White Springs all set for 2026 DragonMania Final
A field of top 20 match anglers will battle it out at White Springs Fishery in Pontarddulais, Swansea on Sunday (October 4) all vying to become DragonMania champion.
The 2026 DragonMania Individual Coarse Angling Championship Final will be contested by the winners of the 20 qualifying matches that were staged at 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 Lake at White Springs.
Below we run through all of the finalists.
ANDY AMOS
Age: 58
From: Connah’s Quay
Favourite method: Any method that catches plenty of fish
Qualified at: Stamford Way (May 2)
Previous DragonMania record: Been fortunate to qualify for all five Dragonmania Finals and was runner-up to Matty Dawes a couple of years ago (Fachwen 2024).
Highlight of 2026 so far: Winning the Bron Eifion summer festival, just beating Matty Dawes. Revenge was sweet 😆
Ahead of the final, Andy said: “I’ve only fished White Springs a couple of times, it’s a great venue and can’t wait. It’s impossible to call, with so many top anglers fishing. I’m sure it will be a great final.”
CHRIS WELLS
Age: 38
From: Burry Port
Favourite method: Shallow pole fishing
Qualified at: White Springs (14 June)
Previous DragonMania record: It will be Chris’ third DragonMania final appearance.
Highlight of 2026 so far: Qualifying for Fish South final.
Ahead of Sunday’s final on Canal, Chris said: “Would love a peg between 9 and 16 which is always a favoured area.”
DAN BOWEN
Age: 37
From: Llanelli
Favourite method: Short pole & margins
Qualified at: White Springs (August 1)
Previous DragonMania record: Fourth final, winner in 2022.
Highlight of 2026 so far: Getting into both the carp and silvers fish south finals.
Ahead of Sunday’s final, Dan said: “With the final being on the canal at White Springs it’s very hard to call a peg to win, as it’s a very fair lake, so lots of anglers will be in with a chance wherever they draw.”
TERRY STOKER
Age: 64
From: Anglesey
Favourite method: Match wise I suppose margins for carp
Qualified at: Stamford Way (July 11)
Previous DragonMania record: Sunday will mark back-to-back finals for Terry having also qualified for last year’s final at Weston Pools.
Highlight of 2026 so far: Qualifying for DragonMania at Stamford Way in a next peg duel with Rob Palmer, think I sneaked it by 3lb.
Ahead of Sunday’s final, Terry said: “The line-up for this year's final is really strong. I know all the north Wales lads are top tier anglers capable of winning any match, but I suspect one of the White Springs regulars to take the title.”
HUGH SCOTT
Age: 35
From: Ebbw Vale
Favourite method: Fishing shallow for carp
Qualified at: Sylen Lake (May 24)
Previous DragonMania record: First year into the final of DragonMania after a few close calls in previous years.
Highlight of 2026 so far: Would be getting into the final of DragonMania and setting up Reel Angling academy with my mates Jon Harvey and Ben Roberts.
Ahead of the final, Hugh said: “Not really got my eyes on any particular pegs at the venue, as most pegs at the venue can throw up a weight. At this stage it’s going to be hard to pick an area for it to be won from.”
JAMIE BRODERICK
Age: 34
From: Mold, north Wales
Favourite method: Edge fishing
Qualified at: Stamford Way (11 April)
Previous DragonMania final record: First time entered
Your highlight of 2026 so far? I have only been fishing just over a year and DragonMania was the first qualifier I’ve ever fished.
Ahead of the final, Jamie said: “I have never been to White Springs before, however I will just approach the match as I do any match and fish to my strengths.”
DAN WILD
Age: 42
From: Abergavenny
Favourite method: Carp down the edge
Qualified at: Sylen Lake (July 19)
Previous DragonMania record: I entered DragonMania a few years ago and qualified at Weston Pools in 2022. I was pretty new to match fishing at the time and that definitely showed in the final!
Your highlight of 2026 so far: Qualifying for Fish Midlands semi-final which went great, but come the final it didn’t fall my way. The calibre of angler in the final was frightening! It was just an honour to be fishing in the same final as the best in the game.
Ahead of Sunday’s final, Dan said: “I’ve barely fished White Springs for the last few years, so gonna be making a few phone calls.
“It’s a funny time of year, with the change in weather, and there will be a lot of pressure on the lake on the day. With the island having crumbled I think every peg is different. If you draw with the right depth across and in the edge, that’s a good start.
“The locals will be very hard to beat, but I will try my best…”
MATT DAWES
Age: 32
From: Chester
Favourite method: Waggler
Qualified at: Bron Eifion (September 6)
Previous DragonMania record: 2024 Winner, 2025 2nd
Your fishing highlight of 2026 so far? Loch Ken Reel elite Master final
Ahead of the final, Matt said: “Locals will be hard to beat, but I think Andy Amos is the man to watch, he’s been before. Think it’ll be won and lost in the last couple hours when carp play a big part of the match.”
ROB JONES
Age: 58
From: Tonna, Neath
Favourite method: Like all methods as long as I’m catching
Qualified at: White Springs (April 19)
Previous DragonMania record: Been in the final before and did qualify last year, but couldn't attend final.
Highlight of 2026 so far: No particular highlights for 26, but try to keep consistent – happy with that at my age.
Ahead of the final, Rob said: “White Springs is a fantastic venue, the Canal should be quite fair and the winner could come from anywhere. It will be whoever gets their bait choices and tactics right on the day.”
RICHARD O’CONNOR
Age 52
From: Bradford, but live in Buckley, north Wales
Favourite method: No favourite method, just whatever is needed to win the match
Qualified at: Stamford Way (6 June)
Previous DragonMania record: Runner-up previously, also framed last year
Highlight of 2026: Winning my mates’ memorial match last weekend.
Ahead of the final, Richard said: “Not much experience of the venue, only fished it twice.”
ROB WHITE
Age: 57
From: Llanelli
Favourite method: Paste
Qualified at: White Springs, Match Lake (August 30)
Previous DragonMania record: This is first year I have entered
Highlight of 2026 so far: This year I've had my biggest match weight ever on match lake peg 13 around the 250lb mark. Also qualifying for DragonMania.
Ahead of the final, Rob said: “Normally an end peg fishes well when there are a lot of anglers. So hoping for an end peg, preferably with the wind.”
LEE PRITCHARD ROBERTS
Age: 37
From: Anglesey
Favourite method: Shallow fishing,
Qualified at: Bron Eifion (August 9)
Previous DragonMania record: First time finalist
Fishing highlight of 2026 so far: is qualifying for the DragonMania final.
Ahead of the final, Lee said: “Will be hard to compete with the venue regulars, so reliant on a decent draw on one of the better pegs for a chance. Finishing in the top 10 I feel would be a good achievement. Never been to White Springs.”
RUSS PALMER
Age: 53
From: Cardiff
Favourite method: Pole
Qualified at: Sylen Lake (16 August)
Previous DragonMania record: First-timer in the final
Highlight of 2026 so far: My dad is in his 80s, still fishing club matches and getting in the prize money, so that’s a highlight for me and great to see.
Ahead of the final, Russ said: “A draw somewhere in the middle of the lake will be favourable I think, but not as knowledgeable as some of the other finalists on this venue who will be hard to beat.”
FRED MOORE
Age: 64
From: Rhyl, north Wales
Favourite method: Paste
Qualified at: Bron Eifion (May 17)
Previous DragonMania record: Final 2024 – 5th
2026 highlights: Quite a lot of open wins and breaking fishery record at Bron Eifion with 172lb.
Ahead of the final at White Springs, Fred said: “Never seen the place, too far to practice really. I believe it will be a carp match, so I will go and fish the peg with an open mind and hope for a good draw – which will definitely be needed with the quality in the final.”
STEPHEN ROGERS
Age: 37
From: Swansea
Favourite method: Edge fishing on the pole
Qualified at: White Springs, on Canal (September 26)
Previous DragonMania record: Never been in a final before this is my first time.
2026 highlight: Coming 6th in the White Springs may festival
Ahead of the final, he said: “I would like pegs any pegs between 7-18..”
ROB PALMER
Age: 47
From: Mold
Favourite method: Pole on the bottom with pellets
Qualified at: Stamford Way (August 1)
Previous DragonMania record: Two previous finals not really got in the running, but not the best draws.
Ahead of the final, Rob said: “Looking forward to fishing White Springs again as it is a fantastic setting and fishing, no idea on the pegs you want to be on – so just looking for a good day’s fishing.”
ANDREW PRICE
Age: 58
From: Swansea
Favourite method: Down the edge fishing, plus paste fishing
Qualified at: Sylen Lake (April 26)
Previous DragonMania record: Framer in 2025 final
Ahead of the final, Andrew said: “Looking forward to this year. 3rd place last year, I'm hoping on the same result, fingers crossed, home venue – just hope on lovely draw in the right area.
“This year I'm putting the press on Rob White – first time in a final, he loves the paste and he can fish with it.”
JAMES WOODFINE
Age: 25
From: Chester
Favourite method: Casters shallow
Qualified at: Bron Eifion (July 26)
Previous DragonMania record: Two previous finals, White Springs (2022) and Weston Pools (2025)
2026 highlight: Golden Reel final
Ahead of Sunday’s final at White Springs, James said: “Only ever been once before but excited to be back in the final.”
PHILIP WILLIAMS
Age: 49
From: Merthyr Tydfil
Favourite method: The one that catches me the most fish that day.
Qualified at: Sylen Lake (June 28)
Previous DragonMania record: First time
2026 highlights: Qualifying for DragonMania on my first try.
Ahead of the final, he said: “I've only fished one match there and that was a silvers only – so all new to me.”
JAMES THOMAS
Age: 39
From: Gwaun-cae-gurwen
Favourite method: Love a bit of meat fishing
Qualified at: White Springs, on Canal (July 5)
Previous DragonMania record: Been in every final except one, best result was a 3rd.
2026 highlights: Not really done that much to be honest, but managed a 3rd in the White Springs may festival and obviously qualifying for this final.
Ahead of the final, James said: “White Springs is my local venue and we have a six-day festival the week before the final, so should be in tune with the lake. Honestly the Canal changes so much and can be won from anywhere, it will come down to who gets it right on the day.”
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