Ripon Piscatorials Navigation Cup on the river Ure saw last year's champion Gary Bullock retain the trophy when the delighted Tadcaster rod tamed a low clear venue recording 26.12.0, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Pulling out the famous Leatham's run off peg waggler and caster accounted for eight chub then as bites slowed a change to the bomb added a barbel of 4.0.0 plus a perch.

Marsh Tackle's Pete Miller on the swim above Barn Island also found waggler and caster combination deadly delivering ten chub totalling 19.12.0.

Others: Malcolm Britton (Harrogate) 14.8.0 and Ross Andrew (Ripon) 10.12.0.

The shallow glides were most productive during Durham City's Open on a low clear and sun effected river Wear around Shincliffe.

Darlington's Rob Stubbs finished comfortably in front putting 16.5.0 onto the scales.

Fishing above the culvert two dace and a grayling fell to stickfloat and maggot tactics but chub were basking in far side willows and Rob managed to encourage five from under the cover on bomb and meat.

Meanwhile runner up John Hay of Durham on the peg above the Rose Tree Inn relied on stickfloat and caster tempting 5 smaller samples for 11.10.0 from Peter Fannon (Dick Clegg Metro) 7.3.0.

Competitors found it hard going on the lower Tees at the weekend.

Saturday's Yarm Open on the Strickland to Nellies Beck length resulted in a roach and perch affair.

Dave Smiddy of Newman Scott first into the frame netted 6.7.0. Pole and maggot off peg 93 brought small fish in bursts to hold off Darren Campbell (CAC) 4.12.0 and Paul Stephenson (RSPS) 4.2.0.

The following day the Thornaby AA Robinson Memorial at Bowesfield more or less ended on a similar note.

Darlington's Bobby Trees beat a disappointing turn out staked on peg 72 - the middle of the straight below Hawthorne bend. And with the exception of a bonus bream of 2.0.0. on worm and pole at 10 metres it was an otherwise roach and perch net to whip and maggot at 5 metres for 6.1.0.

Best of the rest: Mick Clitheroe (Darlington) 5.1.0. Gordon Angel (Barnard Castle) 4.6.0 & Dave Munt (Billingham) 4.2.0.

Tadcaster's Open around Smaw Ings was won on the first cast when Mike Barker latched into a huge common carp of 17.0.0.

The Wise Owl angler on peg 12 cast the bomb and lobworm near to a nearside

weedbed and could not believe his luck when he subdued the monster after a heart stopping battle. For the rest of the match it was an anti climax adding a single perch of 8ozs.

Armley regular Geoff Wilmore took the day's only other double figured weight of 10.6.0 consisting of a barbel of 5.0.0. a big eel and several perch all to feeder and caster and worm on the hook off peg ten.

At the Oaks Sessay it was fish galore on Maple Lake during Sunday's open match as the carp went on a feeding frenzy and 30.0.0 required for every section.

Darlington's Simon Willens emerged the winner pulling out the fancied peg 62A and went home £300 richer thanks to a stunning haul of 64.12.0. Corn and meat was the favoured method on the long pole down the side into the corner.

Next in the frame Steven Russell of Newman Scott caught carp to 5.0.0. on the corn both in the channel and on the farside for 47.12.0 from peg 46.

Darlington Angling Centre's Martin Robson took Sunday's open on Beaumont Fisheries by a mere 3ozs.

On Cherry Tree's peg 4 windy conditions prompted a switch to the middle at six metres on the paste and small carp obliged - best a common of 3.0.0 - for 24.9.0

Midweek winner Map Elton's Ken Golightly slipped into second place this time around with 24.6.0. Alternating paste and pellet across to farside cover off Acer 21 kept the carp interested.

Midweeker at Beaumont: 1st K Golightly (Map Elton) 17.6.0; 2nd P Close (Darlington Angling Centre) 16.5.0; 3rd B. Armstrong (Yarm) 15.0.0.

Saturday's sell out open on Partridge and Skylake lakes at the Woodlands saw all the in form rods up there again and very little between the leading trio.

Dave Pimlott of Keenets Elton edged ahead recording 40.1.0. Dave on the meat close in off Partridge 22 gathered together all small carp ensuring a 1.1.0 winning margin.

Ian Bowman of Barnsley put together 39.0.0 off Skylark 29 to pellet and paste pursued by Keenets John Chapman who failed to make it a hat-trick of successes over recent Saturdays to finish with 38.1.0.

Woodland Lakes (Wednesday) 69 rods: 1st S. Rodgers (Robin Hood) 55.4.0. Skylark 33 - small carp at six metres on the pellet; 2nd G. Poole (Map Elton) 42.6.0; 3rd M. Corkwell (Elton Tackle) 42.3.0.

Ferryhill 3 Rivers Match, Chub & Barbel League, Middleton one Row: 1st Jim Blades (Ferryhill) 6.10.0 all chub; 2nd Geoff Brewer (Ferryhill) 3.3.0; 3rd Christine Shield 1.13.0.

Next match is scheduled for Saturday, August 11 at Middleton one Row.

At Tunstall Reservoir there are still memberships available and further details can be obtained from Austin Lowery on 01388 811768.

Trout News

Redworth's Jubilee Lakes is offering some super rainbow sport - the best of 18.10.0 fell to Blythe Palmer of South Shields on a doe bug.

Hexham's Rick Wade grassed a terrific double of 16.12.0 and 15.6.0 Olive zonkers hares ear and Shipmans buzzer all responsible for several double figured specimens during an excellent week.

The hot weather has meant its been a wonderful week for dry fly exponents on Masham's Leighton Reservoir - a record breaking 103 limit bags.

Wetherby's Mick Corner took the top rainbow of 7.0.0. Most fish coming to traditional small dry flies eg black and peacock bibio deer hair sedge. 193 visitors totalled 727 trout.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110.

Sunday: *Thornaby AA M Stockwell Cup Bowesfield - River Tees; *Tadcaster APA Open (70 pegs) River Wharfe around Smaws Ings.

*Harrogate and Claro Open (50 pegs) Lingerfield Gravels Tickets on 01423 540952; *Oaks Sessay Open - Maple Lake; *Beaumont Fisheries Open - Acer and Cherry Tree Lakes.