Re: Martin Gay's 50lb English Common Carp: Closure.
Markg: the article makes clear the mutual dislike between Martin and the Carp Society/ fraternity. They were the last people Martin would have confided in! Do read again, carefully, to try and understand what MG was, quite reasonably, saying: 'I have shown a number of people where I caught the fish (so there is NO doubt) and I have told a number of good people about the fish and they TRUST me. I don't need the 'trust' of anyone else, thank you'
You will have to correct me where I am wrong Cliff because as far I can see the article states he only took one long standing trusted friend to the swim and another person he does not name and DID NOT not show the swim, why!. Neither of these people came forward and stated they have seen the swim and the original photo and identified any land marks! MG said he showed plenty of people the place; the PHOTOS not the actual place apart from the two stated as far I can read. However, because they were unknown and his friends they would not have made very good witnesses.
He seems to have known quite a few respected names in the angling world of the time any of whom he could have taken to the swim, confirmed the original photo was from the said spot and publicly said so. He could also have picked and photoed the bit of the said vegetation to confirm it was in a "English place " and have it identified by any plant expert.
For someone whose reputation and integrity was being questioned publicly on a national scale, he did very little about it. Any of these measures could have been taken, and not a lot of trouble to do so. I am sure several of his famous friends would have obliged if asked. He didn't tell any of them the location of the water as far as I can make out - why! Such venerable anglers of close acquaintance, wouldn't you tell them and trust them especially as they were your friends! I find that very odd, I would! And for what was at stake, why not the main challengers to his claim who were destroying his reputation, feud or no feud, this must have been of great interest at the time and of some biological importance. Or just any well known, trusted angler of a high reputation, wouldn't you trust Chris Yates who it appears he would only show the photo to. Yet he says he was not afraid to take an unknown friend and another "man" and show the water who he did not trust enough to show the swim to!.
Apart from that, at what point would you still allow your integrity and reputation be slandered so nationally and publicly just to protect a big carp water ! I wouldn't, I find that extraordinary. There would come a point where it just not be worth it for any other man.
I can fully understand the doubts raised, which MG caused himself by so much vacillation. He should have trusted more people, there were plenty around him at the time with undoubted trustworthiness and integrity, many his friends or other wise, who could have put this to rest at the time. he either couldn't prove it or just took the protection of the location to extraordinary lengths. He paid a big price for just that "little" thing.
I am sure I may have some facts wrong; please correct at will.