PAUL Drake's win at Braintree Sea Angling Club final match of 2017 consolidated his position at the top of the leader board as best match man over the year.
Drake took top spot with with 156 points, with runner-up going to Chris Leonard with 98 points, closely followed by Robin Joy with 94.
Seven members braved the rain, sleet and strong winds to fish the last match of the year on Walton Pier.
Fortunately the wind was off the land so there was some protection for the anglers, but fishing was slow until the tide turned with the occasional whiting and dab being caught.
When the wind dropped as the rain went out to sea and the tide turned, the whiting began to come on the feed, providing most of the anglers with plenty of catches for the last hour and a half.
Drake was victorious with 35 whiting and three dabs for 411 fish points that won him a bottle of whiskey.
In second place was Joy, with 299 points from his catch of 22 whiting, one dab and a pout, while third spot went to Leonard with 23 whiting and 269 points.
The prize for the longest fish went to Barrie Senior a whiting of 34cm.
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