THE Swale was in good form at the weekend for the Middlesbrough AC Bernard Watson Trophy.

Staged between Gatenby and Skipton Bridge the match produced six double figured weights despite the river rising two foot.

Rob Stubbs (Darlington) led the way recording a level 31.0.0. Drawn above Skipton Bridge it was a blank opening hour before the first of ten chub arrived all falling to waggler and maggot at intervals.

In total contrast, runner up Ian Kirton (Yarm) tempted seven fish in the first 30 minutes. Pegged on Sand Hutton run-off similar tactics down the middle brought a smaller stamp of chub finishing with 16 plus a grayling for 27.11.0.

Jim Taylor RSPS veteran made up the top trio with six chub and a grayling on floatfished maggot for 25.2.0 from Maunby.

In form Paul Stainsby (Yarm Flynns) proved a runaway victor during the Idle & Thackley Open on the Swale at Swainby. Chub dominated as Paul feeder fished bread to slip the landing net under six huge specimens that settled the scales at 27.0.0. Arthur Clamp (Bradford) followed way behind netting 8.6.0 as bomb and bread accounted for two chub.

Competitors enjoyed double figured catches during the final Ripon Piscatorials fixture of the season, the St Wilfrid’s Cup on the Ure.

Chris Smith (York) led the way with 23.12.0. On the big gravel bend downstream of Hutton beck peg 6 responded to the bomb approach with a variety of baits including bread, meat, worm and maggot for six chub.

Steve Young (Helperby) worked hard for his net of 20.8.0. Pegged on 87 above Hewick Bridge, Steve alternated the maggot on waggler, stickfloat and bomb rigs putting together five chub and seven grayling.

Others: M Bush (Ripon) 15.12.0; L Furness (Leeds Union) 15.2.0.

Once again red hot pegs 146 and 147 decided the outcome during the Yarm AL Harry Wilson Memorial Trophy on the Tees at Yarm.

Winner, Jimmy Messor (Shotton MG) on peg 146 found the perch shoaled up and bagged the best net of the winter a super haul of 42.3.0.

Fishing the tried and test groundbait feeder with chopped worm and lobworm on the hook it was nonstop action throughout.

In 2nd place Bri Stobbs (Ingleby Barwick) was also into perch returning 16.2.0 while Mark Arrowsmith with 11.8.0 was the other side of the winner and elsewhere the rest struggled for bites.

Darlington BT Combined Cup Tees – Coniscliffe: B Trees (Darlington) 13.8.0; J Burgess (Darlington) 11.5.0; K Close (RSPS) 8.14.0.