Angling

Foot-and-mouth restrictions meant a 'close down' on most venues for all but three months and since then continuous floods and gales have restricted good sport and decent levels to a handful of days.

Last Saturday's RSPS Mike Winney Memorial on the Swale was called off with over six foot of extra water in on the Friday. The event will now be fished next season.

The Big event was the 1st Northern Semi-Final of the Angling Times Winter League staged on the River Weaver at Northwich and representing the area North-East champions Newman Scott Blue, and Anglers World Holidays winners of the Yorkshire Division.

Scotts went all the way to the final last season but this time a patchy venue saw the North East champions finish last of the 12 regional champions.

Good news for Anglers World Holidays the Yorkshire champions took third last qualifying place for the National Final on the River Nene in Peterborough on Sunday 7 July.

Underdogs Lymm surprised everybody winning with 40 points. Fancied Diawa Goldthorpe followed on 51 then Anglers World Holidays boosted by three section winners Stan Haigh, Tim Harrison and Nick Sutton pipped red hot favourites Keenets North West into the final off the next peg - 54 points to 60.

Individual glory went to Ray Brothwell of Mosborough returning 11.7.0 of mainly skimmers on the groundbait feeder in conjunction with worm and maggot on a day when many competitors dry netted.

Over on the middle reaches of the Tees the river was running a foot up and carrying a touch of colour for the Thornaby AA Jack Aston March Open and chub dominated the score sheet along the Croft length.

Darlington veteran Charlie Hodgson winner of many Tees events over the years showed his expertise beating the 70 rods to record 12.0.0.

Drawing the bottom of the groynes peg 58 Charlie instantly had two chub on the feeder with bread and meat cast just past midriver then had to be patient as three more came at intervals to hold off Dave Boynes.

Dave on the last peg in the willows utilised feeder and bread two thirds across for 11.0.0 from G Ellison (Thornaby) 10.10.0 and E Farrow (Thornaby) 8.2.0.

Anglers World rod Paul Landsley rounded off a perfect weekend after his team qualified for the AT Team Championships on the Weaver he returned home to lift the York and District Rosebowl on a flooded Ouse between Fulford and Middlethorpe.

On peg three at Fulford pole and red maggot at eight metres feeding chopped worm into a slack tempted 5 good skimmers backed by small roach and perch.

Next Nigel Staniforth of Leeds on the end peg at Palace Ings weighed in skimmers and roach for 5.15.0.

High levels throughout the week kept Bradford's turn out down to just 52 for the end of season Charity open on the River Nidd.

Only the winner caught chub along the Cowthorpe match length. Selby's Dave Robson legered lobworm down the side of peg 49 connecting with 3 chub to edge the verdict on 7.13.0

Single barbel took the rest of the placings and runner up Adrian Lewis of Bradford landed a specimen of 7.10.0 on worm from peg 69.

Other results - Northallerton & District Open River Swale at Scruton (26): 1 T McArdle (Brotherton) 17.3.0 4 chub feeder and grub; 2 T Earle (Darlington) 14.12.0; 3 S McArdle (Brotherton) 14.7.0

Knaresborough Piscatorials Open R Nidd (24): 1 M Chapman (Darlington 14.6.0 - 4.0.0 chub + perch to lobworm; 2 D Birdshaw (Shadwell) 6.8.0; 3 S Proctor (Knaresborough) 6.4.0.

Boroughbridge & District Open River Ure Aldborough: 1 N Booth (Pontifract) 4.2.0; 2 perch legered lobworm.

Carp scene

Match organiser and on site tackle dealer Alan Gregory was out breaking the ice before Saturday's Open at Woodland Lakes.

Spread over the complex's 8 match lakes 81 anglers competed and the scoresheet was impressive following the cold snap.

Map Elton's John McGarrell swayed the verdict heaving 59.8.0 onto the scales off Kestrel Lake's peg 31. Pole & corn at 13 metres attracted tench barbel chub and carp but a late bite resulted in a rare grass carp of 4.0.0 his biggest fish.

Chasing the winner all the way Elton Tackle's Keith Fryatt put 57.9.0 onto the scales as carp responded to long pole and corn heaviest a mirror of 5.0.0 from Mallard 7.

Others: V O'Connor (Map Elton) 48.4.0 J Chapman (Keenets North West) 46.14.0.

Come Sunday's Open attendances rose to 82 and the top two shared over 100lbs off Skylark Lake.

Elmtree's Dave Clery was into a bite a chuck on the maggot feeder from peg 22. Alternating single and double hookbaits carp tench chub ide and barbel made up a winning 46.3.0 highlight a 6.0.0 common carp.

Sat opposite the winner on Skylark 11 Jamie Hall of Diawa Goldthorpe followed tempting quality carp over the 2lb mark to pole and corn at 13 metres for 44.14.0.

Anglers practising for the forthcoming Spring Series on Moor Monkton's Carpvale Pool found the venue's carp in an obliging mood.

Mick Addinall of Spectrum Autos raced ahead taking a super net of 53.8.0.

Long pole to the island side off peg 12 resulted in 11 quality carp up to 8.0.0 on the corn backed by a sprinkling of small silver fish.

Number 13 proved anything but unlucky for Sensas Garbolino's John Bradshaw during Sunday's Oaks Open on Maple Lake.

Pulling out peg 13 he then opted for 13 metres on the pole and small carp fed up to the pound mark on the maggot for 38.18.0 to beat Dean Smith one of the region's top carp performers who trailed on 33.12.0.

Fixtures

Saturday, March 9: *Woodland Lakes Open (71 pegs) Tel: 01845 526110.

Sunday, March 10: *Leeds Open River Ouse Tickets on 0113 2505717. *Black Ox AC Albert Lawson Trophy Bedale Beck Leeming. *Tadcaster APA Open (60 pegs) River Wharfe at Smaws Ings Tickets 01937 832972. *York WL Extra Match River Ouse - Fulford and Middlethorpe. *Darlington BT Despatch Cup River Swale - Brompton to Killerby. *Idle & Thackley AA Open River Swale - Swainby. Tickets on 01274 618569. *Yarm AA March Open (140 pegs) Lower Tees at Yarm. Tickets on 01642 786444. *Preston Innovations Teams of 3 Champs Woodland Lakes - Round 4. *Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake. *Carpvale Pool Open Moor Monkton.