SI CHIDLER (Redditch) went into the final Cadence FT Redditch Federation of Anglers Spring League match in third place but managed to reel in the opposition to emerge as the champion after winning the tough section D on the Shakespeare bank.
Chidler, on peg 30, secured a hard-fought 12lb 15oz for a seven points final score to win the league by just one point from Alf Hand (Worcester).
In a very tight race for third and fourth places, in which four anglers were all tied on nine points, it went to a weight countback to decide and Colin Harvey (Cadence FT) had the edge over long-time league leader James Lawler (Milo).
Individually, in a close match on Arrow Valley Lake on Saturday, Harvey took top spot with a catch of 14 bream for 29lb 10oz from unfancied peg 51, with Kevin Tipton (Sensas) chasing hard with 28lb 3oz from 54.
John Halfpenny (Arrow Valley) took third spot with 27lb 14oz (60) ahead of Hand and Mark Malin (MAP) who were tied for fourth on the day with with 24lb 6oz catches.
Over on the tough Shakespeare bank section, winners were Nigel Davis (Arrow Valley) with 11lb 7oz and league winner Chidler.
