'˜Cosh' is the boss at annual memorial competition

As no one had fished the pool before, the competition was wide open but featured five previous winners, including favourite and three-times winner Eddie Laister.

He caught the nicest fish of the day, a fin-perfect barbel that tipped the scales at just over 8lbs, but he was never in contention at the weigh-in.

Laister’s peg, like half of the competitors, was on the road side of the pond, but the fish were showing more on the wood side.

Cosh Johnston’s method-feeding tactics meant he became the 12th different name on the shield. 2010 champion Gethin Gregory was a close second, Simon Hackey third, 2003 winner Kelvin Yeomans fourth and Dave Gregory fifth.

The match raised £280 for the colon cancer research unit at The Christie. Paul’s family thanked the anglers, Longford Fishery and Gareth at Rems.