RON THOMPSON 2 DAY MEMORIAL FESTIVAL 2025 – DAY 1 RESULTS… Two very different sets of results from day 1 in the sunshine, with anglers struggling for a bite at the res while both ponds fished well at Hutton.
Single carp made up most of the weights at Marske with Ali Hunt taking his section with a fish of 16lb-02oz and Mick Dawson winning the day by opting to fish for bream – landing 3 specimens for 18lb-10oz… Meanwhile at Hutton Rudby reigning champ, Martin White took the honours with a fantastic weight of carp and silvers for 93lb-08oz from peg 1 on the back pond – giving himself a great lead going into day 2 at the res. On the front pond Carl Burford made no mistake weighing 77lb 10oz for the section win – An outstanding performance considering Carl had to watch last years event via live stream as he recovered from major surgery. With conditions set to remain warm and sunny it is all to play for at the half way mark as the anglers switch venues for the day 2 decider! …Alex Metcalfe pictured with a carp of 17lb-03oz
OVERALL RESULTS – RON THOMPSON 2 DAY MEMORIAL FESTIVAL 2025… After two days of spirited competition in the sunshine at both Marske Reservoir and Hutton Rudby Ponds Martin White was again crowned champion – making it back to back wins in the competition – as an exceptional day 1 performance from noted peg 1 on an in form Hutton back pond saw Martin carry a *record weight of 93lb-08oz over – before leaving it late to seal the win at Marske on day 2.
As the competitors switched venue for the second day several anglers carried excellent weights from Hutton to Marske and it was Martin Metcalfe who did the early running to put the pressure on the overnight leader – catching two carp in the first half hour from peg 6 on the dam wall putting him a decent fish behind the top weight. As in so many cases it’s the ones that got away that make all the difference to the final results and so it was for Metty as he hooked and lost a ‘big ‘un’ weighing a fantastic 64lb-09oz from Hutton and 23lb-06oz at the res for 87lb-15oz and second place on the podium.
One of the anglers who didn’t carry over a great weight was John Hopkins bringing just 6lb-02oz from peg 2 next to the champ on Hutton back pond as he headed to the newly refurbished Marske peg 21 – where Anth Moore had spectacularly blanked the day before – things did not look great, but one factor made all the difference – the wind had changed direction and was pushing into the corner, putting a ripple on the res and sending the carp that had spent the first day sunbathing out of the anglers reach back down where they could be caught – Making the most of this John put in one of the performances of the weekend – in a weekend of great performances – making a Lazarus-esque comeback catching 6 carp and a massive specimen bream of 08lb-03oz for a total of 87lb-05oz for third place overall
With fish being caught all around the res and news coming in from Hutton that again peg 1 on the back pond was doing the business and several other anglers putting big weights together the pressure was on the reigning champ on peg 14 to rustle up a carp to put him back in the clear and when Fuzz on 13 went short and bagged a carp Martin kept a cool head and dropped short himself with the result being the net slipped under a 14lb-01oz fish to add to an earlier bream of 06lb-12oz for 20lb-13oz on the day and a massive 114lb-05oz total to take the title for the second consecutive year!
Huge congratulations to Martin – and to Metty and John in making the frame – Honourable mentions to Anth Moore for coming back from a day one blank to put 79lb-12oz on the scales from Hutton back pond peg 1 on day 2 for 4th place not to mention Carl Burford who’s 77lb-10oz from Hutton front pond peg 1 was good enough for 5th – fantastic to have Carl back on the bank. Well done to all our section winners over the 2 days – Mick Dawson the bream whisperer – Ali one bite, one fish, won the section Hunt – Anth Smith having a section explode and hand balling a carp in on the elastic!… also big shout-out to the MAC young guns Al Metcalfe and Harry Moore – great to have two dad and lad pairs with us and the kids are doing alright!
And finally thanks to everyone for taking part in another great match to remember Ron Thompson – the man who built the foundations of Middlesbrough Angling Club with integrity and spirit and will always be remembered and inspire us in our efforts to take the club forward.
TIGHT LINES!
MAC Committee
