Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 16^th July 2024

Present: G Cramp; T Warncken; B Sutton; N Ponting; L Teale; J Blackwell; D Dance; J Rolfe; R Stone

Apologies: V D’Souza; S Ferris; W Hailey

Minutes: Gary Cramp

Actions from Previous Meeting

• Action on changing our NatWest account signatories is progressing but still ongoing.
• Replacement crayfish traps have been installed at the Pond. These should be more robust than the previous ones. 36 crayfish have been caught in since mid-May. (Note: we have a license for 10 crayfish traps).
• Our Stocking Coordinator (Bill H) is looking at stocking bream of 1.5 – 2lb in late February 2025 (approx. cost £1000.00). Martin Moore has been contacted by Bill. We intend to place the order once we know availability. The intention now is to continue annual stocking to gradually increase levels.
• There are at least 20 Members and guests for the annual Barbeque and Presentation Evening on Saturday 20^th July 2024, starting at 19:00 (food at 20:00). There will be a raffle and the Club will donate £40.00 in raffle prizes. However, as in previous years, all prize donations are welcome. All funds generated will benefit the Club.

Club Welfare Officer’s Report

• Richard Stone has taken on the role of Club Welfare Officer. Richard’s contact Tel. 07551 031857.
• The Club’s welfare policy is available on our website (www.ploughangling.org.uk/safeguarding/)

Sea Secretary’s Report

• In Chris’s absence, Barry Sutton reported on the fishing trip which took place on 14^th July. Photos from the trip can be seen on the Club’s website. Plenty of fish were caught, including 5 tope.
• Next trip is a 3 day event from Weymouth scheduled for 23 to 25 September.
• Contact Chris Judkins if you would like to be involved in the Sea Fishing Group.

Match Secretary’s Report

• The PAY Match on 7^th July at Plough Pond was fished by 7 Members, with only one weighing in (Mat Cramp). This was a particularly disappointing results. We would like to think this is not a consequence of the calibre of our match men, but as a result of the sudden fall in water temperature from 35mm of rain the previous day.
• A total of 4 matches have been fished since the last meeting, all details are on the web site.
• The next match is the away leg of the Team Match against Wantage & Grove AC on Sunday 28^th July. The Plough Team comprises the top 8 anglers from the previous season’s Plough Angler of the Year standings (D Dance; L Teale; G Cramp; M Cramp; N Ponting; S Ferris; R Rolfe; C Judkins).
• The home leg of the Team Match, scheduled for 6^th October, will be fished on The Thames at Newbridge.
• The match fund is currently £295.00. The invoice for trophy engraving has been paid (£85.00).

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed Minutes.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• An order has been placed with A.G.A. Group for 3 x 2m pre-planted Coir Rolls. These are required for the marginal planting trial along a section of the island.
• The felling of dead and overhanging trees on the island was started by a Work Party on Saturday 13^th July (N Ponting; V D’Souze; D Dance; J Pike; L Teale). A Further Work Party will be needed to prepare for the arrival of the coir rolls in September.

Chairman’s Report

• Our Bailiff at Newbridge (Adam) reported that 2 anglers were challenged to buy Day Tickets on 14^th July, but didn’t have cash with them. Adam has made his business Card Reader available and will use this if the need arises. A small fee for each transaction will be paid by the Club.
• Our Bailiff at Newbridge challenged a group of Eastern European anglers on the weekend of 13^th – 14^th July. The anglers produced a list of the fish they were allowed to remove from the river. The Club Chairman subsequently obtained clarification from the Angling Trust. Our Day Ticket states that all fish must be returned to the river. If anglers are removing fish from Newbridge, then this is an offence: ‘theft of fishing rights’ Schedule 1, Section 32 Theft Act 1968 and should be reported to the Police (on 101 or 999 for crime in progress).
• If any Member suspects that someone is fishing illegally, you can report this to the Environment Agency (0800 80 70 60). Calls will be logged and patrols will take place by the EA and Angling Trust Enforcement Officer if this proves to be an ongoing issue for us. Members are advised not to put themselves at risk.
• Water testing at the pond shows that Nitrate levels are low and stable.  All other contaminants measured (Nitrite; Phosphate and Ammonia) are absent. Levels of dissolved oxygen remain high.
• Water quality testing at Newbridge is continuing as part of our role in the national study of rivers by the Angling Trust. Further testing will be carried out next week.

New Actions

• Plough Pond is Open. The Pond was closed temporarily for 1 week whilst the Landowner carried out ‘field work’.
• Nick Ponting has agreed to contact the Landowner of Plough Pond to either remedy or give him permission to remedy the uneven track.
• Newbridge Field 1 has been booked by Cold Stone Angling Club on Saturday 12^th October 2024.

The meeting ended at 8:35pm.

The next meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on 20^th August 2024. All welcome.