BRITISH match fishing’s top names will bid to impress at the popular Evesham Angling Festival over the Bank Holiday weekend.

There are three days of fierce competition on the River Avon from Saturday until Monday with a series of titles up for grabs following a string of hotlycontested qualifiers.

With more than £27,000 available as prize money, river fishing’s prestigious weekend has again secured backing from Shakespeare, Wychavon District Council and Match Fishing Magazine.

The match length on the river is now closed to competitors until the £6,000 Evesham Championship final on Saturday.

The Wychavon Championship follows on Sunday, when top local anglers take on the best of the rest, and the Match Fishing Team Championship is on Monday.

Each will involve 70 pegs with the latter competition featuring 14 teams of five, including the United Kingdom ladies’ outfit.

For the second year running, the festival is being attended by key members of the world-beating Drennan Team England.

World champions Will Raison, Alan Scotthorne and Sean Ashby will compete on all three days this year.

The 70 anglers attending each day reads like a who’s who of match fishing with names like Dave Harrell, Callum Dicks, Keith Hobson, Wayne Swinscoe, Denis White, Lee Kerry, Jon Arthur and Mark Downes. With the festival ground at Evesham’s Crown Meadow extended with several additions, organisers hope this year’s event will be one of the best and more than 48,000 visitors are anticipated.

The craft fair has been extended and people are able to sample the weekend’s first real ale and cider festival alongside.

There will be fishing tackle exhibitors and a fun fair for the children who will also have the chance to try angling at a dedicated coaching area.

Gates open at 8.30am, when the competition draws will be made, with anglers competing from 11am until 4pm. An on-site bookmaker will offer odds on the championships. For more details, visit eveshamfestival.com.