All records were smashed during an unbelievable opening round of The Drennan Super League Northern Division staged on the lower reaches of the River Tees around Yarm. When the Tees is flowing and coloured it is now arguably one of the country' s premier bream venues and what a match it turned out to be for the 88 anglers. The venue's bream went on a feeding frenzy as fish fed avidly throughout the match length and 32 bags over 20.0.0 were recorded. First amongst the sizzling action came Newman Scott superstar Ronnie Wilkinson who raised the five hour best to an incredible 86.6.0.
Ronnie on 162, the second peg in the paddock below the Levenmouth, couldn't believe his luck when the quiver tip never stopped bending and 29 super specimens the best going 6.0.0 all responded to groundbait feeder and red maggot down the middle.
Cleveland Angling Centre's Mark Coyne collected 17 bream to feeder and worm tactics for a runner up bag of 48.13.0.
Then Andy Scaife of Northallerton Angling Centre opposite Whitehouse Farm bagged bream to the tune of 45.14.0 just enough to snatch 3rd place during this remarkable match.
Teams: 1 Newman Scott 76 points; 2 Anglers Services Hartlepool 65; 3 Shotton 60; 4 Cleveland Angling Centre 56; 5 Northallerton Angling Centre 47.
Extra water restricted nets on the Upper Swale for the annual Richmond Angling Society Longstaffe Memorial fished between Richmond to Great Langton. The coveted trophy went to Darlington rod Barry Stephenson with a runaway net of 28.4.0.
Swapping between the stickfloat and maggot and legered wasp grub to keep the fish interested Dave Firth also of Darlington tempted four chub, a barbel and grayling totalling 18.7.0, pegged one below the pipe at Gibson's Farm. The River Ure was running two foot above normal at the onset of the Ripon Piscatorials Simpson Cup at Hutton Beck to Barn Island and dropped a foot during the match but for the majority of the 53 competitors it was still a struggle.
Victory, however, was unexpected for RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco regular Steve Hodson.
Steve in the Willowgarth upstream of the North Bridge had nothing until the final two hours then in a hectic late match burst seven chub and two barbel taken down the nearside to feeder with both caster and bread made for 23.8.0.
Northallerton & District AC River Swale at Scruton 1 K Handley (Washington) 21.6.0; 2 P Adams (RSPS Tek Neek Trabucco) 14.12.0; 3 F Hardcastle (Northallerton) 12.2.0. Idle & Thackley AA Open River Swale at Swainby. 1 A Miller (Leeds) 3.11.0; 2 G Blewitt (Darlington) 3.8.0; 3 O Hanlon (Darlington) 3.0.0.
CARP SCENE
Shimano Quaker's Andy Dargue quickly disposed of the opposition at Woodland Lakes on Wednesday recording a net bulging 92.15.0. Woodland Lakes (Saturday): Partridge & Skylark Lakes - 71 pegs 1 Mark Coyne (Map Elton) 85.3.0 mixed return off Partridge 8 to bomb with; hair rigged meat and waggler. 2 John Chapman (Map Elton) 75.15.0; 3 Harry England (Elton Tackle) 71.7.0.
Fixtures: Saturday 10 July - *Middlesbrough AC Ron Taylor Memorial Trophy River Swale Gatenby to Baldersby (200 pegs). Tickets on 01642 / 899288. *Woodland Lakes Open. Tickets on 01845 / 526110. Sunday 11 July - *Drennan Super League (2) Lower Tees at Yarm. *Thornaby AA July Cup River Tees Croft to Hurworth. *Bradford No 1 AA Centenary & Abu Trophies River Nidd Cowthorpe. *Richmond AS Manchester Trophy Upper Swale Broken Brea. *Turners Tackle 2004 Qualifier Heat Five Silksworth Lake. *NYSD Federation Girsby Village Charity Tees Over Dinsdale. Tickets on 01325 / 264213.
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