Many hundreds of years ago (the early 1970’s actually), there was a match fishing team nicknamed “The Likely Lads” who carried all before them in the big team matches of those days. This gang of misfits was led by one of the greatest anglers of all time, the one and only Ivan Marks. Apart from being a wonderful angler, Ivan was also a great ambassador for the sport of angling. He would help anybody to catch more fish and he would chat to anybody and everybody, truly a wonderful, charming, larger than life character.

Ivan posing with one of his beloved bream

In 1971 he joined up with another of the likely lads, Roy Marlow, to set up the Marks & Marlow tackle shop in Leicester, surely the most famous tackle shop of all time. Sadly, Ivan was never seen without a cigarette in his mouth and the tobacco took its toll and Ivan died in 2004.

Roy Marlow is now the owner of the Glebe Fishery and every year he offers the fishery for a two day Ivan Marks Memorial Match with all ticket monies going to the Ivan Marks memorial fund.

This year’s match took place on a scorching hot weekend where the carp decided that it was time to do some spawning. Here’s the story of Day 2 of the match.

What a difference a day makes.
Under scorching conditions with little wind 101 anglers battled it out for the coveted Ivan Marks Memorial trophy, all-trying hard to beat yesterday’s winning weight of 194lbs by Kevsan Russell.

It was obvious from the beginning that the big spawning push was yesterday. Although many hundreds of fish were still at it there was far less commotion than Saturday.

The talk on the bank was about the secret Marukyu baits and additives that were so successful on Saturday.

It turned out to be Team Marukyu devastation with Team Members coming in 1st, 2nd,and 3rd.

The top two weights came off Glebe Lake 3 (Uglies) with a neck-to-neck battle between John Hall and Rich Morgan going fish for fish.
John finished with 29 carp and Rich 28
John weighed in 271 lbs and Rich 267lbs

John Hall & Rich Morgan - 1st & 2nd in the 2010 Ivan Marks Memorial Match

Two totally different pole styles, John fishing at 16 meters up in the water feeding 6mm and fishing 8mm protein Marukyu pellets on the hook.

John Hall, winer of the 2010 Ivan Marks Memorial Match

Rich fished pole down the side feeding 1mm Marukyu Nori pellets and fishing maggots glugged in Marukyu liquid Sanagi. Rich had fish up to 19lbs but paid the price with a broken top kit that possibly cost him the title.

Could this broken top section have cost Rich Morgan the match ?

Meanwhile on the Foundation Lake the nations best-dressed angler Team Marukyu Ace Chris Downs bagged 170lbs of smaller carp. Chris fed a variety of Marukyu baits and managed to keep them feeding for most of the day. Unlike most anglers Chris fed EFG131 and EFG151 groundbait proving yet again it is not all about pellets.

The first three pose with Ivan's wife Linda

Incidentally, when Roy sent me these details he described Chris as “The Country’s Best Dressed Village Idiot”, I have no idea why he’d say such a cruel thing !!.

Overall, there were 15 weights over 100lbs and everyone had a great time in hot conditions.

Ivan always enjoyed helping disabled anglers so as usual we had a section for “less abled” anglers. The Pensioner in charge was Graham Barry who is 70 in August (he asked Roy not to tell anyone so Roy wrote it down instead). The less fortunate had a great time on Glebe Pool 2 and for all of his efforts it was unanimously decided to award Graham the Man of the Match award. This was not for his fishing performance on the day as most people commented that a Muppet would have caught more.
Linda Marks presented the special trophy that Graham had to accept.

Graham receives the most treasured of all fishing trophies !!

With Kevsan winning Saturday’s event it meant that Team Marukyu anglers caught all the top 4 weights over the two days.

Ivan was a big supporter of the ACA (now the Angling Trust) and Linda Marks continued this theme by donating a cheque for £500 to the Angling Trust.