David Bryant and Wayne Fletcher, both from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, were second, also securing a place in the final, with a catch of 110lb14oz.

The top two pairs are going through to the final at Hythe in August.

Forty-one fish were caught at the weekend with a total weight of 853lb. The largest fish weighed 31lb12oz and was caught by Dave Smith, from the West Country.

How it was on the day

ONE of the final heats in the British Carp Championships got underway again today(May16) at Mid Kent Fisheries in Chilham.

Twelve pairs are battling it out over the next 48 hours for a place in the grand final at Hythe in August. Only the top two pairs can go through.

Competitors face two nights under canvas at Chilham Lake and the winners will be the two pairs with the heaviest total weight of carp by noon Sunday.

Some of the country’s top anglers have travelled to Kent for the competition but the county also has some home grown talent in the competition. Among them are Paul Mason and Kevin Reynolds, from the Isle of Sheppey, Richard Harman, from Dover, and Adrian Barker, from Folkestone.

The full list of contenders are as follows: David Bryant/Wayne Fletcher; Dave Smith/June Smith; Paul Mason/Kevin Reynolds; John Tai; Ray Hawkins/Neil Trotter; Mark Blackburn/Martin Wiffen; Lee Garner/Daniel Wilde; Reece Weston/A Weston; Bob Hedley/Connon Soanes; Stewart Bose/Bill Keefe; Richard Atwell/Spencer Landers; and Richard Harman/Adrian Baker.

The competition will draw to a close on Sunday at 12noon and a presentation will take place outside Chilham Mill at 1.30pm for the winners.