THE first ever Don McMasters Trophy was staged on the Tees at Over Dinsdale & Sockburn to mark Don's many years of outstanding dedication to the NYSD Federation, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Fittingly, the fish on his beloved venue turned up in numbers although conditions were not perfect as the Tees was running a foot above normal. Nevertheless the match produced a cracking 15 double figured weights.

Dinsdale regular John Leybourne ensured his name came first on the trophy, recording a creditable 23.1.0 to beat the 68 strong turnout.

Drawn two below Middleton Weir, stickfloat and caster tactics down the side brought plenty of small dace, roach and chublet sport.

Haughton's Alan Herd on Bolton Park runoff floatfished corn and caster netting a similar return but parted company with a big barbel at the landing net and had to settle for 20.15.0 at the scales.

Others to frame: John Whitehouse, Darlington 18.1.0; John Bainbridge, Darlington 15.5.8.

Anglers practising for next week's North-East Winter League found the river Wear in good quality and roach to 1.12.0 were the highlight.

Big Waters' Malcolm Gardner headed an impressive list totalling 16.2.0. The Groynes at Franklands delivered six chub to both bomb and feeder with caster and meat from farside cover.

Meanwhile, at Chester Moor runner-up Peter Fannan of Dick Clegg Metro worked the stickfloat and maggot down the edge and included quality roach dace and chublets for 13.13.0 from Tommy Wood, Durham 12.5.0.

Darlington's John Eyles proved a runaway victor during Sunday's Jim Batty Memorial on the upper reaches of the Swale downstream of Richmond.

Still recovering from mid-week floods, the section above Great Langton Bridge dictated the results.

John, floatfishing wasp grub landed chub throughout this four hour match for a super return of 30.11.0 off peg two.

Best of the rest: Charlie Hodgson tempted 13.6.0 of chub on the bread.

The Swale was raging through four foot up and badly coloured for Middlesbrough's Ron Dyson Memorial but the top four still required over 10lbs as half the field caught.

Normark's Martin Highe in Kirby Wiske Wood opted for bomb and double bronze maggot approach over loose feed taking small chub and dace for 15.10.0.

Dave Robson of Selby netted a barbel of 7.8.0 in his second place net of 11.6.0 followed by Paul Werrett of Bramley 11.5.0.

County Durham's Hurworth Burn hit top roach form as heavy rain during the week coloured the reservoir encouraging the fish to feed.

Dunelm's Colin Setterfield nudged ahead off the top end of the west bank. Fishing a combination of groundbait feeder and waggler on double red maggot mostly redfins to 1.4.0 responded. Teammate Colin Breckon, two pegs away, returned 24.10.0 from Dean Bainbridge Dick Clegg Metro 24.1.0.

Mark Lucas from the North-West made the trip over the pennines worthwhile bagging a 48.6.0 during Saturday's Woodlands Open on Partridge and Skylark Lakes.

Pulling out Partridge two, Mark took a few carp to 6lbs at 3 metres on the corn but most of his carp tench and chub haul came to the pole and worm at nine metres, hotly pursued by Dave Jowett of Fishermans Way 44.11.0 off Partridge 17.

Other results: York & District Noakes Cup, R. Ouse, Fulford: Mick Potter, Anglers World 7.12.0; Derek Barker, Acomb Tackle 7.4.0; Dean Smith, Derwent Valley 7.3.0.

Knaresborough Piscatorials, Howard Robinson Memorial, R. Nidd: Stuart Proctor, Claro 13.3.0; Tony Baxby, Knaresborough 9.9.0; Charlie Stainsby, Knaresborough 9.5.0.

Bradford AA Open, River Ure, Brampton: Peter Nicholson, Cleveland Angling Centre 8.11.0: Dave Robson, Selby 7.13.0; Bob Ramshaw, Fencehouses 6.2.0.

Boroughbridge & District Open, R. Ure: Peter Riley 8.13.0; Alf Milnes 6.2.0; Gary Lumsden 5.15.0 (all Boroughbridge).

Carpvale Wednesday Open, Moor Monkton: Alan Sparling, Leeds 36.8.0; Bernard Guy, West End Park 29.4.0; Terry Hodgson, York 23.2.0.

Woodlands Wednesday Open, Dragonfly, Mallard & Swallow: Rob Holmes, York Tackle 57.8.0; Rab Ogilivy, Spot the Dog 46.8.0: John Beaver, Team Pastry 45.9.0.

Ferryhill and District are offering full members life membership with the option open until October 12. Further details available from Steve Kent on 01740 655626.

Trout scene

Jubilee Lakes, Redworth: Rod average of 4.7, pheasant tails, olive zonkers and dawsons olive best patterns. Specimen of the week was a rainbow of 18.4.8 grassed by G Pearson of South Hetton.

Leighton Reservoir: 111 rods, 332 fish, 50 limit bags. Best rainbow of 9.8.0 taken by John Harker of Northallerton.

Scaling Dam: 157 visitors, 433 fish, 23 limit bags. Dawsons olive and fritz lures along with worm tops. Rainbows to 10lbs.

Grassholme: 174 anglers, 248 fish, 6 limit bags. Worm anglers generally enjoying best sport with rainbows to 7.8.0.

Hury: 162 rods, 261 fish, two limit bags. Rainbows to 8.8.0.

Blackton: 91 rods, 139 fish, four limit bags. Rainbows to 8.0.0.

Derwent: 277 visitors, 889 fish, 78 limit bags. Fly and worm most effective accounting for rainbows to 9.0.0.

Fontburn: 230 anglers, 457 fish, 22 limit bags. Several big rainbows taken wih the largest being 17.5.0 by John Allan of Morpeth on the worm.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Harrogate & Claro Open, Lingerfield Gravels - tickets from Dave Buckle on 01423 540328.

Woodland Lakes Open, 71 pegs, Partridge & Skylark Lakes. Tickets are £15 and are available on 01845 526110.

Sunday: Calder League (3) R Calder Brighouse.

Idle and Thackley AA Open, 45 pegs, Swale (Swainby). Tickets on 01274 618569.

Northallerton & DAC Trenholme Cup R. Swale (Scruton).

Ripon Piscatorials Webster Trophy, R Ure, Norton Conyers.

Angling Times North East Winter League (1) R. Wear around Durham.

Middlesbrough AC on the Tees at Bowesfield.

Ferryhill AC Challenge Bowl, Tees (Middleton one Row).

Helperby & Brafferton AC Fur and Feather Lower Swale (Helperby).

Thornaby AA, Thornaby Anglers Open Cup R Tees (Croft to Hurworth).

York and District AA John Smiths Hospital Open Cup Ouse (Beningbrough, Red House to Poppleton). Tickets on 01904 629126. 150 pegs