Darlington Brown Trout's latest event staged between Lane Fox and Snipe Ponds sparked a peg for peg battle on Lane Fox to decide the outcome, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Ken Close of the RSPS and Darlington's John Elmer pulled out the two long jetty pegs and battle commenced.

Ken located tench and bream on pellet and pole at 11 metres in the gulley to edge the verdict bagging 17.0.0.

Meanwhile John netted a few tench and skimmers but highlight was a huge bonus common carp of 11.4.0. skilfully landed on the pole and maggot to finish on 16.4.0.

Others in the frame: Roy Cloke (DBT) 15.7.0. Barry Stephenson (Darlington) 12.15.0.

Darlington Brown Trout members please note the Annual and Novice Cups will now be fished on Willowgarth and Snipe Ponds on Sunday, July 8.

The lower Tees around Bowesfield is proving a hard nut to crack since the season opened. The anticipated bream and skimmers are just not showing and small fish are the only option inside on the pole.

Darlington rods Jim Blades and Davy Boynes tied for first place scratching out 1.14.0 apiece to share the honours during the Thornaby AA 52 entry open.

Jim pegged above the culvert on the Hawthorne Bend was into roach and perch

in a late match burst on the pole and maggot next to the reeds.

Then downstream of the Horseshoe Bend on the fish haven mouth Dave also

relied on perch and roach to pole and maggot fishing in shallow water. .

Best of the rest: Mick Clitheroe (Darlington) 1.11.0. Geoff Douglas (Yarm) 1.6.0.

Yarm's Open at Bowesfield on Saturday attracted a disappointing number of just 21 competitors.

Newman Scott anglers dominated the scoresheet going for roach and perch from

the off - inside on the pole.

Phil Arnold alternated seven and 11 metres on the maggot weighing in a creditable 4.10.0. off peg 41.

Ronnie Wilkinson found the 'squatt' deadly producing small fish throughout

from peg 35 on the bend for 3.15.0 followed by Barry Smith 2.8.8.

Carp to 4.0.0 kept competitors busy on Beaumont's Acer and Cherry Tree Lakes

and ounces were critical for success.

Map Elton's Ken Golightly just managed to grab the glory returning 29.15.0.

On Cherry Tree's peg 16 Ken cupped pellets over to the bottom of the far

shelf using corn and meat at nine metres and only feeding as bites dwindled.

A mere 5ozs seperated runner up Brian Armstrong off Acer Lake. Brian picked up fish but of a smaller stamp in the nearside corner and also from the far side ledge to a combination of pellets, corn and meat.

Round two of the North Central League on Lingerfield Gravels proved a struggle and early leaders Claro forfeited their advantage on home ground.

Team member Stuart Proctor gained a surprise victory with just one bite.

Drawn past the model boats length working groundbait feeder and double red maggot attracted a super mirror carp of 13.0.0.

Ripon's Nick Wallinger used identical tactics from a swim on the rifle range

but in contrast pulled out three bream totalling 9.15.0.

Knaresborough Piscatorials won on the day and now hold a 16 point advantage over nearest rivals Ripon.

Teams on the day: 1. Knaresborough Pisctorials 41 pts; 2. Ripon Piscatorials 31; 3. Boroughbridge Musketeers 23.

League to date: 1. Knaresborough Piscatorials 117 pts; 2. Ripon Piscatorials 101; 3. Claro Yorkshire Tea 99; 4. Boroughbridge Musketeers 81; 5. Thirsk 63; 6. Wetherby 47.

Other results: Woodland Lakes Open (Saturday) 71 rods - Partridge and Skylark: 1. S. Morgan (Ackworth AC) 34.1.0 Partridge 21 - Mixed net 5 metre line and paste; 2. D. Collier (Elton Tackle) 32.3.0; 3. S. Rodgers (Robin Hood) 31.2.0.

Midweeker- Partridge and Skylark: 1. C Dawson (York Tackle) 41.11.0 Corner peg 18 Partridge - all carp to paste and pellet; 2. K. Golightly (Map Elton) 38.9.0; 3. D. Smith (Van De Endye Goole) 37.14.0.

Oaks Open (Sunday) Sessay - Maple Lake: 1. G. Pawlett (Team Oaks) 34.1.0 small carp off peg 14 on long pole and pellet; 2. R. Ogilivy (Team Oaks) 25.12.0; 3. K. Gilligan (York Tackle) 24.13.0.

Carpvale Pool Moor Monkton (Wednesday): 1. A Sparling (Armley) 67.4.0; 2. D. Spence (Leeds) 49.4.0; 3. B. Husthwaite (Leeds) 27.9.0.

Trout News: Heat four of the Allan Reid Ferryhill Bankmasters delivered some big rainbows on Witton Castle Lakes.

Michael Grogan of Murton landed a heavyweight trio to win with 19.0.0 from Geoff Darwin of Haswell 16.4.0 and Craig Roper of Fishburn 15.10.0.

Fly fishing enthusiastists - Tunstall Reservior opens this Sunday 1 and a season permits costs just £40. Further details available from Austin Lowery (01388) 811768.

Swinton Estate's Leighton Reservoir near Masham N. Yorks is performing well

giving rainbows to 7.0.0.Last week 161 visitors grassed 501 trout to a variety of flies and lures.

It was arm aching action at Redworth's Jubilee Lakes for Roker's Darren Forster. Damsel and pheasant tail nymphs accounted for specimen rainbows of 16.1.0 and 14.4.0 in a hectic week when several other big rainbows were taken.

Damsels, red buzzers, bloodworm, Shipmans buzzer and olive zonkers all successful.

Fixtures - Tomorrow: *Yarm AA Open Lower Tees Bowesfield. *Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110.

Sunday: *Drennan Super League (Round one) Lower Tees Bowesfield. *Ripon Pisc. Garbutt Cup on the river Ure - Hutton Beck to Barn Island. *Oaks Sessay Open on Maple Lake.