Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 15^th April 2025

In Attendance and Apologies

Present: L Teale; J Blackwell; D Dance; T Warncken; N Ponting; B Sutton; J Pike; R Stone; D Gregory

Apologies:  C Judkins; S Ferris

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• The Club Secretary position is currently vacant. This is an important role for the smooth running of our Club. If any Members would on reflection like to be considered for this position, then please contact the Chairman.
• The date(s) of the Team Match(es) against Wantage & Grove AC is still to be finalised. No further progress to date.
• A Work Party at Newbridge will be arranged during the Close Season to strim the Pegs and recover those Pegs currently unfishable because of encroaching reed beds and overhanging branches.
• The lawnmower has been serviced and repaired and is currently sited at Nick’s awaiting fitting of a replacement seat. The fuel line was cleaned and the filter replaced. Condensate was found in the carburettor. The Club would like to thank Michael Blackwell for carrying out the work and his ongoing support.

Club Welfare Officer’s Report

• Our Club Welfare Officer is Richard Stone (mob. 07551 031857; rstone0311@yahoo.com.)
• The Club’s welfare policy is available on our website (www.ploughangling.org.uk/safeguarding/)
• No issues were reported this past month.

Sea Secretary’s Report

• The next trip, sailing from Weymouth, is scheduled for 27 April 2025.
• A Sea Fishing Group page will be added to our website. Chris will advise content for the page.
• Contact Chris Judkins if you would like to be involved in the Sea Fishing Group.

Match Secretary’s Report

• The Ron Foster Memorial trophy took place on Sunday 6 April at Soke Road,with 9 Members attending. First – C Judkins (63lb 15oz); Second – G Cramp (39lb 10oz); Third – D Hurst (27lb 6oz). The Match Fund subsidised the cost of the venue (£5.00).
• The first leg of the Gerald Sedgewick Memorial Trophy took place on Sunday 13 April on the Tavern stretch of the Hungerford Canal, with 7 Members attending. First – M Cramp (4lb 0oz); Second – S Ferris (2lb 4oz); Third – R Rolfe (1lb 11oz).
• The next match is scheduled for 25 May at Plough Pond. The draw will take place at 07:00, fish 08:00 – 13:00.
• The Match Fund stands at £297.50.

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed minutes.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• Cormorant Patrol: Some of the cormorant tapes have been removed from the Pond to enable swims to be fished. No cormorant activity has been reported. Members are reminded to patrol the Pond as the increased footfall helps deter these birds.
• Marginal Planting: AGA Group have supplied 100 Carex bare rooted plants and these have been planted in the margins of Pegs 5, 6 and 7. Some Iris plants have been re-sited from the stream to Peg 3. The Club would like to thank Terry and Sonny Warncken for carrying out the planting and preparing the swims.
• Supplementary Feeding: A feeding guide has been placed at the pond and a Log Book is now available to record feeding history.

Chairman’s Report

• The Angling Trust’s AIF – Predation Fund opened on 17^th March 2025. The Club has completed the first stage of the application process by submitting an Expression of Interest form.
• Water quality testing at Newbridge is continuing as part of our role in the national study of rivers by the Angling Trust (WQMN). The April sampling will be carried out soon.
• Water quality testing at Plough Pond was carried out on 5^th April 2025. Nitrate was again measured at 5 ppm. All other contaminants were undetected (nitrite, ammonia, and phosphate). The pH was 8.0. Dissolved oxygen was in the range 105 to 191% and water temperature 10.9^oC. The low nitrate levels for this time of year have not been seen since 2022.

New Actions

• A Work Party at Plough Pond has been arranged for Saturday 26^th April 2025. The intention is to complete the removal of overhanging trees on the island. Pegs 1, 10 and 11 require back-filling with soil/aggregate. The platform at Peg 17 needs re-fastening.

The meeting ended at 9:10pm.

The next meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on Tuesday 20^th May 2025. All welcome.