Stellar field set to battle it out at Weston Pools for DragonMania title

A stellar field of top coarse match anglers will battle it out at Weston Pools Fishery near Oswestry on Sunday all vying to become DragonMania champion.

The 2025 DragonMania Individual Coarse Angling Championship Final will be contested by the winners of the 20 qualifying matches that staged at six different venues across Wales between April and September.

All are gunning for a share of the £3,000 prize pot for the final, with £2,000 on offer for the outright winner, while there are also four section prizes of £250 up for grabs. The final will be fished on Canal Pool at Weston.

Be sure to follow Angling Cymru’s Facebook page for coverage of the final from Sunday morning.

Below we run through all of the finalists.

ROB PALMER

Rob Palmer was the first angler through to this year’s DragonMania final after winning the opening qualifier of 20 at Stamford Way back on 12 April.

It’ll be a second time in the final for Rob – a regular at Weston Pools and who says winning the club team championships there has been his highlight of this year.

Rob said: “With the final being on Canal it can be won from anywhere, but would have to fancy pegs 12, 16, 20, 23 and 42. It’s a very strong line up for the final and nice to be able to mix it with some of the best in the business.”

MIKEY WILLIAMS

2025 Daiwa Pole Fishing Masters champion and former FishOMania finalist Mikey Williams will be looking to add the DragonMania title to his list of honours this weekend.

His Daiwa win at Tunnel Barn Farm in June saw him head up a top 3 that also included fellow DragonMania finalists Matt Dawes and John Harvey, with Steve Openshaw also in the top 10.

Mikey was the second angler to qualify for this year’s DragonMania final, winning the qualifier at Sylen Lakes in Carmarthenshire on 13 April.

CHRIS WELLS

This weekend will mark a second DragonMania final appearance for Chris Wells – who is hoping for the luck of the draw at Weston on Sunday morning.

Chris, also a Fish South finalist this year, was in the 2022 DragonMania final in familiar surroundings but the day didn’t quite go as he’d hoped. He qualified for this year’s final by winning the Easter Sunday qualifier at White Springs on 20 April.

“It is a very strong line up, especially with some of the local superstars in the final and local knowledge is massive in my opinion,” said Chris ahead of the final.

“As always with the pegging being quite tight, a decent draw will be required and you will definitely need to be on your A-game to win it. Whoever can keep ticking over during the middle of the match, always putting something in the net, will be the one to beat.”

RICHARD O’CONNOR

Runner-up in the DragonMania final three years ago, Richard O’Connor is aiming to go one better on Sunday at Weston Pools.

Richard, who also the Angling Cymru Over 50s (North) winner this year, qualified for his second DragonMania final after coming through a qualifier at Stamford Way on 27 April.

Weston regular Richard said: “Having a good knowledge of Weston will be an advantage, but will need a good peg draw on the day. I’m hoping for peg 20, 12, 16, 23 or 42 – I think the match will be won off one of these pegs as

there’s plenty of room.

“I have won and framed consistently at Weston this year, but this final will be tough as there’s some highly talented anglers who have qualified.”

SIMON LEWIS

Sunday will be days of firsts for Haverfordwest’s Simon Lewis.

Not only will it be his first appearance in the DragonMania final, it will also be Simon’s first outing at Weston Pools.

Simon, who is a member of Sylen Piscatorials and regularly fishes open matches at Holgan Farm and White Springs, booked his spot in the final by winning a qualifier at Holgan Farm on 10 May.

“I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to fish at Weston Pools and in a match against such top quality anglers,” said Simon.

STEVE OPENSHAW

Steve Openshaw has already had one hell of a year.

Back in July, a remarkable charge at Westwood Lakes in Lincolnshire saw him go agonisingly close to netting the £50,000 top prize in the FishOMania final before being narrowly edged out, finishing as runner-up.

Then, last month, he won the Over 50s Fishing Masters at Birmingham’s Marston Fields.

On Sunday, regular framer Steve, who hails from the Wirral and owns Lingmere Fishery, will bid to add the Welsh title to his long list of achievements. It will be his first appearance in the DragonMania final – which he qualified for from Stamford Way on 11 May.

Steve said: “I’ve won the odd open match, along with a few festivals, so have a bit of experience at Weston. It is a strong line up, but I’m hoping for peg 16, 20, 23 or 42 – as am pretty sure the match will be won on one of these pegs.”

ANDREW PRICE

Andrew Price is looking forward to making the most of the DragonMania final experience at Weston Pools this weekend.

He took the qualifier at Sylen Lakes in Carmarthenshire on 18 May to book his spot.

“Really looking forward to the match,” he said. The venue is a lovely place; we are staying on site all weekend and I hope get to meet all qualifiers in the clubhouse for drinks. Just hope I get a good draw on Sunday, fingers crossed.”

MATT DAWES

Looking to go back-to-back on Sunday will be reigning DragonMania champion Matt Dawes, as he bids to successfully defend the Welsh title he won at Fachwen in 2024.

The 2023 FishOMania winner saw off the challenge of Andy Amos to take the win last year and heads into this weekend fresh off his dramatic recent Golden Reel victory at Larford Lakes.

“It would be nice to do it back-to-back, but with this line-up it’s going to be hard task. I got lucky with the draw last year so hopefully I can again,” said Matt.

“I know the lake very well and love fishing the venue this time of year; lots of different areas hold different fish, so think it’ll be key to working out what fish you need to catch to win. Peg wise I couldn’t say, but something with a little room will definitely help!"

DANIEL BOWEN

Former DragonMania champion Dan Bowen qualified at Holgan Farm in Narberth on 7 June.

A member of White Springs, Dan won the 2022 DragonMania final in familiar surroundings at White Springs, but it’ll be an entirely different challenge at Weston Pools this weekend.

He said: “It would be nice to win it again, so fingers crossed. Local lads at Weston will have good venue knowledge; I’ve been a handful of times so have a rough idea of how to attack it. There are a few anglers that could win it this year in a strong line up like that.”

Dan, who is from Llanelli, also took part in the Fish South Silvers final this year.

HARRY BILLING

Former Veterans World Champion Harry Billing is looking forward to his first appearance in the DragonMania final.

Harry won a qualifier at Stamford Way on 8 June to book his place in the final. Later that month, he helped England’s Vets win world team bronze on a difficult venue in Portugal. He was team and individual world champ in 2016.

Harry said: “I’ve fished Weston quite a few times and was lucky enough to win a festival there a few years ago; however I haven’t fished it for a few months now, so I’m going to have to draw well.

“The standard is very high, it’s full of locals who know the place really well and are well in tune with the venue.”

JOHN HARVEY

With two previous DragonMania finals including a third-place finish under his belt, John Harvey wants the winner's cheque on Sunday.

Winning the qualifier at White Springs Fishery on 14 June booked John his spot at Weston Pools and a third DragonMania final appearance.

It’s already been a year full of highlights for the former Parkdean Masters champion; third in the Daiwa Pole Fishing Masters, second in the MAP UK Pole Championship Final, while he also qualified for the Fish South Silvers, Fish South and Fish Midlands finals.

"Well I'm hoping to win, as that's what we are there for at the end of the day,” said John

“I fish Weston quite a lot; I've fished festivals and big money qualifiers on the venue quite regularly. The bait selection and pegs will dictate how you fish and what you will catch on the day."

ANDY AMOS

Looking to make it fourth time lucky will be three-time former DragonMania finalist, and last year’s runner-up, Andy Amos.

Andy booked his spot by winning a qualifier at Bron Eifion back on June 21.

Last month, he was also runner-up to Steve Openshaw in the Over 50s Fishing Masters at Marston Fields in Birmingham.

North Walian and Weston regular Andy said: “Great to be in the final again. It's going to be tough; it's just on the change now, but there's quite a few pegs it could be won from. Peg 12 is my guess. Each final I’ve been in has been strong, but this is definitely the strongest; some class anglers in this one.”

JAMES WOODFINE

Another angler ready to tackle their second DragonMania final is James Woodfine.

A regular at Weston Pools, James booked his spot by winning a qualifier at Stamford Way on 20 July. His first DragonMania final was at White Springs back in 2022.

Ahead of Sunday’s final, he said: “Really looking forward to this weekend; been going to Weston on and off for the last 10 years. On the day hoping to draw the high teens or early 20s. The line-up this year is ridiculously strong and I think anyone on the day could win.”

JAMES THOMAS

Sunday will make it a hat-trick of DragonMania finals for James Thomas. After finishing third in the inaugural final at White Springs in 2021, he also qualified again in 2022.

It was also at White Springs where he booked his spot for Weston Pools after winning the qualifier there back on 3^rd August with a winning bag weighing 161lb 14oz.

Ahead of this weekend’s final and as he gears up for tackle Canal Pool,

James said: “Experience at Weston is very limited, only been a handful of times mainly on Jack’s and Stretton! It’s a strong line up; I’ll just be trying to win my section, to give myself a chance of the title.”

CHRIS EWERS

Victory in the qualifier at White Springs on 23 August saw Chris Ewers book his place in the DragonMania final for the first time.

And Chris, from Ebbw Vale, is certainly looking forward to what will be a trip into the unknown at Weston Pools on Sunday.

“I’m just hoping I don’t come last,” he joked. “But with that line-up it’s a possibility.  “I’ve never been to Weston Pools, it will be all new to me, so we will see on the day.”

STEVE EASTON

Sylen Piscatorials member Steve Easton will fish his first DragonMania final on Sunday.

Victory in the qualifier on his local Sylen Lakes in Carmarthenshire on 24 August booked Steve his ticket to Weston Pools.

“I've been to Weston Pools on one other occasion last year; blew it on day 1, second in section day 2,” he said. “I'm hoping for a great draw, otherwise I’m pools fodder.”

ALAN JONES

Sunday will mark a third appearance in the DragonMania final for Alan Jones – a regular on the match scene in north Wales and who was a section winner and third overall in last year’s final.

He booked his place for Weston Pools by winning a qualifier at Stamford Way on 30 August.

Alan said: “It’s a very strong line-up; the finalists are all good anglers with many a big achievement under their belts, so it will be a very hard match. It can be won from anywhere given the talent of the anglers involved.”

TERRY STOKER

“Probably won't sleep now until Sunday night,” joked Terry Stoker, as he spoke to us ahead of his first appearance in the DragonMania final.

Terry, of Amlwch, Anglesey, and fishes with Holyhead DAC and opens at Bron Eifion, qualified for Sunday’s final at Weston after winning the qualifier at Eisteddfa on 6 September.

Looking ahead to this weekend, Terry said: “I was delighted to qualify for this year's Dragonmania final after a couple of near misses last year.

“The field is really strong, with a few Weston regulars amongst them.

"I've seen a few of them fishing shallow on various matches and know this can be deadly tactic on Canal for the Ide and F1s. I know I can't compete on that tactic, so I'll be fishing a patient match and hope to get amongst the bigger fish.”

ANDREW GRIFFITHS

On winning the last qualifier for this year at Bron last month, Andrew Griffiths became the 20^th qualifier to complete Sunday’s 2025 DragonMania final line-up.

A regular on the match scene in north Wales, Andrew also qualified for last month’s Over 50s Masters final at Marston Fields. Hailing from Gresford, near Wrexham, he regularly competes in the festivals and open matches at his local venue Weston Pools.

Ahead of Sunday’s final, he said: “This my first attempt at qualifying for big matches this year, so it’s my first DragonMania Final and I’m really looking forward to it. I thin k the match can be won from anywhere to be honest, especially with 20 anglers on it the pegging will be tight; my prediction will be peg 23.”

***Rob Jones, who qualified by winning the penultimate qualifier held at White Springs on 7 September, has pulled out of the final due to personal reasons.