The prestigious Robert Haggie Memorial staged on the Upper Swale from Richmond attracted just 60 rods on Sunday, a far cry from the days when 130-peg sell-outs were the norm and a waiting list operated.

However, some things don't change and Darlington's Kenny Close just gets better and better the RSPS star lifted the Haggie Cup in fine style recording 29.7.0.

Drawn on peg eight above Great Langton Bridge, not a particularly noted swim, Ken conjoured up seven big chub, four grayling and a barbel float fishing a variety of baits including wasp grub, caster, worm and red maggot.

The same area also produced the runner-up, Eastbourne Tackle's Bill Patterson. On peg two waggler fishing caster and maggot located all chub for 19.4.0.

Best of the rest: Steve Chantry (Eastbourne Tackle) 17.1.0 from Keith Atkinson (Darlington) 15.14.0.

Skimmer bream made a big impact during round five of the Drennan Northern Division on the Lower Tees around Yarm.

Dick Clegg Metro's Eddie Bridon elected to fish groundbait feeder from a venue up and coloured. Situation downstream of the Leven Mouth a combination of worm, caster and maggot secured seven good samples pushing his score to 11.4.0.

Darlington Angling Centre's Nigel Rance followed two ounces adrift. Pegged above the Leven, pole and worm tamed four nice perch adding a bream and roach on the maggot steering his team to top spot on the day with 62 points from league leaders MNS 56 points.

Overall placings: 1 MNS 313 points; 2 Darlington AC 277; 3 Map Elton 248; 4 CAC 244; 5 Yarm AA 217; 6 Strikemore Baits 208

The normally prolific Scruton stretch of the Swale failed to excite during Northallerton and District's Sheldon Cup when extra water showing a peaty stain killed sport.

Thanks to one good chub Leeds visitor Ian Swarbreck outfished the rest. Opposite Thrintoft chublets on caster switching between stickfloat and feeder made up the rest of his 8.2.0.

In hot pursuit Northallerton's Gary Smith had to settle for 8.0.0.

The Ure a foot above normal greeted competitors for the Ripon Piscatorials Alma Cup and catches suffered.

Local knowledge paid off when Martin Henstock caught the most, 7.2.0. Pole and maggot above Newby Fence End enticed two big perch nudging 2lb apiece backed by several roach.

Weights then dropped and John Martin picked up an assortment of fish totalling 5.4.0.

Woodlands Bank Holiday Open on Skylark, Partridge and Kestrels proved a brilliant match with perfect conditions and light winds. Every section bar one delivered over 38lb.

Steve Burgess snatched the glory off peg 29 on Skylark. Taking the pole out seven metres on worm, Steve netted a real mixed haul of 52.5.0 as most species fed including carp to 6lb.

Andy Hampson was relegated to second place bagging 50.13.0 from K Kotchie 50lb 12oz and V O'Connor 49.6.0.

Other results: Woodlands Wednesday Open, Partridge and Skylark - 1 N Johnson (Map Elton) 44.2.0; 2 D Cooper (Darlington) 41.2.0; 3 B Blythe (MNS) 39.13.0.

Woodlands Junior Open Friday, Kestrel Lake - 1 Ian Roberts 21.2.0; 2 Jonathan Denby 17.10.0; 3 Shane Jarvis 14.4.0.

Woodlands Open Saturday, Partridge and Skylark - 1 M Phillips (Penrith) 46.10.0; 2 D Jowett Jnr (Fishermens Way) 35.11.0; 3 D Ward (Team Ward) 35.8.0.

Idle and Thackley Open, River Swale, Swainby - 1 T McArdle (Brotherton) 10.6.0; 2 A McNeill (Washington) 4lb; 3 T Cullerton (Birtley) 1.7.0.

Durham City Open, River Wear - 1 S Hann 7.8.0; 2 K Fox 6.10.0; 3 A Kelly 6.5.0 (all Durham rods).

Oaks Open, Sessay, Poplars Lake - 1 K Pentland (Oaks) 38lb; 2 P Kozyra (Anglers Corner) 35.11.0; 3 R Oglivy (Oaks) 32.8.0.

Carp Vale Pool Open - 1 Armitage (Bradford) 47.10.0; 2 D Harrison (Leeds) 42.8.0; 3 T Carter (Leeds) 38.12.0.

Trout scene

Visitors enjoying some splendid sport at Redworth's Jubilee Lakes highlighted by five heavyweight rainbows over 11lb. Ken Thompson (Fencehouses) grassed a super specimen of 20.7.0 on a Damsel. Other successful patters, Dawson's Olive, Cooper Pheasant Tail, various coloured Fritz, Buzzers and Zonkas.

Reservoirs

Leighton - 172 rods, 495 fish, 54 limit bags. Rainbows to 14lb on small traditional flies.

Scaling Dam - 215 visitors, 420 fish, 18 limit bags. Ledgered worm producing rainbows over 5lb.

Grassholme - 272 angler, 576 fish, 24 limit bags. Rainbows to 4lb.

Hury - 210 rods, 473 fish, 20 limit bags. Brown and rainbow trout to 4lb.

Blackton - 104 visitors, 253 fish, 14 limit bags. Rainbows to 7lb.

Derwent - 425 anglers, 1,125 fish, 75 limit bags. Rainbows nudging 7lb.

Fontburn - 385 rods, 853 fish. Worm accounting for rainbows over 5lb.

Kielder - 132 visitors, 140 fish, seven limit bags. Biggest rainbows 4.8.0.

Fixtures: Saturday, September 9: NFA Division Two National, River Nene, Peterborough. Middlesbrough AC Anglers Corner Cup, Middle Swale, tickets from Steve Bland on (01642) 899288. Harrogate and Claro Open, Lingerfield Gravels, tickets on (01423) 540328. Sunday, September 10: Bradford No 1 AA Hirst Cup, River Nidd. North Central League (6), River Ure, Ripon Hutton Beck to Barn Island. The Durham City AC Open, D Fox series (5), River Wear around the city, tickets on (0191) 3842450. Bramley Ward Machieson Trophy, River Swale, Pickhill. Drennan Super League, six Woodland lakes. Helperby AC, River Swale. Thornaby AA September and Junior Cups, River Tees, Croft to Hurworth. Durham County individual championships, River Tees at Over Dinsdale. Ferryhill Quali-Tie Bank Masters heat seven, Derwent Reservoir, meet 9am, commence fishing at 10am