ANGLING: Rhodes freezes out rivals (From Wiltshire Times)

ANGLING: Rhodes freezes out rivals

3:00pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in Sport By Colin Scull

OVERNIGHT frost severely affected the sport in the Wilts Angling Open match at Crookwood Lake on Sunday.

Competitors struggled to catch fish, but Dean Rhodes, from Trowbridge, was the exception and took top honours with a carp catch weighing 30 lb 14 oz. Stuart White, from Chippenham, was second with 9 lb 14 oz of tench and skimmer, followed by Pete Neate, from Holt, with 3 lb 4 oz of tench.

Other placings: 4. Dave Baker Trowbridge 2 lb 7 oz; 5. Nick Lofy Calne 2 lb 8 oz; 6. Nigel Smith Calne 1 lb 14 oz.

DESPITE the frost, competitors still enjoyed reasonable sport in Sunday’s Calne match fished at Hazeland. Martin Dolman, of Calne, carried off top prize with 12 lb 4 oz of chub and dace.

Trevor Payne, from Corsham, was runner up with 8 lb 3 oz of chub with Gary Dodson, from Calne, third with 6 lb 11 oz of chub.

Other placings: 4. Dave Scoble Calne 4 lb 6 oz; 5. Simon Fear Calne 3 lb 0 oz; 6. Guy Manners Chippenham 2 lb 4 oz.

DEVIZES MG had a fine opening round in the Upper Thames Winter League fished on the Thames at Lechlade and Radcot taking top spot with a total of 50 points, followed by Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG and Daiwa Gordon League with 39 each.

Individual honours on the day went to John Moody, of Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG, with 24 lb of roach.

Dave Clapton, of Devizes MG, was next with 21 lb 1 oz of roach and dace, followed by teammate Paul Andrews with another mixed catch weighing 16 lb 2 oz.

Other placings: 4. Pete Passmore Devizes MG 15 lb 2 oz; 5. Dave George Browning Andover 11 lb 13 oz; 6. Graham Avery Daiwa Gordon League 11 lb 0 oz.

Teams: 1. Devizes MG 50; 2. Garbolino Blackmore Vale Mg & Daiwa Gordon League 39; 4. Browning Andover 31; 5. Maver Lobbys Tackle 29; 6. Swindon Talisman 23.

Future events

Saturday October 20: Westinghouse match at Chippenham.

Sunday October 21: Westend match at Pockeridge; Clevedon match at Swineford; Avon and Chippenham Open Pairs match at Melksham; Waterside AC match K & A canal Beehive stretch; Upper Thames Winter League match at Chippenham.

Thursday October 25: Bathampton Over 55s/Disabled match at Bridge Pool.

MORE SPORTS NEWS & PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES