Darren Cox

ENGLAND International Darren Cox won the PartyPoker.com Fish O Mania qualifier at Witherington Farm Lakes to book his place at Browning Cudmore in July.

As with the previous week's qualifier at Viaduct, the conditions were tough, with competitors facing severe winds and sporadic heavy rain and hail showers meaning catches were always going to be lower than normal at the fishery.

The winning ticket went to Cox, one of the country's finest anglers who has fished for England six times and came second in Fish O Mania 2003.

Last year's qualifier at Witherington Farm was won from peg 45 and the local angling fraternity believed that the winner would once again be delivered from that peg or thereabouts.

Kamasan Starlets angler Cox was confident that he had a chance of winning after drawing peg 47 on Outer Snake Lake and upon arriving at his peg, had further luck as the peg next door was vacant, giving him the opportunity to draw the extra fish into his own swim.

Fishing corn over pellet at 16 metres, he caught 19 carp up to 8lb for a winning weight of 79lbs, 1lb away from his target weight of 80lbs on the day.

Cox said: "I am really looking forward to fishing my third Fish O Mania final and excited that it will be a new venue this year. It will be hard to know how it will fish on the day and everybody will be in the same boat in July. There will be no advantage to anyone, but I am sure it will be a fantastic day and there is always a fantastic buzz at the Fish O Mania final."

Second placed angler was Pete Bailey, from Worcester, who fished pole at 13 metres and waggler to the island at peg 9 on Cottage Lake. He fished using corn and pellet to take carp to 8lb and skimmers for a final weight of 62lbs 5ozs.

Third placed angler was Somerton-based Ray Hayward with 59lbs 10ozs using pellet on pole and waggler. Fishing from peg 8 on Sellwood Lake, Hayward, who fishes for Sensas Viaduct, made up most of his weight from carp, tench and bream Nick Roberts, of Rod n' Reel, was fourth with 56lbs 6ozs and Paul Blinkhorn, a builder from Irlam and Trafford Angling, was in fifth with 52lbs 13ozs.

4:55am Monday 21st April 2008

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