You can't beat a good John Smiths when it's hot

 I'm not a connosseiur connossur conno  not an expert on beers but in a previous life I was occasionally invited to fish a special journalists match at the  John Smiths festival (previously the Courage) at Evesham on August Bank Holiday.  And occasionally I partook of their excellent beer. I found you can't beat it - smooth and reliable especially in the heat.

And obviously fish at Decoy feel the same way, for in the latest Spratts match on Willows, fished in the heat, the winner was, inevitably, John Smith (always smooth and reliable 😇).  I wasn't there (see below) but am told he eventually caught some of the fish showing near the surface by putting out a waggler towards the island, from peg 19, and ended by catching mainly F1s, but with three carp around the 8 lb mark, on meat in the margins, weighing a total of 121 lb 15 oz, to win handsomely.

Peter Spriggs was second with 80 lb 15 oz from peg 11, taking fish to 11 lb at 7 metres to start with, on meat, corn and paste, and then also finding similar fish in the margins. Shaun Buddle completed the podium ( or he would have done if they'd had one) with 77 lb of mainly small carp on paste close in, from peg 7.

THE RESULT

1 Peter Barnes           40 lb 6 oz
2 Trevor Cousins       57 lb 15 oz

4 Martin Parker         32 lb 14 oz

5 Dick Warrener        57 lb 2 oz

7 Shaun Buddle         77 lb                  3rd

8 Bob Barrett             25 lb 7 oz

10 Bob Allen              29 lb 1 oz

11 Peter Spriggs         80 lb 15 oz         2nd

13 Alan Porter            38 lb 14 oz

15 Peter Chilton         65 lb 10 oz         4th

17 Joe Bedford           26 lb 8 oz

19 John Smith         121 lb 15 oz           1st

So what was I doing?

I had missed the Fenland Rods Sunday match to see the greatest Rock 'n Roll band in the World - The Bluejays. Then I was dog-sitting, and had to miss the Spratts match as well.

The Bluejays play Rock 'n Roll as it should be played - exactly as the originals played it - Elvis, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry... If you weren't alive in the 1950s you have probably never experienced hearing PROPER Rock and Roll for the first time. It's orgasmic! Their drummer had a car accident on the morning of the concert, so they had a stand-in and he was fantastic.

I later had a quick look on the net and was flabbergasted to see some of the songs now designated Rock and Roll - including The Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever!!!!! How on earth does that compare with Shake, Rattle, and Roll, or Rave On?

No - this was 90 minutes of pure magic. And they are coming to the Princess Theatre in Hunstanton on September 11. Even if that's a match day, I will be there...

Then, bugga me, this morning I am informed by Her Majesty's Bluebottles that I committed the mortal sin of driving at 36mph in a 30 mph limit on the way home .Perhaps the fine I will have to pay will at least help pay for a cup of tea as they sit and answer their next call from the victim of a mugging and decide not to follow it up. Every little helps.