CHARMOUTH’S Richard Cleal enjoyed a day to remember as he scooped the British Open Fishing Championships in Deal, Kent.

The 63-year-old match angler, fishing for the first time at the location, saw off a field of around 260 competitors during the event, where the total haul caught is weighed.

Cleal caught around six kilograms of fish after five hours of competition in his zone, reeling in codling, whiting and flatfish throughout the day.

“It’s a big one and mainly all the top people around the country are there,” he said.

“The whole thing was over 10 miles and you get drawn pegs and zones to fish in.”

While the match angler was busy adding to his total throughout the contest, he was being looked on by an envious entrant alongside him.

He added: “The bloke next to me only caught three fish, I caught about 160!

“It’s a funny game fishing, one day you are brilliant, the next you aren’t.”

For Cleal’s efforts, he took home a trophy, £500 in cash, £120 for his pool and also came away winning the lucky draw with another £50 to his name.

He added: “I wouldn’t enter them (the events) if I didn’t think I was going to win.

“We actually fished the masters event two days before which I did absolutely rubbish in!”