Happy Houghton wins the big charity match

AN impressive total of over £1,200 was raised by the Maggie's charity match, for the Aubrey Cup, at the Janson Fishery.

A field of 39 turned out in poor conditions and it was so successful that it is set to become an annual event.

Generally weights were low, as expected with the 1.6 degree water temperature.

But the cup, donated by Aubrey Houghton, was fittingly won by his son, top match-man Alan, who weighed 50-13 off an unfancied peg on the Donut pool.

Houghton tempted 32 small carp, two skimmers, an ide and a rudd on a 20 hook and bread punch. Dave Holland was the next best weight on Donut with 8-6, which shows how well Houghton fished.

"All of the previous bad winter draws were worth it, for a win today," said a delighted Houghton.

Steve Ward took the win over on Munroes with 43-14 from peg 16, despite losing a lot of fish.

Barnstone's Bernard Robinson was best on the Match Pool with 40-12 from fancied peg 36.

Both of the next weights came from the next pegs, indicating the fish were still shoaling in that area.

Meanwhile, Steve Draper won Saturday's Open on the Match Pool, weighing 98-4 on bread and maggot at peg 32.

Baz Bright also had a good match, taking 48-2 on maggot from peg 35. He caught tight over, catching well late in the match.

Brian Orme took 34-5 from peg 30. Weights were low on the other side of the pool, Nigel Ballaam taking his section with 19-15 from peg 12.

The Thursday Costcutter produced some decent weights from both pools. Phil Hill took top weight from the Match Pool with 57-9 off peg 10. Gerry Woodcock took second spot with 49-8 from peg 7.

Bingham's Martin Fielding, who fished a waggler for a good part of the match, finished with 47-5 from peg 37.

Over on Munroes weights were a bit leaner, although Graham Wright, on peg 16, managed 53-9 on 4mm pellet over micros.

Brian Sandom, on peg 5, weighed 48-13. Other section wins went to Phil Orton with 26-6 and Cameron Cross who had 26-15 from Munroes 14, fishing down the edge towards peg 15.

Although all ice had melted, a bitterly cold wind hampered sport in the NISA Open at Dynamite Makins.

But Andy Mundell continued his excellent form on the lake to take the best Wednesday NISA Open weight this year with 83lb of carp on popped-up bread, off peg 9.

Although both second and third (on peg 7 and 5 respectively) had two carp each on bomb and corn, it was their roach catches that decided the places.

Andy Edgington (Makins Select) managed 14-4 of roach on caster to take third place with 27-10, ahead of Phil Hull (Lanes Bait & Tackle) whose 10lb of roach lifted his weight to 23-4.

The cold east wind and continual rain the following day dampened sport, but produced a close result.

Gaz Wood (Sconezone Floats), on Reptile 16, fished long pole and pellet for 23-4 catch of carp, plus a few silvers.

On Crater, the battle for second and third place was won by Andy Mundell. His 17-12 of 'stockies' plus silvers for 22-2 from peg 8 was enough to edge out Long Eaton's John Adamson. He had three carp (for 14-14) plus 6lb of skimmers from peg 2. Both fished pole and pellet.

Lagoon had not been fished in veterans matches at Lakeview for some time and the fish had clearly benefited from the rest. Roger Holmes again took top spot with 64-9 on maggot across at peg 21.

The other vets match saw Cliff Adcock catch fairly regularly on pellet for 33lbs off Canal 22.

Bill Arme, on Serpent 7, had to keep trying different areas to find the fish and finished second overall with 30-1.

The Winter League runs to the end of March with the final on April 3. Holmes is still well in the lead from Chris Shore and John Cooke.

There was a big turnout of 60 for the first round of the MAP Leegem Spring League at Hallcroft, despite the sub-zero wind chill.

Pete Tatley, on Moat Island 2, ignored the favoured margins and caught out in front at 6m using 6mm expander pellets. He was rewarded with 63-11 of carp, plus the odd bream.

With the wind over his back at Outer 97, Mal Edgecombe was able to hold the pole at 11m where he used 4mm expander pellet to catch 48-4.

Wayne Lomas took third place with 38-11 of carp to 6lbs on double hair-rigged corn on a small feeder to the margins at Outer 112.

Dick Clegg won the veterans match with 48lb off Outer 109. He fished pellet and corn for ten carp to 7lb.