GARY Etheridge, from Devizes, took top spot in the Wilts Angling Open match at Leech Pool on Sunday.

Etheridge reeled in a mixed catch of carp and skimmers weighing 65 lb 8 oz.

Jim Butcher, from Bradford, was runner up with 56 lb of carp.

Pete Neate from Holt clinched third spot with a carp catch weighing 52 lb 4 oz.

Other placings: 4. Richard Brimble Westbury 39 lb 14 oz; 5. Rob Kepner Melksham 35 lb 2 oz; 6. Tony Steel Trowbridge 19 lb 8 oz.

WITH the river out of sorts on Sunday the Airsprung match was switched to the Moulton Lane stretch of the Kennet & Avon Canal where, despite an overnight frost, weights were quite reasonable.

Top honours went to Dean Adams, from Bradford, with 6 lb 0of roach and skimmers.

Bill Turner was next with 5 lb of roach and skimmers and Phil Eggleton, from Bradford, came in third with 5 lb 4 oz of roach and skimmer.

Other placings: 4. Kevin Hatter Trowbridge 4 lb 1 oz; 5. Paul Jones Melksham 3 lb 11 oz; 6. Dave Green Trowbridge 2 lb 13 oz.

COMPETITORS enjoyed good sport in the Sensas Commercial House League on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Bathampton.

Preston Innovation Thatchers B took team honours in A Division with 32 points while Maver Cadbury Angling topped B Division with 32 points.

Individual honours on the day went to Neil Mercer, of Maver Bathampton Elite, with a roach and skimmers catch weighing 13 lb 2 oz.

Vince Lunn, of M & N Electrical, was runner up with a roach and skimmers catch weighing 8 lb 9 oz.

Mike Withy, of Sensas Wilts Angling, clinched third prize with another roach and skimmers catch weighing 7 lb 14 oz.

Other placings: 4. Robert Randall M & N Electrical 7 lb 8 oz; 5. Sean Townsend Maver Bathampton Invincible 7 lb 4 oz; 6. Sam Johnson Maver Cadbury Angling 6 lb 12 oz.

Teams – A Division: 1. Preston Innovation Thatchers B 32; 2. Preston Innovation Thatchers A 28; 3. Sensas Wilts Angling 26.5. B Division: 1. Maver Cadbury Angling 32; 2. D & W Builders 23; 3. Premier Angling Chippenham 22.

League tables – A Division: 1. Preston Innovation Thatchers A 32; 2. Preston Innovation Thatchers B 29.5; 3. Maver Bathampton Elite 25. B Division: 1. Maver Cadbury Angling 21.5; 2. Frys & D & W Builders 21 each.

THE Landsend Winter League match saw Craig Edmunds of Avon Angling take top honours with 143 lb 1 oz of carp for an easy win.

Tom Thick, of Thatchers Tackle, was runner up with 95 lb of carp, followed by Ken Rayner of Landsend took third prize with a carp catch weighing 75 lb 2 oz.

The silvers prize went to Gary O’Shea, of Preston Innovation Thatchers, with 14 lb 4 oz of skimmer.

Other placings: 4. Mark Poppleton Trowbridge 60 lb 7 oz; 5. Adrian Jefferies Avon Angling 54 lb 7 oz; 6. Gary O’Shea Preston Innovation Thatchers 45 lb.

Future events

Sunday Jan 19: Chippenham match at Chippenham; Wilts Angling match at Melksham; Airsprung v Tisbury match at Barton Farm.

Thursday Jan 23: Bathampton Silvers Champs match at Bridge Pool.

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