Battle to Dreams

               Battles to Dreams

I was born June 20th 1963 in hampstead London. Unfortunately it wasn't the best start to life as I was born with 2 club feet. I was taken to gosh (great ormond street hospital ) to under go 15 years of operations on my feet. When I was about 6 after à operation  leg in plaster my next door neighbour  asked me if I wanted to go fishing yes please I said not noting what to expect.  So of we went to oakmere  mark in potters bar Hertfordshire where I was now living. When we got there he showed me these horrible things they were called maggots lol. After setting up my new rod from woolworths we started fishing my float was a match stick it went under and there was my first ever fish a gudgeon  it was huge so I thought. That's it was Hooked on fishing after a few trips and progressing for a few year I then got into carp fishing. With my mates still in and out of gosh for operations I started reading the angling times and soon found out about Bob Nudd and Mr crabtree. And learning I then joined my first club potters bar angling club with a nice bunch of lads. I was there for 3 years never won anything but enjoyed it. Then came girls and work at the time seemed better lol so I gave up fishing the operations were as successful  as they could be I could walk. I owe gosh so much. Then I was diagnosed  with cancer in the back passage. At the same time my marriage ended so back to hospital had yet another operation for the tumour to be removed and under go radio therapy and chemo therapy this was in 1994. I started fishing again this was just pleasure fishing  then as the saying goes things come in 3s it happend I was diagnosed with a brain tumour back into hospital I'd hit rock bottom this time. I lost a lot of sight in one eye and alot of memory loss so to get back fishing was going to be hard as it took me months to remember silly things like tying hook seven how to put line on a reel. But I persevered with it I then met my partner jackie she encouraged me to join another fishing club 9 years ago. Then 4 years ago I decided to do open matches wow this was another level. I was never going to be good enough at this level but the banter was good then you think I'm I to old for the dream to get sponserd and maybe one day do an article for a magazine dreams kept me going. I then decided wanted to fish a really big match so I went to do The Big Bash at lindholm lakes I'd never seen a fishery this big with so many people but I was a part of it. Could I compete against so many big name anglers the end of the match the answer was no but did I enjoy it the answer was yes so applied to do it again this year. I also decided to try and get a ticket for fish o mania thinking I had no hope but another big match. I got 2 reserve tickets the first was barford lakes which I went to but drew badly. Then my 2nd was at colemans cottage  Essex again so many top anglers I drew peg 38 on wood lake I started on the tip first cast tip went round 2nd cast tip went round and this carried on through out the day did I think I had a chance not a hope. Then the scales got to me I was told I think it was 119lb  was winning it with 3 left to weigh in didn't think I had any where near that. So out came my first net 71lb but nocked back to 71lb the i was asked what did I have in second net my reply I don't no so lifted it out and was told I'd won it before weighing. I started shaking then fish on scales 68lb every one started congratulating  me me I was in shock. I then faced a 90 min drive home still shaking thinking what have I done. I got home after a few to many to drink I woke up on the sunday and thought I'd dreamt it I turn my phone on it went mad with messages and face book friends requests from all congratulations 

It then sunk in I was now in the final. No it was time to go to cudmore fishery and practice  were I met the likes of jammie Hughes Andy Geldart Steve Cook 12 other great anglers and they all said hello then you meet people like Andy May  kieth Arthur  the draw for the final didn't go my way. I drew peg 10 through practice we knew it wasn't good but the only thing I didn't want to do was blank. Which I didn't I came 15th I was over the moon. I  stated to watch the internantional match on the sunday then Joe Roberts asked me to go for trials for England disabled team this doesn't get no better.  Since this people say I was the peoples favorite who me I said I'm just me but I was now being asked to do coaching attend charity matches all over the place for which I  done my best to attend. But only the public will no the true awnser to this one. So for me this has been  the best year of my life. If any one thinks they are not good enough believe me don't give up on dreams I still have 2 dreams which might happen one day I will post on here how trials go next year I also want to thank everyone that have supported me through out this year it mean so much to me.on the last note I'm now running a yearly match called North v South  this is a fund raiser to support England's ladies and disabled teams  as this is self funding you can join my group by going to this link facebook.com/groups/632203120229042