The Annual Hartlepool AC Charity Open held on County Durham's Crookfoot Reservoir proved a hard match indeed for almost everyone as strong winds hindered sport on this normally prolific roach venue.

Shotton Match Group's Derek Fox suffered a blank start but then in a remarkable turn around went on to win with 13.6.0.

Pegged on the 'house side' in the deeps off the dam wall, Derek had to wait 45 minutes before he had any signs.

Opting for groundbait feeder and maggot eventually brought the fish on the feed and from then on it was action all the way as he pulled out roach after roach, 38 in all, and then added a trio of perch for good measure. Nearest rival Shimano Quaker rod Andy Dargue sat on the West Bank of the reservoir and caught a better stamp of redfins putting 18 onto the scales for 7.6.0.

On the carp scene Map Elton 'squaddies' Paul Taylor and Mark Coyne chased the spoils during the Oaks Whizzo midweeker on Cedar Pool at Sessay.

Taylor on peg eight managed to just stay in front thanks to some bigger samples of carp mostly in the 2.0.0 to 3.0.0 range.

Fishing over to the far shelf the 13 metre pole and pellet accounted for a bag of 38.4.0 at the finish.

Then Coyne, on peg 34, adopted the same tactics but although he caught more fish he was left short on 37.10.0.

In Sunday's match on Cedar Lake local ace Gary Pawlett marked up another victory on this venue recording 32.7.0 during this 59 pegger. Small pastie sized carp responded to the long pole and pellet over to the island off peg 55 to keep Pawlett active throughout.

A different tact paid off for Team Glum's Steff Armitage who found all his carp in the middle channel off peg seven but fished the pole and pellet at 8m for 26.9.0.

Silver fish made for an exciting midweeker at Woodland Lakes as Alan Gregory beat World Champion Alan Scotthorne.

Gregory on Kestrel 21 fished the pole in hand with maggot and tempted an assortment of roach, skimmers and ide backed by three carp for a haul of 46.1.0.

Shimano Mustard's Scotthorne on peg 14 also fished to hand but preferred chopped worm and caster approach for another excellent mixed return of 42.6.0.

Gale force winds were a major feature on Saturday and the 62 competitors spent an uncomfortable five hours, yet battled like Trojans and registered respectable nets.

On the day, the tip dominated with broken poles the alternative. Castleford's Chris Cooper on Skylark 7 hair-rigged corn on the bomb and steadily collected a series of carp for an impressive 39.4.0. Carp also succumbed to the corn for second place Tony Leeming of Newman Scott who was pegged over on Partridge Lake 21 and returned 33.8.0 on a very tight score sheet.

The best match weight at Woodlands went to Scott Lister during Sunday's slot. Although the winds were less severe, many anglers still stuck to the tip but Lister, on the more sheltered Mallard Lake, decided to have a go on the long pole producing a bag of 64.4.0.

* Ferryhill and District Angling Club members are urged to attend an extraordinary AGM at the Black Bull in Ferryhill at 7.30 pm on April 1.

FIXTURES: Saturday: Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 / 526110; Sunday: Thornaby AA Trout Cup River Tees - Croft to Hurworth; Woodland Lakes Open; Oaks Whizzo Open Cedar Lake Sessay; Shotton & District AC Open Shotton Pond; Hartlepool AC Hurworth Burn Reservoir.Bob Co Spring Series (2) Carpvale Fishery.