Important Information

UK Barbel Masters 2026

Based on feedback and the overall popularity of the UK Barbel Masters we have increased the number of entries by having 3 qualifiers this year and a final with 50 anglers. The three 24 hour qualifiers will take place on the River Trent at A1 pits.

This year we have moved away from the live draw concept due to the amount of time it takes to organise, the volume of anglers entering the competition and who either did not pay or deciding they did not want to fish the competition. All tickets will be bought on our website page only. Details about this are listed under the How to enter paragraph.

This year we will need additional marshals to help both run the event and weigh barbel as they are caught. Details of how to be a marshal will be advertised nearer to the qualifiers and final.

Please ensure you read all the rules below and our Privacy Policy on our website prior to entering the competition as there are some important changes to last years events.

There will be 3 qualifiers held as detailed below with 100 pegs in each:-

• Q1 draw 0800 Thursday 3rd Sept, fish 1000 Thurs to 1000 Fri.
• Q2 draw 1100 Friday 4th Sept, fish 1300 Fri to 1300 Sat.
• Q3 draw 1400 Saturday 5th Sept, fish 1600 Sat to 1600 Sun.

The final will be a 48 hour match (50 pegs).

• Friday 2nd October 2026 to Sunday 4th October 2026.
• Arrive from 0700.
• Draw at 0900.
• Fish from 1100 Friday to 1100 Sunday.
• The final presentation will take place at approx. 1230 on Sunday 4th October 2026.

Note in the event that the organisers and/or A1 Pits determine the river is not safe to fish, should flooding occur etc, the qualifiers/final will be moved to 1 week later or until the qualifiers/final can take place.

How to enter

• Please ensure you have read all the competition rules below prior to entering.
• Read the Privacy Policy on our website.
• The entry fee will be £110 and is non refundable. As part of your entry fee £5 will be donated to our charity of the year.
• Tickets will be open for general sale on our website from Sunday 15th February for the Thursday tickets, we will advertised on both our website and Facebook pages as and when the Friday and Saturday tickets are on sale.
• When the tickets are advertised simply go on our website to the Buy Tickets and purchase a ticket. You will receive payment confirmation from PayPal, this is your receipt.
• The tickets for the Thursday qualifier will be advertised first, then a week or two later the Friday and then finally Saturday tickets.
• The entry fee payment will include a £25 non refundable admin fee.
• If for any reason you are unable to attend the event after paying please contact us as soon as possible and we will try to offer your place to another angler, there is no guarantee though and your entry fee will not be refunded if we are unable to arrange a replacement angler. Should we be able to arrange another angler then you will receive your entry fee minus the £25 admin fee and the £5 charity donation, and will therefore receive £80.
• Once all the qualifiers tickets are sold out there will be a reserve list which we will advertise. Anglers can register their interest on a first come basis on our website under Reserve List. If tickets then become available we will contact them directly.
• Spare tickets will be advertised on our website and Facebook page from time to time should any become available on a first come basis after the reserve list has been contacted.
• From the 1st July 2026 any angler who is unable to fish their any entry fee will be forfeit and go into the charity fund.
• A1 pits have received 15 tickets (5 for each qualifier) and the cost of these tickets has been offset against the venue hire cost. Other tickets will be distributed amongst the sponsors and marshals, all these tickets will be paid for to ensure the prize funds aren’t affected.
• Last years winner will be invited to defend their trophy in the final.
• A list of anglers in each qualifier will be posted on the UK Barbel Master website and Facebook page.

How to qualify for the Final:-

• Each qualifier will be split into sections of 20 anglers with the top 3 anglers in each section qualifying (providing they catch barbel). The angler who catches the biggest barbel in each qualifier will also qualify for the final. Should the biggest barbel be caught by an angler who has already qualified via a 1st, 2nd or 3rd in section, it will be decided by the biggest barbel caught by an angler who hasn't already qualified.
• If a section or sections don’t catch barbel the places will then be filled by anglers who catch barbel in other sections that haven’t qualified as 1st/2nd/3rd in a section and/or the biggest barbel based on the total weight of barbel caught.
• Only anglers who catch barbel will qualify for the final with a maximum of 16 from each qualifier.
• If any places haven’t been filled from a qualifier those places roll onto the next qualifier, and then the final qualifier.
• Example - if in qualifier 1 only 10 anglers catch barbel then those 10 anglers qualify for the final. This means there are now 6 additional spaces available in the 2nd qualifier, so 22 anglers could qualify for the final if they all catch barbel. Should only 10 anglers catch in the 2nd qualifier then 6 places from Q1 and 6 places from Q2 are available in the 3rd qualifier, so 28 anglers could qualify for the final.
• Additionally if more than 16 anglers catch in Q1 and less than 16 anglers catch in Q2 and Q3 places in the final will be filled by the anglers in the qualifier who catch barbel based on the total weight of barbel caught.
• After all the qualifiers if all 48 places have been filled then a golden ticket draw will take place which will consist of any angler in the 3 qualifiers who has caught a barbel but did not qualify for the final. The name drawn will then go into the final with the 2025 UK Barbel Masters Winner.
• Over the 3 qualifiers if all places aren’t filled by anglers who caught barbel, then every angler who did not catch a barbel will go into a draw and names will be drawn to fill the final. Example – 38 anglers catch barbel over the 3 qualifiers then 262 anglers names will go into a draw and 11 names will be drawn.
• Any angler who leaves the qualifier before the end of the match will be disqualified and forfeit and prizes or the opportunity to win the golden ticket.

The Rules

• The UK Barbel Masters is a Feeder/Lead & Float only competition, as such there are a few simple rules to help competitors.
• Deepers are not allowed. Anglers can as soon as they are at their peg use a lead to find any features in their swim.
• The use of spoppers for baiting is not allowed. Any bait introduced must be via a feeder, catapult, pva mesh or by hand.
• No bait to be introduced prior to the start of the competition.
• Feeder/Lead & Float only, rolling meat is allowed.
• Only two rods to be in use at any one time.
• Rods and reels must be used.
• Fishery Rules apply.
• No braided main lines to be used.
• No fixed lead set-ups (semi fixed is ok), leads must be able to separate from the line if snagged.
• No rods to be left unattended.
• Anglers must have 2 landing nets available to land any fish caught.
• Toilets are not available, bag and bin your personal waste & litter, do not leave it at the venue.
• No lighting of fires allowed and any cooking apparatus must be raised off the floor and not leave scorch marks.
• The peg the angler draws is the peg they fish in the match. There is no exchanging of pegs.
• If an angler leaves before the end of the match, they will be disqualified and therefore forfeit any cash and sponsor prizes.
• No angler can receive any help in the match in relation to casting rods, landing fish, swim baiting.
• Anyone breaking the rules will be disqualified.
• The events organising committees’ decision is final.

FISH WELFARE

• Please use a large, deep, fine knotless meshed landing net and always allow the barbel time to recover in a sufficient depth before removing the fish from the water.
• Transfer the fish, in the net, from the water and place the fish on a wet unhooking mat whilst you remove the hook. After the hook has been removed return the fish back to the water in your landing net and allow further time for it to recover.
• We have a weigh and release policy. We will have dedicated marshals who will weigh the barbel individually and released soon after capture.
• Please ensure that all barbel are nursed so as they are fully recovered before release.
• Unhooking mats must be used whenever a fish is to be laid on the ground, even if it is in a landing net.

Additional Information for the final

• The competition winner will be the highest overall weight of barbel in the match (they will be excluded from the section winnings/places but not the biggest fish prize).
• The competition second overall will be the second highest overall weight of barbel in the match (they will be excluded from the section winnings/places but not the biggest fish prize).
• The competition third overall will be the third highest overall weight of barbel in the match (they will be excluded from the section winnings/places but not the biggest fish prize).
• In the event of a tie it will be decided on the most number of barbel caught by the anglers tied, if it is still a tie the biggest barbel they caught, then the time of the first barbel caught. If it is still a tie then the prizes will be split.
• The biggest fish winner will be the biggest fish landed in the match (in the event of a tie the prize will be split).
• Section prizes will be for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the sections of 10 anglers based on the highest overall weight of barbel in the match. The overall winners 1st, 2nd and 3rd are excluded from the section prizes. In the event of a tie in any of the sections it will be decided on the most number of barbel caught by the anglers tied, if it is still a tie the biggest barbel they caught, then the time of the first barbel caught. If it is still a tie then the tied anglers names will be drawn.
• In the event that insufficient anglers catch in their sections then any remaining prizes will be drawn for those sections (only anglers present at the presentation will have their names in this draw).

The UK Barbel Masters committee reserve the right to alter any of competition rules as required.

The qualifier prizes

• In the 3 qualifiers the prizes will be as follows:-
• Overall winner £200 rrp of prizes plus sponsors prizes.
• 2nd £150 rrp of prizes plus sponsors prizes.
• 3rd £100 rrp of prizes plus sponsors prizes.
• Biggest barbel caught in the 3 qualifiers is a sponsors prize.
• There will also be a sponsors prize for the first barbel caught in each qualifier.
• No cash prizes will be paid in the qualifiers.

The final prizes

Overall Winner £5000 plus £1000 rrp of prizes

• Plus sponsors prizes

Overall 2nd £2000 plus £500 rrp of prizes

• Plus sponsors prizes

Overall 3rd £1000 plus £500 rrp of prizes

• Plus sponsors prizes

Biggest fish £500 (final only)

• Plus sponsors prizes

Sections (5 sections of 10 anglers)

1st £500

• Plus sponsors prizes

2nd £350

• Plus sponsors prizes

3rd £200

• Plus sponsors prizes

Please note that the cash prizes will only be paid via bank transfer and are subject to all places being filled. Should we not fill all the places the cash prizes will be reduced according to the number of anglers participating in the event. Additionally the sponsors prizes may change and full details will be updated on our website and on our Facebook page.

• all sponsor prizes are subject to them being received by UK Barbel Masters from the relevant sponsor.

List of anglers in the qualifiers (kept upto date as tickets are purchased)

Thursday 3rd Sept 2026

T BM 1 Jason Boam

T BM 2 Tony Montague

T BM 3 Jamie Graves

T BM 4 Martin Jarvis

T BM 5 Mark Goldstein

T BM 6 James Wilkinson

T BM 7 Michal Wasilewski

T BM 8 Adam Bruce

T BM 9 John Johnson

T BM 10 Mark Birstall

T BM 11 Andrew Riley

T BM 12 Gary Legge

T BM 13 Philip Barsby

T BM 14 Francis Lee

T BM 15 Daniel Else

T BM 16 Ian Pattison-Clode

T BM 17 Lee Madden

T BM 18 Owen Kelly

T BM 19 Gary Dell

T BM 20 Scott Cowell

T BM 21 Shaun Bint

T BM 22 Carl Thompson

T BM 23 Michael Thompson

T BM 24 Andrew Bate

T BM 25 Robin Grew

T BM 26 Lee Martin

T BM 27 Robert Kenyon

T BM 28 Mark Fox

T BM 29 Darren Tapsfield

T BM 30 Trevor Symons

T BM 31 Brett Northage

T BM 32 Paul Townend

T BM 33 David Taylor

T BM 34 Lee Hunt

T BM 35 Lewis Kennedy

T BM 36 Gary Boast

T BM 37 Slawomir Slowinski

T BM 38 Mark Webster

T BM 39 Patrick Spraggins

T BM 40 Scott Wallington

T BM 41 Martin Hughes

T BM 42 Przemyslaw Dyk

T BM 43 Adam Staples

T BM 44 Paul Gilmour

T BM 45 Justin Stoddart

T BM 46 Ben Lacey

T BM 47 Robert Stott

T BM 48 Carl Janes

T BM 49 Kev Parker

T BM 50 Dan Griff

T BM 51 Neil Grange

T BM 52 Jason Tonks

T BM 53 Daniel Matthews

T BM 54 Andrew Wright

T BM 55 Andrew Chattaway

T BM 56 Josh Addison

T BM 57 Craig Hubbard

T BM 58 Stephen Hancock

T BM 59 Ian Waite

T BM 60 Andrew Rogers

T BM 61 Mark Burgess

T BM 62 Peter Tarrant

T BM 63 Philip Blackburn

T BM 64 Paul Gibson

T BM 65 Chris Clark

T BM 66 Glen Devonport

T BM 67 Lee Ellis

T BM 68 Richard Count

T BM 69 Anthony Preston

T BM 70 David Parker

T BM 71 Chris Podmore

T BM 72 Josh Metcalfe

T BM 73 Martin Rowlands

T BM 74 Scott Toseland

T BM 75 Alex Tipler

T BM 76 Robert Curry

T BM 77 Dave Benson

T BM 78 Jonathan Dunnell

T BM 79 Steve Beech

T BM 80 Nigel Metcalfe

T BM 81 Justin Furzer

T BM 82 Mark Anderson

T BM 83 Paul Sanderson

T BM 84 Richard Brown

T BM 85 Harry Smith

T BM 86 Nath Gray

T BM 87 Wayne Bovalentine

T BM 88 Paul Rush

T BM 89 Martin Forkes

T BM 90 Dave Hough

T BM 91 A1 Pits

T BM 92 A1 Pits

T BM 93 A1 Pits

T BM 94 A1 Pits

T BM 95 A1 Pits

T BM 96 Liam Willis

T BM 97 Mark Lucas

T BM 98 James Benfield

T BM 99 Sam Moore

T BM 100 Ryan Alderson

Friday 4th Sept

F BM 1 Mark Armstrong

F BM 2 Ian Pattison-Clode

F BM 3 Darren Dickerson

F BM 4 David Phillips

F BM 5 Nicholas Bethanis

F BM 6 Simon Wallington

F BM 7 Stewart King

F BM 8 Richard A Cottrell

F BM 9 Steven Currier

F BM 10 Nicholas Ince

F BM 11 Creg Gibbard

F BM 12 Paul Sparkes

F BM 13 Andrew J Harding

F BM 14 Jonathan Fowke

F BM 15 Stephen Williams

F BM 16 Gergo Doktorcsik

F BM 17 James Wilkinson

F BM 18 Paul Pepperrell

F BM 19 Andrew Denny

F BM 20 Robin Grew

F BM 21 Ian Culshaw

F BM 22 Dean Gymer

F BM 23 Harvey Metcalfe

F BM 24 Andrew Rogers

F BM 25 Marcin Kazimierczak

F BM 26 Ben Whyte

F BM 27 Gary Byron

F BM 28 Andrew Hunter

F BM 29 Stav Parkes

F BM 30 Jason Conaghan

F BM 31 David Morgan

F BM 32 Gary Atkinson

F BM 33 Arthur Terrill

F BM 34 Adam Miller

F BM 35 Brett Robert Northage

F BM 36 Wesley Watson

F BM 37 Andrew Ludlam

F BM 38 Adam Kemp

F BM 39 Alan Stuart

F BM 40 Andrew Chattaway

F BM 41 Graham Groves

F BM 42 Glyn Warwick

F BM 43 Andy Baggott

F BM 44 Dale Goodyear

F BM 45 Adam Lavery

F BM 46 Mark Webster

F BM 47 Joshua Addison

F BM 48 Gareth Doster

F BM 49 Paul Lyons

F BM 50 Lucjan Sliwa

F BM 51 Online ticket available

F BM 52 Online ticket available

F BM 53 Online ticket available

F BM 54 Online ticket available

F BM 55 Online ticket available

F BM 56 Online ticket available

F BM 57 Online ticket available

F BM 58 Online ticket available

F BM 59 Online ticket available

F BM 60 Online ticket available

F BM 61 Online ticket available

F BM 62 Online ticket available

F BM 63 Online ticket available

F BM 64 Online ticket available

F BM 65 Online ticket available

F BM 66 Online ticket available

F BM 67 Online ticket available

F BM 68 Online ticket available

F BM 69 Online ticket available

F BM 70 Online ticket available

F BM 71 Online ticket available

F BM 72 Online ticket available

F BM 73 Online ticket available

F BM 74 Online ticket available

F BM 75 Online ticket available

F BM 76 Online ticket available

F BM 77 Online ticket available

F BM 78 Online ticket available

F BM 79 Online ticket available

F BM 80 Ticket available contact us directly

F BM 81 Ticket available contact us directly

F BM 82 Nathan Elbourne

F BM 83 Kes Keary

F BM 84 Ian Johnson

F BM 85 Lisa Loveridge

F BM 86 Jerry Saltwell

F BM 87 Luke Alexander

F BM 88 Mark Davis

F BM 89 Mark Brayne

F BM 90 A1 Pits

F BM 91 A1 Pits

F BM 92 A1 Pits

F BM 93 A1 Pits

F BM 94 A1 Pits

F BM 95 Sponsor ticket

F BM 96 Gary Adams

F BM 97 Jacob Stone

F BM 98 Sponsor ticket

F BM 99 Sponsor ticket

F BM 100 Sponsor ticket

Saturday 5th Sept

S BM 1 Ian Pattison-Clode

S BM 2 Mark Bradley

S BM 3 Mark Epton

S BM 4 Adam Brettoner

S BM 5 Lee Turnbull

S BM 6 Gary Legge

S BM 7 Dean Bullock

S BM 8 Tim Aldridge

S BM 9 James Carter

S BM 10 Jason Hyde (barbel obsession)

S BM 11 Ben Iley

S BM 12 Stanley Roe

S BM 13 Joe Campen

S BM 14 Ashley Baines

S BM 15 Mark Jackson

S BM 16 James Brice

S BM 17 Online ticket available

S BM 18 Online ticket available

S BM 19 Online ticket available

S BM 20 Online ticket available

S BM 21 Online ticket available

S BM 22 Online ticket available

S BM 23 Online ticket available

S BM 24 Online ticket available

S BM 25 Online ticket available

S BM 26 Online ticket available

S BM 27 Online ticket available

S BM 28 Online ticket available

S BM 29 Online ticket available

S BM 30 Online ticket available

S BM 31 Online ticket available

S BM 32 Online ticket available

S BM 33 Online ticket available

S BM 34 Online ticket available

S BM 35 Online ticket available

S BM 36 Online ticket available

S BM 37 Online ticket available

S BM 38 Online ticket available

S BM 39 Online ticket available

S BM 40 Online ticket available

S BM 41 Online ticket available

S BM 42 Online ticket available

S BM 43 Online ticket available

S BM 44 Online ticket available

S BM 45 Online ticket available

S BM 46 Online ticket available

S BM 47 Online ticket available

S BM 48 Online ticket available

S BM 49 Online ticket available

S BM 50 Online ticket available

S BM 51 Online ticket available

S BM 52 Online ticket available

S BM 53 Online ticket available

S BM 54 Online ticket available

S BM 55 Online ticket available

S BM 56 Online ticket available

S BM 57 Online ticket available

S BM 58 Online ticket available

S BM 59 Online ticket available

S BM 60 Online ticket available

S BM 61 Online ticket available

S BM 62 Online ticket available

S BM 63 Online ticket available

S BM 64 Online ticket available

S BM 65 Online ticket available

S BM 66 Online ticket available

S BM 67 Online ticket available

S BM 68 Online ticket available

S BM 69 Online ticket available

S BM 70 Online ticket available

S BM 71 Online ticket available

S BM 72 Online ticket available

S BM 73 Online ticket available

S BM 74 Online ticket available

S BM 75 Online ticket available

S BM 76 Online ticket available

S BM 77 Online ticket available

S BM 78 Online ticket available

S BM 79 Online ticket available

S BM 80 Online ticket available

S BM 81 Peter Johnson

S BM 82 Ian Johnson

S BM 83 Mark Knowles

S BM 84 Richard Whittell

S BM 85 Ian Robinson

S BM 86 Clinton Clouting

S BM 87 Daniel Worrall

S BM 88 A1 Pits

S BM 89 A1 Pits

S BM 90 A1 Pits

S BM 91 A1 Pits

S BM 92 A1 Pits

S BM 93 Peter Tarrant

S BM 94 Mark Brayne

S BM 95 Andy Norris

S BM 96 Dan Clarke

S BM 97 Ben Wilson

S BM 98 Dave Pearson

S BM 99 Ryan Spencer

S BM 100 Alan Turner