THAT was a cracking week that was on the carp match front – for some – as fish started hitting baits as though there was no tomorrow.
And way out front of those reaping the spoils was Wayne Sharman, bagging 247lb in the Lane’s Baits Tuesday Meadowlands open, followed by Gary Wood and Suzie Smith on 137-12 and 103lb.
And older guys got among the brown fish too, mostly good doubles, in Wednesday’s midweek Canons Ashby county vets’ do.
The top three shared 350lb as Mark Antonnacci won with 137-8 – well clear of Alf Gillard 113-12 and Jeff Brice 108-4.
Stanwick is in blistering form – with specci-types netting 19 fish over 20lb recently. Top fish (all from Elsons) were Steve Caladine’s 38-8 common, Dave Longdon’s 33-14 mirror and John Wilson’s (no, not THAT JW) 32-6.
Osprey’s Lakeside pairs sweep saw Gary Page and John Lawrence win with 165lb as Page made top spot on 105lb. Neil Fenner had 81lb and Keith Steadman 80lb.
Little Harrowden’s Adey Chance made the most of his chances when his club fished Lyn Pool, Corby, and won with 72lb. Tony Glanfield 43-6, Stan Atter 30-9.
White Hart Flore’s Tofts outing was a close thing as Dave Chapman had 68-8, Dale Gibson 68lb and Rob Wickham 66lb.
Saturday’s Castle Ashby Brickyard do went to Chris Garrett with 52-14 followed by Dick Rogers 31-12 and Courtney Hewlett 29-14.
Richard Dunkley won on Grendon in Sunday’s cold winds, 38-12, beating Gary Millward 32-14 and Mick Wheeler 29-14. Millward topped a Grendon midweeker with 48-6 with John Kent 48-4 and Paul Hardman 38-12.
The Greens Norton-based Bucko’s charity series Holmes Farm round saw Jake King pole his way to 50-7. Lloyd Hayes 49-10 and Jack Chennell 49-4.
Canal bream shoaling right next to a bridge made Maver Image’s Tom Boyce a runaway winner in a Milton Keynes spring league round with 25-4. His team finished fourth.
Towcester, Wappenham Water open: John Balhatchet 38lb of carp (and a 3lb barbel), Kevin Nightingale 35lb, John Broughton 31lb.
Daventry, Bishops Bowl: Jake King 29-3, Steve Martin and Carl Hulley tied on 27-3.
Castle, Canons silverfish match: Jeff Rice 26-12, Paul Lafflin 24-11, Andy Webster 24-8.
Cotton Club, Grendon Brickyard: Rus Lay 28-7, Gary Chatfield 25-7, Dave Hadden 23-6.
Finedon, Mill Cotton, Ringstead: Barry Lawrence 22-6, Jim Sharman 19-6, Will Underwood 17-4.
Flore & Brockhall, Dog Lane: Jim Tanser 16-4, Fred Johnson 14-8, Steve Smith 11-2, R Rawlins last – 0-13.
Towcester vets, Navvi canal: Gerald Green 130 squat roach for 10-11, Tosh Saunders 8-1, Graham Martin 6-7.
Nene, Furnace Lane cut: Les Ramsden 4-9, Brian Beard 3lb, Paul Minney 2-2... three zander caught!
FIXTURE: Sunday, Towcester open, Bairstows 07915 613862.
TROUT Reports: Rutland, 451 rods took 2,147 fish (4.76 average per rod) best 6-8; Elinor 480 fish to 141 rods (3.4) – Sunday, Tommy Wood memorial free to enter roving match; Ravensthorpe 341 fish 91 rods (3.7) best 9-9; Pitsford, 411 to 170 rods (2.4) best 4-8; Grafham 33 rods shared 268 fish (5.56) best brace 6-12 each.
Ringstead, best 7lb, Eyebrook 976 fish to 275 rods (3.54), June 1 Help for Heroes match, 01536 772930.