OXFORDSHIRE’S Andy Benwell finished an admirable third in this year’s Fish O’Mania final held last Saturday at Cudmore Fishery, Staffordshire, shown live on Sky Sports.

Benwell, who is sponsored by Predator Tackle, Kidlington, was one of 16 finalists and put together a weight of 20.27kg to finish just behind Tom Pickering with 23.88kg.

Neil McKinnon captured the winner-takes-all prize of £25,000 with 27.98kg.

Benwell, who qualified for the final with 98.1.0 at Moorlands Farm in the previous round, only just missed out on the prize for the largest fish of the match worth £2,500.

In fact, his name was already on the cheque before another angler caught a bigger fish in the closing stages to pip him at the post.

Benwell paid tribute to Scott Miller for sitting with him throughout the match and keeping him up to date with what was going on.

He also thanked everyone at Predator and all his supporters who watched him in the final.

  • CARPER Ed Betteridge landed five fish from an Oxfordshire syndicate water, the best weighing 44.14.0.

He baited up a gravel area around 65 yards from the bank with Vision Baits Ocean Protein boilies and then used the same boilie on a stiff rig.

  • LAST Saturday, I was invited onto BBC Radio Oxford and among various subjects discussed was how you start fishing, what tackle you need and places to go.

So over the next few weeks, I will be telling anyone who wants to take up fishing how to get involved.

Watch this space . . .

  • IF you have any news, views or photos, you can contact me on 01865 725606 or email agw@awebber20.orangehome.co.uk