THERE was the closest of finishes in the Wilts Angling Open match at Rood Ashton last Thursday evening as Stuart White, from Chippenham, carried off top prize with 90 lb 14 oz of carp.

In-form Tony Gilbert from Melksham finished right on his heels with 90 lb 12 oz, with John Atkins, from Trowbridge, third with 68 lb of carp.

Other placings: 4. Ken Rayner Bristol & Ian Willetts Bradford 33 lb 0 oz; 6. Mark Poppleton Trowbridge 32 lb 0 oz..

LAST Friday’s Airsprung evening match on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Airsprung was fished in high winds and lashing rain but Vic Abbott, from Bradford, won with 6 lb 5 oz of roach and skimmers.

Dave Morrison, from Trowbridge, pushed him all the way with 6 lb 2 oz 8 dm, followed by Chris Oliver, from Trowbridge, with 5 lb 2 oz.

Other placings: 4. Kelvin Oliver Trowbridge 4 lb 10 oz; 5. Richard Whitmarsh Frome 4 lb 4 oz 8 dm; 6. Bill Turner Trowbridge 4 lb 2 oz.

STEVE Palmer, of Chippenham, took top spot in Sunday’s Chippenham Silver fish-only match with 26 lb 7 oz of roach.

Ian Liddell, of Chippenham, was runner up with 22 lb 3 oz of roach, followed by Mark Wooldridge, from Chippenham, with 21 lb 8 oz.

Other placings: 4. Kevin Williams Chippenham 19 lb 15 oz; 5. Alex Hyde Chippenham 17 lb 10 oz; 6. Nigel Smith Calne 15 lb 3 oz. Overall series winner: Mark Wooldridge Chippenham.

RICHARD Whitmarsh chalked up a fine win at Sunday’s Airpsrung match at Leech Pool with 62 lb of carp.

Trowbridge’s Dave Wareham was next with 58 lb 4 oz, followed by Trowbridge’s Bill Turner with 52 lb.

Other placings: 4. Sean Rhodes Trowbridge 50 lb 2 oz; 5. Andrew Fox Trowbridge 40 lb; 6. Kevin Fricker Trowbridge 36 lb 4 oz.

OTHER RESULTS

Ivy House Fishery Tuesday Open: 1 Justin Ogbourne, New Century, 74 lb; 2 Terry Strange, Royal Wootton Bassett, 52 lb; 3 Paul Ogbourne, New Century, 43 lb 8 oz.

Ivy House Fishery Saturday Open: 1 Justin Ogbourne, New Century, 49 lb 2 oz; 2 Simon Stacey, Ivy House, 47 lb 13 oz; 3 Gary Etheridge, Devizes, 39 lb 4 oz. Silvers prize: Etheridge, 12 lb 4 oz.

THE third round in the Kennet & Avon Canal Spring League was fished from Wolf Hall to Little Bedwyn where Maver Bathampton took top spot on the day with 53 points.

They were followed by Daiwa Gordon League and Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths with 43 each.

Individual placings: 1. Nathan Hawke, Maver Bathampton, 12 lb 15 oz; 2. Tony Hobbs, Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths, 8 lb 10 oz; 3. John Cox, Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG, 6 lb 2 oz; 4. Kevin Abigail Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG 5 lb 5 oz; 5. Steve Dennis Sensas Wiltshire Angling 5 lb 2 oz 8 dm; 6. Dave Johnson Swindon Talisman 4 lb 13 oz.

Teams: 1. Maver Bathampton 53; 2. Daiwa Gordon League & Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths 43; 4. Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG 39; 5. Sensas Wiltshire Angling 38; 6. Swindon Talisman 37.

Table: 1. Daiwa Gordon League 10; 2. Garbolino Blackmore Vale MG 11; 3. Devizes MG 12; 4. Maver Bathampton 16; 5. Garbolino Black Horse 17; 6. Drennan Banbury Gunsmiths 18.

Future events

Friday May 31: Airsprung Evening match K & A Canal Avoncliffe.

Sunday June 2: Lavington match K & A Canal; Airsprung match K & A Canal Airsprung.

Thursday June 6: Bathampton Over 55s/Disabled match at Withy Pool.

Friday June 7: Airsprung Evening match Rood Ashton.

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