Plough Angling Club Minutes

Meeting: 16^th June 2026

In Attendance and Apologies

Present: L Teale; J Blackwell; J Rolf; C Judkins; B Sutton; D Dance; T Warncken; J Pike; N Ponting

Apologies:  A Earl

Minutes:  L Teale

Actions from Previous Meeting

• Please take care close to the boat shed to avoid the falling branch. This and the trees at Pegs 15 and 19 will require the services of a contractor (Toby) to remove.
• Peg depths and profiles at Plough Pond were emailed to Members. Please let the Secretary know if you haven’t received this.

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 sea date is 21 June 2026, sailing from Weymouth.
• The Sea Shield winner will be decided after the trip on 12^th July 2026.
• The sea dates for next year are likely to be arranged for midweek, rather than weekend.
• Contact Chris Judkins if you would like to be involved in the Sea Fishing Group.

Match Secretary’s Report

• Three matches have been fished since the last meeting. Full results are published on our website.
• The Ron Foster Memorial Trophy was fished at Plough Pond on Sunday 24^th May, with 11 Members attending. The match was won by Bill ‘The Bream’ Hayden with 15lb 12oz, of (you’ve guessed it) bream. In second place was Matt Cramp with 8lb 14oz, which included 4 bream. In third place was Barry Sutton with 3lb 10oz, which included 2 bream.
• A Pools match took place on 31^st May 2026, with 10 Members attending, at a new venue for the Club: Priory Farm Lake, Lyneham, Chipping Norton. We were guests of Coldstone AC. The match was won by Danny Dance with 44lb 10oz of carp and a tench. The haul included a Grass Carp of 11lb 4oz. In second place was Nick Ponting with 39lb 3oz of carp and silvers. In third place was Matt Cramp with 38lb 4oz. A total of 230lb was caught by the 10 anglers. We would like to thank Coldstone AC for their hospitality and in particular Peter Moss for his support. This was a fantastic venue and we hope to visit again next season.
• The first leg of the Plough Angler of the Year Trophy was fished on the lake at Buscot Park on Sunday 6^th June, with 14 Members attending (13 fished). The match was won by Nick Ponting with 22lb 15oz, which included a 15lb Mirror and 6lb 4oz Common Carp. In second place was Phil Mansbridge with 10lb 11oz, which included a Carp of 8lb 14oz. In third place was Chris Judkins with 8lb 0oz, which included a 4lb bream.
• The next match is the first leg of the Jon Blackwell Twilight Trophy. This match will be fished at Plough Pond on Friday 19^th June. The draw will take place at 15:00, fish 16:00 – 20:00 (4 hour match).
• The second leg of the Plough Angler of the Year Trophy is scheduled for 5^th July 2026 at a Soke Road. The draw will take place at 09:00, fish 10:00 – 16:00 (6 hour match).
• The Team Match against Wantage & Grove AC will take place on Sunday 12^th July 2026 at Grove Pond. The team from the Plough AC is decided on placings at the Plough Angler of the Year for 2025. Teams comprise of 8 anglers. The draw will take place at 08:00, fish 09:30 – 14:30.
• If you would like to fish any of the matches, then please book in with Danny. He will not be chasing you in future. If Pegs are limited and you haven’t booked in, then you might be disappointed.

Treasurer’s Report

• Refer to printed minutes.

Secretary’s Report

• Plough Pond Water Testing:

Water quality testing was carried out on 10^th June. Nitrite; Phosphate and Ammonia were all below detectable limits (0 ppm). Nitrate level was 5 ppm at pH 8.0. Dissolved oxygen measured between 86.4 (Peg 1) and 140.5% (Peg 7). Water temperature was 15.4^oC (Peg 10).

• Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN):

Water quality testing on The Thames at Newbridge was carried out on 13^th June. Phosphate was measured at 0.59 ppm, above the reportable level (0.3 ppm) and nitrate was at 5 ppm. Our Fisheries Manager at the Environment Agency was emailed with these results.

Vice Chairman’s Report

• Plough Pond: No issues to report.
• Newbridge: A meeting took place on 26^th May between the Landowner and myself to discuss Fishing Rights at Newbridge Farm for the 2026/27 Season, which have now been secured. Working with the Landowner, we have reviewed our Club Rules at Newbridge for this coming season.

The Rules at Newbridge are as follows:

1. The Club rents the Fishing Rights from the Landowner for the three fields upstream from the bridge on the left-hand bank only. The Club remains under ongoing scrutiny and Club Members should be aware that the Fishing Rights can be removed at any time.
2. Members are expected to be respectful to the Landowner; Farmer and those working on the farm.
3. No access through Newbridge Farm for Club’s vehicles and parking on farm property is not allowed.
4. Car parks are available either opposite The Maybush pub (What3Words: schematic.appendix.stubbed), or behind the Rose Revived pub (What3Words: spreading.gems.final).
5. Day tickets are available for sale on the bank. These can only be issued to those holding a valid EA Rod License. Abbreviated Rules are printed on the Day Ticket.
6. The Club can rent out this Club Water to other angling clubs on an agreed limited basis. Bookings are shown on our website. An Officer of the Plough AC will be present at the start and finish times of the booking to provide guidance to the visiting club and report any issues. The visiting Club is expected to follow our Club rules.
7. All gates on the Thames Path to be closed.
8. All bankside litter to be removed from your vicinity and taken home with you.
9. Do not climb over the fences or gates.
10. Any Member who is seen to be disregarding these rules may be asked to leave the Club.

Subsequent to the meeting, our Secretary emailed the Landowner, thanking him for his support in what will be our 20^th anniversary at Newbridge. The invoice from Frost Farms was received and duly paid.

Chairman’s Report

• Work Parties: Thanks to all who attended the Work Party at Newbridge on Saturday 13^th June. All the fishable swims have been opened up and strimmed.
• Website: updated with the new River Rules and parking arrangements at Newbridge.
• Plough Pond: the Pegs have been strimmed and the grass mown (thanks Jim). The pond weed is no longer an issue.Predation:  No otter sightings since 28^th April by the wildlife camera. No evidence of fish kills has been found.
• Fish Health: examination of the bream caught during the match on 24^th May showed them all to be healthy and growing well.
• Feeding: currently stopped.
• Catch Reports: Could members please report catches at Plough Pond to the Chairman?
• WhatsApp Group: A WhatsApp group has been created for the Club. This will enable quicker and more efficient communication regarding catches, match updates, and any other matters of interest. If you would like to join, please contact the Chairman at the number shown on your permit.

New Actions

• 44 Crayfish have been caught at Plough Pond since the traps were set last month.
• Pegs currently unfishable at Newbridge: 1 (silt); 2 (weed); 5 (boat); 8 (boat); 10 (weed); 14 (silt); 29 (weed); 30 (weed); 36 (weed) and 38 (weed).
• The water booking at Newbridge scheduled for 28^th June 2026 has been withdrawn.
• Work is required on the Boat Shed at Plough Pond. The fallen tree needs to be felled. The boats need consolidating. The structure needs to be improved to better house the boats, mower and feed bins. To be scheduled late summer this year.
• Buscot Park – should the Club continue to book this venue for matches? It is not financially viable to book the whole lake. Bookings are available for either side of the lake. The side with Pegs 1 to 15 has the number of Pegs we need for a match. The other side of the lake doesn’t have sufficient Pegs. We only pay for the Pegs we use, thanks to Danny’s long-standing relationship with Buscot Park. To be discussed further. Input from our affected Members would be appreciated.
• The Match Secretary has the authority to offer match anglers with mobility issues, swims that are more easily accessible. For example: Field 1 at Newbridge; Pegs close to the footbridge at Plough Pond. Assistance with transporting gear will always be provided if needed.
• The Maybush is giving our members a 10% discount on food and hot drinks if you produce your permit.
• The Club would once again like to thank Jim Pike for engraving our trophies this year.
• The Club would like to thank Nick Ponting for his diligent, calm and professional negotiations with the Landowner to secure our Fishing Rights at Newbridge again this coming season.

The meeting ended at 21:35pm.

The next monthly meeting will take place at the RBL Sports & Social Club in Hanney at 19:30 on Tuesday 21^st July 2026. All welcome.