The RAF Fly High

The rivalry between the carp angling fraternities in the armed forces is massive and once a year they get to go head to head in the Inter Service Championships, earning the bragging rights for the next 12 months; something which the British Army have become accustomed to of late.

However, there was a new name engraved on the trophy this year - The Royal Air Force!

The Fox/Mainline backed flyers rose above above the rest, leaving the Navy and the Army in their jet-stream this year, as they powered away with the title on Linear's Brasnose 2. 

They led from start to finish with the highlight of the 48 hour match, the early capture of a new lake record at 34lb 4oz for Dixie Dean of RAF Brampton in Cambridegshire.  The boys never looked back, finishing with 370lb altogether, the nearest rivals being the Royal Navy with a respectable 218lb and the British Army acting as rear gunners with 76lb.

The RAF lads were armed with a host of Mainline's finest including: Cell and Active 8 boillies, particle syrup and the awesome pro-active groundbait but most of the damage was done by 10mm Milky Toffee pop-ups - the Brasenose fish couldn't resist 'em, including Dixie's lake record capture.

The team consisted of: Glenn Beardsall, Reg Verney, Dixie Dean, Lee Sustins, Joe Campen, Kev Lincoln, Mark Jarvis (captain), Lee Hasbury and Carl Hoyle (manager).  The highest scoring pairing was Mark Jarvis and Lee Hasbury with 201lb. Six of these carpers will represent the RAF in the 2011 BCAC - watch out, they're on a roll!