Despite the unsettled weather it was nice to get back to normal with matches now on all of the region's rivers, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Middlesbrough AC staged their first match since last January's Zetland Trophy so expectations for 2002's Zetland event were high.

A good turnout of 50 rods were eager to test their skills on the Maunby, Holme and Ainderby stretches but unfortunately the long awaited return to the Middle Swale was hit by high levels. The river 4 foot up two days prior ran off only to rise again during the match and most anglers in the frame caught early on before the influx.

Knaresborough's Richard Sowerby two above the cow drink at Ainderby had three chub in the net within 30 mins all to bomb and meat down the edge. Then he had to wait until the final hour before adding a fourth specimen on worm for a winning 12.15.0.

In total contrast sport came late for Thornaby's Ernie Farrow. Pegged in the bottom of Stead's plantation at Holme legered bread and cheese down the middle produced a trio of chub for 9.7.0 from Brotherton rods Trevor McCardle 6.12.0 and Simon McCardle 6.10.0.

The Ure was in the best condition for Sunday's 77 peg Ripon Open carrying just 18" at the start but more importantly fining off so not surprisingly the top weights came off the Hutton to Hewick match length.

Tadcaster's Gary Bullock stormed ahead recording a cracking chub haul of 25.12.0

Pegged one below Hutton Beckmouth Gary loose fed casters down midriver and fished a cage feeder and bread on the same line picking up 11 chub at intervals - best 3.8.0.

Ripon's Cliff Lofthouse netted all his fish in a whirlwind opening 90 minutes. Stickfloating caster and maggot opposite Myers Hole nine chub and six grayling totalled 16.5.0 from Fred Hardcastle (Elton Tackle) 12.14.0 Adrian Lewis (Bradford) 12.10.0 and Paul Wood (Aireborough) 12.0.0.

The Grayling Trophy went to John Eyles with two fish for 1.2.0.

Darlington BT's event split between their Tees and Swale waters could have made the headlines for all the wrong reasons as strong winds brought a flash flood off the hills and both rivers swiftly rose several feet.

In the name of safety competitors on the Swale below Catterick wisely decided to call time 75 minutes early.

Darlington's Anthony Alderson on the pipe hole at Tancred Gravels had enough to swing the verdict tempting three early chub totalling 7.11.0 on feeder and bread from a nearside slack.

While over on the Tees at Merrybent despite the extra time Dave Hanson's two chub for 6.2.0 relegated him to second place.

In Yarm AA's rearranged Alan Wells Memorial on the lower Tees the feeder dominated.

Newman Scott's Dave Smiddy edged a tight result recording 7.1.0 of chublets off peg 164 in the middle of the paddock.

Working with liquidised bread in the feeder Dave swapped about taking 6 fish on worm and five on bread.

Dunelm's Gerry Bowes three above the Levenmouth landed a bream of 2.0.0 in an otherwise chublet net to the same tactics for 6.13.0 from Dave Walker (Darlington AC) 6.7.0.

On the Ouse at Fulford 115 rods lined the banks for the third round of the Acomb Tackle Winter League and Bar Six's Rod Chalk tamed a venue two foot up with a hard earned 5.10.8 to keep his team in front at the halfway stage.

On the roots below Donkey Woods groundbait caster and feeder approach with worm on the hook delivered a 4.0.0 bream backed by two skimmers.

Cobblers Tony Stevenson in the Cables Hole at Fulford opted for the pole at nine metres into the slack water fishing maggot over chopped worm for a mixed net of 5.2.0.

Top three teams on the day: 1st Bar Six 12.11.8; 2nd Wibsey 10.11.8; 3rd Cochranes Shipyard 7.13.8.

League to date: 1st Bar Six 47 points; 2nd Cochranes 44; 3rd Wibsey 43; 4th Barley Village Stores 36; 5th Cobblers 35; 6th York Tackle A 34.

Round-up of the rest - Chester-le-Street Winter League (6) River Wear Creighton Avenue to Lumley: 1st I Lumb (Turners Tackle Red) 3.5.0 single chub bomb and maggot; 2nd R Underwood (Turners Tackle Blue) 0.14.0.

Top teams on the day: 1 AMH 18 points; 2 Dick Clegg Metro 17; 3 Washington 14.

Final placings: Champions Dick Clegg Metro 193 points; 2nd Turners Tackle Red 155; 3rd Washington 149; 4th AMH 132; 5th Team Reel Sport 111; 6th Turners Tackle Blue 110.

Marsh Tackle Winter Series River Ouse - Hunters Lodge to Linton: 1st P Rambow Jnr (CAC) 15.10.0 two bream six skimmers feeder and worm; 2nd T Pitts (Marsh Tackle) 6.2.0; 3rd T Hewson (Armley) 3.1.8.

Bob Co Tackle Open River Ouse - Thorpe Underwood & Poppleton: 1st S Smith (Marsh Tackle) 4.9.0 a 3.0.0 bream + 6 roach feeder worm; 2nd A Dargue (Darlington AC) 3.7.0; 3rd K Mitchell (Selby) 2.4.0.

Carp Scene

A rise in temperature brought fish back on the feed at Woodlands as Map Elton's Daryl Taylor required 33.6.0 to top Saturday's event spread around the five match lakes.

The maggot feeder and single maggot on the hook tempted 31 fish in all an assortment of carp tench barbel chub and skimmers off Kestrel 32.

Venue regular Ray Singh of Elton Tackle slipped into runners-up spot off Partridge 14. Pole and sweetcorn at just over 14 metres secured mirrors to 5.0.0 on his way to 28.10.0.

Woodlands (Sunday) Open: 1st Dave Westmoreland (Quaker Tackle) Kestrel 30 - 16.11.0 all carp including a mirror of 12.0.0 on maggot feeder; 2nd Jamie Hall (Diawa Goldthorpe) 14.0.0; 3rd John Chapman (Keenets Northwest) 13.10.0.

Oaks Sessay (Thurs) Open - Maple Lake: Tri Cast Whizzo ace John Allerton snatched Sessay's midweeker thanks to a bonus 10.0.0 common carp. Sat on form peg 63 the 13 metre pole and maggot also encouraged several smaller samples to finish with 24.7.0 from Team Glum's Kevin Armitage with 21.14.0 off peg 15.

Sunday's Open Oaks - Maple Lake: 1st Damien Bracken (Trevs Wilmslow) 28.8.0; 2nd Ray Wallace (Big Waters) 22.14.0; 3rd Steve Cooksey (Edgely Sport) 13.2.0.

Trout News

Trout are falling to a variety of patterns fished at differing depths but the wind strength seems to be more of a deciding factor at Jubilee Lakes Redworth.

Blaydon's Kevin Armstrong choose a mini green gold head grassing a superb rainbow of 16.4.0 while others Geoff Ewbank of Bishop Auckland a specimen of 15.6.0 to bloodworm and Whickham's John Armstrong a 14.1.0 rainbow to red montana.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Woodland Lakes Open Tickets on 01845 526110.

Sunday: *Yorkshire WL Round 6 River Ouse at Fulford & Middlethorpe. *Black Ox AC Tom Bradley Trophy Bedale Beck at Leeming. *Knaresborough Piscatorials Open River Nidd - Tickets on 01423 880262. *Tadcaster APA Open (60 pegs) River Wharfe at Smaws Ings. Tickets on 01937 832972. *Idle & Thackley AA Open River Swale at Maunby. Tickets on 01274 618569. *Yarm AA Prince Charles Trophy Lower Tees at Yarm. *Preston Innovations Teams of 3 Champs Woodland Lakes. *Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake.