMillan – 8.06 – peg 5
On the competition, event organiser and Cofton Holidays Fisheries Manager Luke commented “Once again it’s been another absolutely incredible week of fishing and a big thank you goes to everyone who makes this event what its is. After a couple of competitions of not being able to hold our presentation evening, it was amazing to be able to get together for a drink and socialise away from the lakes.”
The Cofton Cup returns in April in a slight revised format.
Running from 24th – 29th April 2022, Cofton Cup VIII takes place over 6 days with 45 anglers competing over 3 qualifying rounds. The top 5 in each qualifier will go to fish to become the Cofton Cup Champion in the Grand Final
Those finishing 6-10 in each qualifier will go to the Plate final and those finishing 11-15 will compete in the spoon final, giving each angler the opportunity to fish twice.
Cofton Cup IX runs from October 9th – 15th 2022 and places are still available to book with reception.
