An out of sorts Tees was carrying two foot of extra water for the Thornaby AA Presidents Cup, pegged between Croft and Hurworth, yet Darlington's Martin Chapman still managed to see off the opposition, practically doubling the next best with 13.2.0 from a field of 57.

Fishing in the willows off peg 47, Martin laying on with the stickfloat and caster down the side landed a superb bream of 9.12.0.

Later switching to the bomb and bread he added a couple of chub to put the conclusion beyond doubt.

For everyone in the frame slack water proved crucial and Mark Waller also of Darlington netted 5 small chub from peg 28 as bomb and bread produced 6.11.0 for second place. A combination of driving rain, strong winds and extra water brought weights back down to winter reality following the previous two 70 pound + victories on the Middlesbrough AC Middle Swale Match length.

Trevor McArdle of Brotherton, holder of two RSPS Masters titles, tamed the testing conditions to lift the Mick Grainge Memorial Trophy on Saturday when he recorded 14.9.0.

At Holme top on peg 140, feeder and wasp grub down the nearside resulted in 2 early chub then Trevor had to wait until the final 30 minutes before adding two more to seal the verdict.

It was more of the same for runner up Dave Miles of Marsh Tackle who also netted 4 chub. This time feeder and bread accounted for 11.11.0 off peg 163 at the top of the sand beds downstream of Holme Plantation followed by Colin Jackson of Keighley on 10.5.0.

Anglers had to really scratch for points as temperatures dipped during the 4th fixture of the Yorkshire Winter League staged on the Hunters Lodge and Linton length of the River Ouse.

The famous bungalow swims at Hunters provided the winner.

Waterline Wibsey's Andy Miller took individual honours thanks to a lone bream of 8.10.0. Groundbait feeder with worm caster cocktail subdued the all important fish.

Overall placings: 1 Hirst Tackle A 8 pts; 2 Waterline Wibsey 10; 3 Anglers World 12; 4 Selby 13; 5 Hirst Tackle B 19; 6 Armley Angling 23. The first round of the York Winter League got underway on Sunday on an inhospitable Ouse swollen after heavy rain and the Fulford and Middlethorpe sections downstream of the City offered little hope for the 88. Barlby Village Stores gained first blood filling the top two places led by John Cryowski.

Pegged in Donkey Wood groundbait feeder and caster alternating red worm and red maggot hookbaits tempted 8 roach and a skimmer bream for 4.8.0. Meanwhile a swim at the top of the Bridge field initially responded to legered lobworm as Team scores; Barlby village Stores 9.2.8 from Cochrane's 9.0.0.

Ferryhill Grayling Match at Catterick on the River Swale: 1 Peter Bahari (3 fish) 3.14.0. 2 Tony Bahari (4 fish) 2.14.0. 3 Geoff Richardson (3 fish) 2.8.0.

Ferryhill and District AA have opened up the River Wear for grayling sport for the winter.

Day tickets cost £5 and its fly only on catch and release basis. Tickets available from the following outlets: Fraser's of Gateshead, Turners of Sacristan and Delta Flash of Ferryhill. For any further details telephone 0191 / 3883557.

CARP SCENE

Woodland Lakes: Wednesday - Partridge Skylark Kestrel Curlew and Wagtail (53 rods); 1 John Stanley (Fryston AC) 50.0.0 of carp to bomb and corn off Skylark 5 2 John Kenning (Map Elton) 41.10.0; 3 Don Hayes (Castleford) 41.8.0.

Saturday: Partridge Skylark Kestrel Curlew and Wagtail (54 rods) 1 Mark Longhirst (Elton Tackle), 31.6.0 of carp on maggot bomb and feeder off Kestrel 32; 2 Alan Sharman (Map Elton) 30.0.0; 3 Alan Gregory (Elton Tackle) 24.6.0.

During Sunday's match on the complex all the match lakes were opened up to accommondate the big turnout of 87 competitors.

Chilling water temperatures restricted sport but winner Worksop visitor Stuart Gray tamed some bigger fish up to 6.0.0. for success. Fishing off peg 13 on the island filled Dragonfly Stuart went right across at 17 metres on the pole and corn to weigh in 49.3.0 of carp.

A quality common carp of 8.0.0 boosted the runner's up net to 44.4.0. Merlin Baits man Howard Cutts on Curlew peg 5, preferred the maggot feeder approach and caught mostly small carp until the common put in an appearance.

Oaks Sessay - Cedar Lake

Thursday - 1 M Sykes (West Park) 17.6.0; 2 B Clay (Headingley AC) 15.9.0; 3 G Ryan (Spenborough) 14.0.0. 60 rods fished Sunday's match on the recently opened Cedar Lake and Oaks regular Andy Middleton recorded 28.7.0 enough to win on the day.

TROUT NEWS

Jubilee Lakes - Frosty mornings have failed to put the venue's heavyweight rainbow off the feed and there were 5 doubles last week.

Pick of the bunch a wonderful specimen of 15.8.0 fell to an olive fritz presented by Evenwood's Gary Dowson. Early morning cat's whisker and damsel patterns doing well but by midday black and brown buzzers the key to success on the top lake.

Other specimens: Neil Ferry (Crook) 14.8.0; Ken Tulip (Spennymoor) 14.4.0; Owen Murr (Sedgefield) 14.3.0 Kevin Ward (Wallsend) 13.0.0.

FIXTURES: Saturday 6 Dec - *Woodland Lakes Open. Tel: 01845 / 526110; Sunday 7 Dec - *DBT AA Xmas Cheer Rivers Tees and Swale; *NEWL (6) Lower Tees Yarm; *Northallerton & DAC Fur & Feather River Swale at Scruton; *Haughton AC visits the Tees at Over Dinsdale; *Oaks Sessay Open; *Richmond AS Xmas Cheer Upper Swale Broken Brea; *Woodland Lakes Open.