Alfie Russell lands monster carp at Hampstead Heath pond!

Published: 30th June, 2011
by TOM FOOT

ALFIE Russell likes a snooze or two when his alarm clock goes off on a school day.

But when it woke him early on Saturday morning, the 13-year-old Acland Burghley pupil, accompanied by dad Steve, leapt out of his camp bed and rushed to his rod by Hampstead Heath ponds.

He had set his special alarm clock to his carp rod – and there had been a tug on the line from what turned out to be a record 34lb mirror carp.

“I was kind of snoozing and I heard this ring ring ring,” said Alfie, who lives in York Rise, Dartmouth Park. “It took 30 ­minutes to haul in. It almost pulled me into the pond!” He added: “I don't think this one has been caught for 10 years because none of the other fishermen on the Heath said they had seen it before.”