THE Environment Agency sponsored Tyne Championships took place on Sunday with the winner picking up an impressive £650.

This year's match was based around Hexham with two sections at Hexham and Corbridge along with six sections on the North Tyne split between Chollerford, Wark, and Bellingham.

The river was unfortunately a foot up and rising after heavy rain and the 62.0.0 match record was never in danger. Nevertheless 20 anglers recorded double figures - mainly dace - from the 81 field.

Steve Guy of Metro Fishing Republic lifted the prestigious title recording 29.7.0. Drawn below the cricket club at Corbridge a combination of stickfloat and the whip at 5m brought three quality chub for 7.0.0 backed by chublets, three roach and a lovely net of prime Tyne dace.

Yarm's Brian Havelock on the Hexham section, downstream of the wires fished the waggler and maggot to tame a notorious wind, with the river at times more like the North Sea, putting together a mainly dace bag of 27.11.0.

Third place went to Graham Hutchinson netting a level 26.0.0 of dace from Hexham with North York South Durham organiser John Bainbridge fourth on 20.8.0.

Icing on the cake for yours truly was when my son Andrew followed with 20.6.0 of dace beating Environment Agency's John Burns at the next peg by a mere 1oz.

The event went very smoothly despite the river levels not being perfect and a big thank you from all the anglers to everybody from the Environment Agency and Big Waters Angling club namely, Steve Hoggins, Nigel Ripley, Paul Brent and Eric Brown plus others too numerous to mention who made it all possible.

More good news for anglers is the Environment Agency is also to be involved with the forthcoming River Wear Championships set for Sunday, September 9. Call Andy Sinclair on 01910 3842450.

The Middle Tees at Sockburn was the venue for the Thornaby AA Lol Bulmer Memorial and with a foot of extra water - bream and barbel dominated the top places.

Match organiser Darlington's Bobby Trees, drawn above west wood, edged ahead with 12.14.0 despite three lost fish. Stickfloat and caster located small dace but a barbel of 7.6.0 on the bomb and caster made all the difference.

OTHER RESULTS: Yarm AL August Open, Lower Tees: 1 P Jackson (Shimano Quaker) 28.2.0; 2 S Maitland (Shotton) 20.1.0; 3 T Leeming (Daiwa Cleveland) 17.10.0.

Darlington Brown Trout Pairs Shield - Lane Fox Pond: 1 D Hanson (Darlington) 17.14.0; 2 M Firth (Darlington) 5.15.0; 3 E Willans (Darlington) 4.14.0.

Ripon Piscatorials Bradford Cup River Ure: 1 S Hodson (RSPS) 7.12.0; 2 C Smith (York) 7.8.0; 3 M Hope (Ripon) 6.0.0.

Fixtures TOMORROW: Woodland Lakes Open Oaks Open SUNDAY: Drennan (5) Tees - Yarm NYSD Federation Dunne Memorial Tees - Over Dinsdale Thornaby AA Lower Tees Trophy - Bowesfield North Central League (3) Swale - Skipton Idle & Thackley Open Swale - Swainby. Oaks Open