Warlock's magic at Melksham

5:10am Friday 2nd January 2009

A SEVERE frost overnight put the fish down in the Avon Club pairs competitions fished on Saturday on the Avon at Portman Road, Scotland Road and Sainsbury’s at Melksham.

Roger Warlock, from Yate, was the exception and he ran away with the top individual prize with an all-roach catch weighing 9lb 5oz, taken on stick-floated punched bread.

Darren Fletcher, from Melksham, was runner-up with a mixed catch of roach, perch and skimmers weighing 5lb 7oz, taken on stick-floated punched bread.

Clive Baber, of Melksham, clinched third spot with a mixed bag weighing 5lb 5oz.

The pairs prize went to Roger Warlock and Jim Escott, from Melksham, with a weight of 10lb 1oz.

Other placings: 4 Bryan Haigh, Melksham, 3lb 11oz; 5 Kevin Rowell, Devizes, 2lb 13oz; 6 Bob Ryan, Melksham, 2lb 6oz.

Fear wins at Calne

DESPITE a heavy overnight frost, competitors in the Calne open match enjoyed good sport at Hazeland on Sunday.

Simon Fear, of Calne, won with an all-chub catch weighing 14lb 12oz, taking his catch on stick-floated bronze maggots.

Shane Belcher, of Calne, was second with a chub catch weighing 10lb 8oz, taken on feeder-fished red maggots.

He was followed by Tim Carr, of Calne, with a mixed catch of chub, dace and roach weighing 9lb 8oz, taken on pole-fished pellets.

Other placings: 4 Martin Dolman, Calne, 8lb 8oz; 5 Trevor Payne, Corsham, 5lb 14oz; 6 Nick Lofy, Calne, 5lb 12oz.

Ince wins with all-roach catch

COMPETITORS in the Airsprung open pairs match found the going tough on Sunday after heavy overnight frost and fish proved hard to tempt on the Avon at Barton Farm and the Kennet and Avon Canal at the Beehive.

Individual honours on the river went to Tom Ince, of Trowbridge, with an all-roach catch weighing 8lb 12oz, taken on pole-fished pinkies. Andy Gabb, of Thornbury, took second place with a mixed catch of chub and roach weighing 3lb 12oz, taken on waggler-fished red maggots.

On the canal Mike Marsden, of Airsprung, took top spot with a roach catch weighing 3lb 7oz 8dm, taken on pole-fished punched bread and pinkies. John Atkins, of Airsprung, took second spot with another roach catch weighing 2lb 4oz.

The pairs prize went to Tom Ince and John Atkins with a weight of 11lb, with Lee Trivett and Martin Barrett, of Bathampton, second with 4lb 12oz and Wayne Henley and Mike Marsden third with 3lb 15oz 8dm.

Neate continues good form

THE overnight frost also affected the weights in the Wilts Angling Open match fished at Leech Pool on Sunday.

Terry Gatty, from Melksham, scooped top prize on a low weight day with a carp catch weighing 21lb 8oz, taken on feeder-fished bread flake.

Pete Neate, from Holt, kept up his good form by taking second prize with a carp catch weighing 18lb 14oz, taken on feeder-fished red maggots and Barry Oakford, from Trowbridge, completed the frame in third place with a carp catch weighing 12lb, taken on feeder-fished red maggots.

Other placings: 4 Dave Bancroft, Trowbridge, 8lb; 5 Ted Hulbert, Melksham, 7lb; 6 Jim Escott, Melksham, 5lb 8oz.

Future events:

Sunday January 4:

• Calne open match at Hazeland
• Frys match at Frys
• Bath Spartans match at Newbridge
• Airsprung match at Burbrook Lake.