Sensational sport on the Ure, writes JAMES HERBERT. Perfect autumnal conditions low clear and a touch of colour resulted in a staggering 26 double figured weights in the Ripon Piscatorials Open on Sunday when over 55.0.0 was needed for first place and 10.2.0 for 26th position.

Fished between Hutton Beck to Hewick Bridge it was chub galore for Aireborough's Keith Mottram who collected 26 for a memorable victory. Fishing peg 215 on the big gravel bend above the North Bridge - opened for the first time since February due to foot and mouth restrictions - Keith used the stickfloat and maggot and in a 'mad' 2 hours had 17 specimens in the landing net best just under 4.0.0.

Next John Stark put 44.14.0 onto the scales despite a blank 1 hours.

Pegged on 209 above Simpson's field 17 prime chub came to waggler and maggot tactics hotly pursued by Leeds Steve Beckwith 10ozs adrift off noted peg 217 downstream of Hutton Beck whose 9 big chub and 13.0.0 of dace fell to stickfloat caster and maggot.

An all perch net of 26.4.0 catapulted Knaresborough's Richard Sowerby into the limelight. Lobworm and red maggot on the feeder delivered 12 quality perch with fish of 2.12.0 and 2.14.0 from a swim below the Skittergate for sixth place.

In the Yarm AA RAFA Open there was a tight tussle for the honours on a low clear Tees with just 6ozs separating the top 3 and 3rd place Dave Harris left cursing a lost bream of 3.0.0. Newman Scott's Dave Smiddy led the 75 turnout recording 9.10.0. Drawn above the sunken barge on peg 86 it was all roach on the pole at 11 metres catching on the caster over caster hemp and small helpings of groundbait.

In form Darlington Angling Centre skipper Peter Close 3 pegs upstream included a 2.0.0 perch and roach on pole and maggot for 9.5.0 from Dave Harris Cleveland Angling Centre 9.4.0.

Chub decided Thornaby's Festival Cup on a low clear Tees between Croft to Hurworth.

On peg 54 the Buffs runoff Thornaby's Bill Lennard edged the stickfloat and bronze maggot down farside cover netting six chub and 2 grayling for 15.10.0 at the scales.

Runner up Anthony Alderson also landed six chub but of a smaller stamp backed by dace to stickfloat on corn and caster for 12.12.0 from Mike Grainger Jnr.

Billingham tempting a pike of 10.13.0.

Tadcaster's match record crashed on the Wharfe when Boston Spa's Steve Brown hammered out a stunning 46.3.0 on the Smaws Ings length. Steve's luck was certainly in after winning a recent open on hot favourite peg 2 Steve pulled it out again to rewrite the record books. Working waggler and maggot across to far bank willows 14 big chub responded followed by Ron Purdy with a splendid all roach return of 13.3.0 to stickfloat and maggot from peg 65. The second round of the Chester le Street Winter League on the Wear resulted in peg 1 at Target Wood producing the individual glory again. Eric Collins of ROF picked up small chub upto the pound mark down the middle with waggler and bronze maggot for 9.3.0. In contrast Trevor Bone of Team Reel Sport located all dace below the old bridge at Lumley Castle putting together 7.8.0 to waggler and maggot. ROF enjoyed a good day winning on 35 points and with early leaders Turners Tackle Red suffering a bad day, ROF now jump to the top on 66 pts.

League: Rof 66; Dick Clegg Metro 64; AMH Angling 62; Turners Tackle Red 61; Team Reel Sport 54.

Other Results - York & District AA Animals Hospital Cup River Ouse at Fulford (51 pegs): 1. Keith Mitchell (Selby) 4.10.0 small roach and perch to pole bomb maggot & caster 2. Tony Stevenson (Anglers World) 4.6.0 3. Alywin Martindale (Tang Hall Match Group) 4.5.0.

Northallerton & District Grayling Cup River Swale at Scruton. 1. Keith Atkinson (Darlington) 5.2.0 18 fish floatfished maggot 2. Cliff Robson (Appleton Wiske) 3.12.0 3.Atty Chamberlain (Darlington) 3.3.0. Course Fish Sweep - Cliff Robson 42.12.0 10 chub floatfished maggot.

Thirsk Open Cod Beck: 1 Mike Thompson (Thirsk) 11.14.0. 3 chub + dace & Grayling stickfloat bomb & caster 2 Mick Hare (RSPS) 10.13.0 3 Ron Marsh (Northallerton) 10.1.8.

Bradford City AA Illingworth Trophy River Ure at Brampton: 1 Dave Graham (Dunelm) 9.8.0 2 John Robertson (Yarm) 3.4.0 3 Alan Shearer (Aycliffe) 2.11.0.

Carp Scene

In Sunday's Teams of 3 event at Woodland Lakes competitors were spread around the complex. First three rods into the frame came from Mallard and shared over 177.0.0 as carp were keen to oblige. Map Elton regular Vince O'Connor sat on corner peg 19 and opted for pole and corn approach on his way to 63.12.0 and included a nice mirror to 7.0.0.

Irish visitor Ken Hawkshead made the excursion worthwhile. Fishing feeder and corn resulted in 59.6.0 off peg 4 but high point came when he slipped the landing net under a common carp of 10.0.0 only to be outdone by 3rd place Tony Neesam who bagged an even bigger one of 12.0.0.

Top teams on the day: 1 Ratbags 12 points (including individual winner). 2 Singing Newberrys 16 3 Milkmen 17. Saturday's Open on Partridge and Skylark (71 pegs) 1. D Pimlott (Keenets Elton) 37.11.0. 2. I Bowman (Maver Barnsley Blacks) 34.14.0. 3 D Harris (Cleveland Angling Centre) 32.6.0.

Owners Dave and Rachel Kay were delighted to see son Tom win a high scoring Thursday Open at the Oaks Sessay on Maple Lake.

Fishing peg 46 pellet on the pole at 13 metres delivered carp to 4.0.0 for a match clinching 52.15.0.

Harrogate Angling Supplies Dave Wright pushed him all the way only to miss out by 7ozs adopting identical tactics off peg 40. Oaks Open Sessay (Sunday) Maple Lake 1. A Crook (Fisherman's Way) 66.8.0 All carp off peg 12 to long pole & maggot. 2. K. Hill (Sensas Garbolino) 49.4.0 3 M Vanderkamp (Sensas Garbolino) 37.1.0

Trout News

The final week of the Trout season on Masham's Leighton Reservoir went out in spectacular fashion as Darlington's Charlie Newton grassed an impressive rainbow of 10.2.0 from Shildon's George Hall with a specimen of 9.8.0 102 anglers totalled 174 fish with 50 rainbows over 3.0.0 Most trout taken well down due to windy conditions.

The water reopens next year in March.

FIXTURES - Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open - Tel: 01845 526110.

Sunday: *NE Winter League Round 4 Lower Tees at Yarm. *Darlington BT Coarse Fish Cup River Tees Coniscliffe to Croft. *Bradford No 1 AA W Backhouse Cup River Ure. *Hammond Open Trophy Ouse above York - Tickets on 01132 482373. *Wilton AC Poplars Lake Sessay. *Knaresborough Pisc Open R. Nidd - Tickets on 01423 880262. *Richmond AS Grayling Shield River Swale. *Wetherby & District Open (60 pegs) River Wharfe. Tickets on 01937 581733)