Angling

Big catches returned to the Ure during a cracking Ripon Piscatorials Open boasting 11 double-figured nets, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Kevin Moore of Leeds hauled out the most - a super chub haul of 44.13.0 - but like many times before on this venue it was a slow start and patience paid off.

Drawn on Myers Hole opposite Sharow, Kevin had to wait 90 minutes before the first specimen arrived. Alternating caster and red maggot on the waggler, he extracted eight chub within 40 minutes. Then there was nothing until a hectic final hour brought another ten in rapid succession.

It was more of the same as RSPS ace Steve Hodson pushed the winner all the way, recording 37.14.0. Fishing the big gravel bend below Hutton Beck a combination of Balsa, waggler floats and the bomb with caster and bread delivered 17 chub in all.

Best of the rest : G. Skirrey Turners Tackle 31.6.0 D. Owen Knaresborough Pisc. 24.0.0.

There was a perfect level on the lower reaches of the Tees around Yarm, yet only chublets fed in numbers during the Yarm AA Event.

Peter Close of Darlington Angling Centre snatched victory on 13.5.0. Pegged around Fisheries Bend, Peter chose the long rod approach off peg 136 and worked the float down midriver, picking up chub to 10oz on the maggot feeder over very limited loose feeding.

Just below the Levenmouth Derek Fox of MNS accumulated all his 12.12.0. net on the feeder and maggot to beat Eddie Bridon Darlington AC 10.6.0, Derek Reaney MNS 10.3.0, and

Paul Jackson Darlington AC 9.1.0

Darlington Brown Trout's Grayling Shield proved the Swale's grayling are on average far bigger than those on the Tees at present.

The Shield was split between both rivers - the winner came off the Swale at Brompton when Darlington's Steve Wallace, floatfishing redworm and maggot, tempted 15 specimens for 11.4.0.

In second place Andy Simpson of Eastbourne Tackle drew at Croft and had just two fewer but they only totalled 5.9.0.

In Ferryhill and District's Grayling match on the Swale at Catterick the day before Jim Blades put four super fish on the scales for 5.6.0 from Jeff Richardson with 3 for 3.7.0.

Snow blizzards tested the 120 competitors during Round 3 of the York Winter League on the Ouse below the City at Fulford and Middlethorpe.

The noted end peg on the Palace Ings length proved the best draw for local rod Mick Potter. Sheltered with the wind off his back, Mick - under the Barley Village Stores banner - used top and bottom slider in 16-foot depth and landed up to 60 roach between 1-10zs on single maggot for a runaway 7.8.0.

Team winners on the day Bar Six delivered the next two individuals. Carl Pringle, three swims above the Bridge field at Bishopthorpe, weighed in three skimmers and roach to groundbait feeder and double red maggot for 2.13.0, hotly pursued by Darren Starkey on 2.12.0.

Teams on the Day: 1. Bar Six 10.0.0. 2. Barley Village Stores 9.11.0. 3. South Bank 5.10.0

League to date: 1. Bar Six 59 pts. 2. Acomb WMC 44 pts. 3. Cochranes Shipyard 41 pts. 4. South Bank 38 pts.

Individuals overall: 1. D. Starkey (Bar Six) 39 pts 2. C. Pringle (Bar Six) 38 pts.

A disappointing turnout and freezing conditions on the River Wharfe meant most competitors would quickly forget Wetherby's latest open, but the exception will certainly be Castleford's Harold Lockwood.

Pegged on the sandbeds above the swimming baths, feeder and maggot secured just one fish to win - but what a fish - a tremendous specimen of 3.15.8, possibly of the biggest on the North-East circuit.

Result: Idle & Thackley Open River Swale at Swainby.

Trevor McArdle (Brotherton) 8.12.0. 2 chub to legered cheese Glen Blewitt (Shildon) 3.14.8.

Charlie Hardaker (Idle) 2.1.8.

Fixtures:

27 Jan - Saturday Middlesbrough AC Zetland Trophy R. Swale (Gatenby to Baldersby).

Tickets on 01642 899288.

Woodland Lakes Open - Tickets on 01845 526110

28 Jan - Sunday Yarm AA Prince Charles Trophy Lower Tees.

Black Ox AC Tom Bradley Trophy Bedale Beck, Leeming.

Knaresborough Piscatorials Open River Ouse (Overton).

Tickets on 01423 880262 -50 pegs.

AT Yorkshire Winter League (5) River Ouse (Fulford & Middlethorpe).

Woodland Lakes Open.

Tadcaster APA Open (60 pegs) River Wharfe at Smaws Ings.

Tickets on 01937 832