The Meadowlands winter league opened with a bang – with the top three totalling almost 300lb.
And that was despite co-inciding with one of the worst autumn Sundays in years as what felt like the tail end of Hurricane Sandy lashed those brave – or daft – enough to sit it out!
Lee Davis won with 107-12 of carp on poled corn as Lee Heaven had 91-8, Barry Byrd 89-6, and Karl Barnfield 77lb.
Over on the Stony Stratford Ouse Martin Cunniffe bagged, in an MKAA match, the fish of a lifetime... a 2-1-0 river roach! Yes it is an ill wind which blows no one any good.
Following three straight wins in the seven team Castle Ashby AT league Starlets stumbled, finishing third, Sunday, but still have a match in hand over the best of the rest.
‘Ashby Youth’s Steve Abbill won with 67-13 from the Brickyard as Andy Johnson (RAF) had 49lb with Steve Hemmingway (Starlets) on 44-13.
Chiltern GotBaits were top on the day. Starlets lead on 6 points, ‘Ashby A Team have 13 and Maver MK 16.
Even Lakeside – heaving with fish – was knocked off form by the weather, and Dave Chapman won White Hart Flore’s do with ‘only’ 42lb. Dave Griffiths had 38lb and Dave Adams 32lb.
‘Ashby’s Grendon midweeker saw Paul Hardman win with 27-12 ahead of John Kent 24-12 and Geoff Ringer 24-3. On the same pond, Saturday, Hardman won again with 38lb.
Dick Rogers had 31-8 and Grant Howie 29-12.
The other side of the county Dave Smart topped the Bishops Bowl winter league opener with 26-1.
Keith Haynes had 20-14 and Ray Gregory 15-13. The Uglies were top team.
Between floods Pete Hawley used deadbait to land Olney’s best-of-season Ouse pike at 15-15.
Floodwater pouring in from the top lake made Castle’s match on Canons bottom a grueller. With water rising over the platforms Nick Antonacci won, 14-8, as Andy Forbes netted 10-9 and Fred Prior 4-12.
Cotton Club’s Weedon cut do went to Marcus Annable 4lb. Tony Pickering had 2-8 and Dave Hadden 2-2.
Stoke cut long pound was full of muddy run-off, for Sunday’s Nene open, but Dave Gibbins caught 3-8, Tom Graney 3-6 and Paul Minney 3-3.
Towcester fished the Shutlanger Tove, Sunday – and suffered!
The river rose so fast Mick Goodridge had to move his box back three times while winning with a chub and bits 2-11. Matt Brafield had 2-2... and the rest went home early!
On Flore & Brockhall’s cut Rob ‘it’s a gift I have’ (!!!!) Rawlins won for the second time in a row with 2-10. Paul Humphries had 2-6 and Steve Smith 2-3.
FIXTURE: Saturday (Nov 10) Olney Ouse open 01234 240061.
CATCHES or matches to report? Tell Trevor Johnson at angling@intermediauk.com or on 01908 270000.
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