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Team Pflueger Evinrude leapfrog field to win BETS 2013

IT was a bit like a Masterchef recipe: take 150 teams, wet, chill, stir up a bit, heat, cook, and stir up a bit more and finally let settle until reduced to 20 teams. That’s your BETS Grand Final field! And a fantastic 20 teams it was, representing all levels of experience and technique – a true reflection of the round stages of what has become one of the biggest bream fishing events ever.

The lure of a $20,000 First Prize, however, certainly focuses the attention and with all teams looking to get on with the task at hand on Sydney Harbour, boats left 15 minutes early last Saturday morning, keen to secure a few good fish as the sun broke through. Anglers were notably tight lipped after the pre-fish suggesting a quiet confidence and with near perfect conditions Saturday would be the day to lay some foundations before a rush to the line on Sunday.

The weigh-in for Day One confirmed how good the conditions were with nearly all teams weighing in five quality fish but it was past final winners Team Lowrance HDS of Mark Healey and Adrian Neoh who set the early pace with the only four kilo plus bag.
With 4.19kg the team held a slender lead but with bag weights in the mid to high three kilo range the top ten teams were all within striking distance.

An epic second day was on the cards and with the conditions due for a blustery change around lunchtime on the Sunday the pressure would be on to secure some valuable fish in case the change proved too challenging.

When teams return for the weigh-in on Day Two the picture was indeed very different – quiet confidence had given way to just plain quiet. As the team made their way to the scales it quickly became clear the second day had been a much tougher bite than the first and it was not until the top 10 teams began to weigh in did the scoreboard show any signs of movement.

With one team left to weigh in, Team Lowrance HDS had held their overnight lead and set a tough challenge to the remaining team – over 3.3kg was required to take the lead. It was then, however, that word got around that a big bag was still to be weighed.

Sitting in fourth place overnight, Team Pflueger Evinrude of Ross Cannizzaro and Alan Loftus knew everything was to play for on Day Two. Using all their experience on Sydney Harbour mixed with a little good luck the chance of a BETS Grand Final win was within reach. Having already changed long established tactics that had got the pair close in previous years, the team were confident they could back up a good Day One outcome with a great Day Two result. As they walked to the BETS stage it was clear something special was about to happen and as the scales settled at 4.71kg the teams, the crowd and most importantly Ross and Alan realised something just had!

With a total weight of 8.37 kg Team Pflueger Evinrude took out the 2013 BETS Grand Final title, First Prize of $20,000 and a pair or specially labelled custom Duffrods courtesy of sponsor Steve Duff.

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BETS winners are definitely grinners!

Team Lowrance HDS’s Mark Healey and Adrian Neoh did everything possible to hold on to that overnight first place but the winners Day Two bag was just too dominant. With a bag of 7.49kg and taking home $6000 and Second Place for the third time in a row, it was however yet another classy and consistent performance that was just reward for the time and effort the team put in over the Series.

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2nd place getters – Team Lowrance HDS’s Mark Healey and Adrian Neoh.

Leading the chasing pack behind the leaders was Team Hobie’s Kris Hickson and Daniel Brown with a combined weight of 6.97kg. Two of the country’s finest individual bream anglers and ever dangerous as a team the pair held off a spirited challenge from other several other teams to secure Third Place and $4000 in their third consecutive final together.

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Team Hobie’s Kris Hickson and Daniel Brown took out 3rd place.

With another $20,000 of sponsor prizes given away to subsequent teams it was another sensational end to what has been a huge Series. With over 150 teams entering over six rounds it’s a fantastic effort to make the BETS Grand Final and sincere congratulations go out to the 20 teams for their achievement.

So that is the BETS Bream done and dusted for 2013 – it’ll be back in 2014. Next up is the BETS Bass Grand Final – stay tuned for all the results.

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