JIM Butcher carried off top prize at Sunday’s Wilts Angling Open match on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Foxhangers.

The Bradford angler Jim Butcher clinched top prize with 53 lb 12 oz of bream and carp, ahead of Trowbridge’s Dave Bancroft, who took 22 lb 14 oz of skimmers.

Ian Willetts from Bradford was third with 22 lb 8 oz of tench and skimmers.

Other placings: 4. Pete Neate Holt 18 lb 4 oz; 5. Mick Gunning Trowbridge 12 lb 12 oz; 6. Nick Johns Trowbridge 10 lb 6 oz.

THE Bristol Avon at Chippenham was in good form for Saturday’s Chippenham match as Steve Palmer won with 27 lb 5 oz of chub.

Nigel Smith, from Calne, was runner up with 15 lb 3 oz of chub and perch with Ian Liddell, from Chippenham, third with 14 lb 8 oz taken of small chub.

Other placings: 4. Guy Manners Chippenham 13 lb 5 oz; 5. Steve Simkins Calne 13 lb 3 oz; 6. Martin Dolman Calne 11 lb 7 oz.

SUNDAY’S inter-club event between Royal British Legion and Airsprung fon the Frome at Wolverton was won by the Legion.

Top individual honours went to Airsprung’s Richard Whitmarsh with 7 lb 11 oz of roach, ahead of the Legion’s Ian Swansborough with 4 lb 11 oz.

Teammate Bill Knight was third prize with 4 lb of roach and perch.

Other placings: 4. Leigh Wakefield Royal British Legion 2 lb 6 oz; 5. Phil Eggleton Airsprung 2 lb 4 oz.

THE Avon SCC Open match on the Bristol Avon at Melksham on Sunday was won by Paul Andrews, from Calne, with 12 lb 4 oz of roach.

Marcus Crook, from Melksham, was runner up with 9 lb 2 oz of roach with Robbie Kepner from Melksham third with 9 lb of bleak.

Other placings: 4. Dave Baker Trowbridge 8 lb 5 oz; 5. Andy Pratten Melksham 8 lb 2 oz; 6. Gary Williamson Devizes 7 lb 7 oz.

THE Saturday Open at Ivy House Fishery went to Dick Young, of Ivy House, with 110 lb 2 oz of carp and silvers.

Ian Millichip, of Ivy House, was runner up spot with 45 lb 12 oz of carp and silvers, while Kevin Harris was third with 29 lb 4 oz of carp and silvers.

The silvers prize went to Gary Etheridge, from Devizes, with 15 lb 12 oz.

Future events

Sunday Sept 15: Lavington match at Merritts Lake; Wilts Angling match at Conigre/Beanacre; Airsprung match at Golf Course.

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