
The RiverFest 2025 Grand Final takes place this weekend on the Ashfield Anglers stretches of the River Trent at Burton Joyce. Across Saturday and Sunday, 86 qualifiers will battle for river fishing’s biggest crown, with a £12,000 top prize and nearly £44,000 in the overall prize pot.
Once again, the event will be based at the Ferry Boat Inn, with draws at 8.30am each morning and fishing from 11.30am to 4.30pm. Competitors will fish one zone on day one before switching sections for Sunday, with the highest aggregate weight across both days deciding the champion.
The line-up is one of the strongest RiverFest has ever seen. Former champions Mike Bedding, Paul Cannon, Andrew Murphy and Lee Wright are all back in the mix, joined by a host of Trent regulars.
England internationals Sean Ashby, Steve Hemingray and Cameron Hughes are among the contenders, alongside five-time World Champion Alan Scotthorne. Local favourites, including Richard Wood and match organiser Alan Henry, also add depth to a field that blends youth, experience and big-match pedigree.
This year’s event will also be especially poignant as RiverFest founder Dave Harrell competes in his final match before stepping back from running the competition.
RiverFest 2025 Final Conditions
Recent rainfall has not dramatically altered the river. Organiser Alan Henry confirmed the Trent remains steady, with normal pace and colour expected for the final. That means pegs on Nelson Field for barbel could prove decisive, though Roadside bream and Ferry Field chub also carry potential. Small fish hauls at The Rack may play a role if conditions stay settled.
RiverFest 2025 Grand Final Prize Structure
RiverFest remains the richest river match in the UK, with payouts deep into the field:
- 🏆 1st – £12,000
- 🥈 2nd – £7,000
- 🥉 3rd – £4,000
- 4th – £3,000
- 5th – £2,000
- 6th – £1,800
- 7th – £1,600
- 8th – £1,500
- 9th – £1,250
- 10th – £1,000
- 11th – £900
- 12th – £800
- 13th – £700
- 14th – £600
- 15th – £500
Section Prizes (per day)
- £210 for 2 x seven-peg sections
- £180 for 12 x six-peg sections
Optional Super Pool (£40 across both days)
If all 86 anglers buy in, potential payout of £1,720, split daily as:
- 1st – £500
- 2nd – £410
- 3rd – £340
- 4th – £270
- 5th – £200
Who Will Take the RiverFest 2025 Title?
With 86 names confirmed, four past champions competing, and a river that can switch in character overnight, the stage is set for another classic RiverFest showdown. Spectators are welcome across both days, with the presentation held back at the Ferry Boat Inn on Sunday evening.
RiverFest 2025 Finalists
- Jon Arthur – River Trent, tidal stretches
- Sean Ashby – River Trent, Trent Lock
- Tony Barker – River Trent, Holme Marsh
- Mike Bedding – River Trent, Newark
- Colin Beech – River Trent, Newark
- Trevor Bradley – River Thames, Clanfield
- Robert Brammall – River Trent, Newark
- Rob Brennan – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent
- Nigel Bull – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Toby Bunting – River Trent, Fiskerton
- Gav Butler – River Trent, Fiskerton
- Paul Cannon – Best zone runner-up weight
- Trevor Chalk – Warks Avon, Evesham
- Dave Clayton – River Trent, Newark
- Colin Clifton – River Trent, Collingham
- Matt Cox – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Andy Cranston – River Stour, Sturminster Newton
- Mick Dixon – Warks Avon, Twyning
- Pete Emery – River Trent, tidal stretches
- Clive Fletcher – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Phil Foster – River Trent, Collingham
- Darren Frost – River Trent, Trent Lock
- Mark Godfrey – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Chris Greensides – River Soar, Sutton Bonington
- Mark Halksworth – River Trent, Newark
- Dave Harrell – River Severn, Bridgnorth
- Martin Harwood – Warks Avon, Evesham
- Steve Harwood – Warks Avon, Evesham
- Alan Henry – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Steve Hemingray – River Don, Sprotbrough
- Matt Hodgetts – Warks Avon, Evesham
- Wayne Holland – River Trent, Collingham
- Joe Holloway – River Severn, Bridgnorth
- Mark Holmes – River Trent, Newark
- Cam Hughes – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Ian Hughes – River Severn, Bridgnorth
- Graham Hunt – Bristol Avon, Swinford & Crane
- Warren Jennings – River Trent, Holme Marsh
- Chris Jones – Bristol Avon, Swinford & Crane
- Steve Joy – River Nene, Oundle
- Paul Kaye – River Severn, Bewdley
- Steve Kedge – River Stour, Sturminster Newton
- Graham Kennerley – River Calder, Mirfield
- Tim Kinson – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent
- Matt Maginnis – Warks Avon, Barford & Stratford-upon-Avon
- Tony Marshall – River Trent, tidal stretches
- Jamie Mills – River Trent, Collingham
- John Monaghan – River Thames, Abingdon
- Bryan Morgan – Warks Avon, Barford & Stratford-upon-Avon
- Mark Morris – River Trent, Newark
- Rob Morris – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Andrew Murphy – River Thames, Clanfield
- Wayne Northall – Warks Avon, Twyning
- Colin Oakman – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent
- John Obank – River Calder, Mirfield
- Alistair Ogilvie – River Trent, Trent Lock
- Liam Page-Smith – River Thames, Clanfield
- Paul Passmore – River Thames, Abingdon
- Mark Perkins – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Simon Pickering – Warks Avon, Evesham
- Geraint Powell – River Thames, Abingdon
- Dave Revill – River Trent, Newark
- Lee Richmond – River Trent, Holme Marsh
- Brian Rigby – River Severn, Bewdley
- James Robbins – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Dave Roberts – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent
- Steve Rowan – River Severn, Bridgnorth
- Alan Scotthorne – River Trent, Collingham
- Dave Shults – Warks Avon, Evesham
- John Small – River Trent, Collingham
- Nick Speed – River Trent, Newark
- Andy Starkey – River Trent, Newark
- Brad Titmus – River Soar, Sutton Bonington
- Steve Umney – River Trent, Newark
- Dan Varney – Warks Avon, Barford & Stratford-upon-Avon
- Adam Wakelin – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Chris White – River Trent, tidal stretches
- Hadrian Whittle – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent
- Simon Willsmore – River Thames, Clanfield
- Steve Winter – River Trent, Burton-on-Trent
- Richard Wood – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Roy Woodward – River Nene, Oundle
- Rob Wootton – River Trent, Burton Joyce
- Lee Wright – River Severn, Bridgnorth
- Mick Wright – River Trent, tidal stretches
- Nick Young – River Severn, Bewdley
Good luck to everyone who is fishing the final this weekend.