The Tees, clear with a slight flow, fished reasonably well for the Third round f the North East Winter League staged on the Yarm and Bowesfield lengths, writes JEFF HERBERT.

The anticipated big bream failed to put in an appearance and chublets and skimmers were the order of the day.

Darlington Angling Centre seized the glory on all fronts filling the top two individual spots - top team on the day and now head of the table overall by a clear two points.

Peter Close and Peter Nesbitt spearheaded the domination, and there was a fair bit of drama when a mere one ounce separated the teammates at the weighing scales.

Close on peg 189 on the golf course stretch worked the pole and red maggot tempting a super perch of 2.0.0 in an otherwise all chublet bag for 12.12.0 Nesbitt at Bowesfield on peg 23 fished the feeder and maggot and collected nine skimmers.

Teams on the day: 1 Darlington Angling Centre 92 pts 2 Newman Scott Blue 79 3 Cleveland Angling Centre 78 pts.

Overall placings: 1. Darlington Angling Centre 5 pts Tying 2nd Newman Scott Blue & Cleveland Angling Centre 7 pts 4. Yarm Flynns 13 5. Yarm AA 17.

The Yorkshire Ouse Championships fished between Redhouse and Poppleton attracted a huge turnout of 125 rods and big fish settled the issue from a venue 3 foot above normal.

Marsh Tackle's Terry Morgan cruised ahead of the rest weighing in 3 barbel averaging 7.0.0 apiece. Working off peg 4 below the Niddmouth 2 specimens fell to legered meat while the other responded to lobworm for 20.7.0 at the scales.

Kevin Moore made it a 1:2 for Marsh Tackle bringing in 2 bream supplemented by eels on lobworm from the Pipe Hole at Poppleton for 14.7.0.

Others backing weights: M Thorpe (Glenn) 9.6.0 D. McAllister (Bentley AC) 8.9.0

Chub figured in most of the leading nets on the Coniscliffe, Croft and Blackwell reaches of the Tees during the DBT Despatch Cup and Maurice Mudd of DBT had 9 of them for 21.6.0. Maurice drawn on the noted Manfield Scar float fished luncheon meat off peg 21 and netted specimens up to 3.0.0.

Meanwhile grayling and dace proved the backbone of 2nd place Bobby Trees net of 19.11.0. Floating fishing red maggot and caster off peg 48 at Croft produced the goods boosted by 3 bonus chub from Lance Todd (DBT) 12.10.0.

This year due to foot-and-mouth restrictions the Ouse Swale and Ure Challenge normally a three venue event was decided by a one off match staged on the River Ure around Boroughbridge to decide who took the trophy home.

Newton rods jockeyed for first place but Nigel Thompson quickly disposed of his opponents recording a runaway 16.0.0. Pegged above the willows opposite Ellenthorpe Hall on peg 55 feeder and bread accounted for a trio of chub biggest 4.0.0 backed by perch and roach.

Fellow rod Jim Bird needed just one fish a good barbel of 7.8.0 landed in the final 30 minutes to settle runner up spot. Feeder fishing across to the far bank on caster located the all important specimen.

Carp Scene

At Woodland Lakes: Saturday's open resulted in a popular win as Ripon's Ray Singh finally got the victory he deserved after competing in all Woodland events since day one.

Nicknamed 'Sing Ray ' the Elton Tackle member pulled out Wagtail 13 and alternated cat meat and corn at 13 metres on the pole netting all carp - the best a mirror of 7.0.0 for a memorable 46.0.0 at the weigh in.

Keenets Elton Dave Pimlott followed off Curlew Lake's peg 19. Again the pole at 13 metres was the productive distance but Dave found very small pieces of meat most successful as he put together 38.2.0 of small carp.

Woodlands midweeker - (51 rods): 1 Lee Addy (Keenets North West) 55.12.0 Carp on cat meat and pellets at 6 metres Skylark 5. 2 John McGarrell (Map Elton) 47.9.0. 3 Mark Calvert (Newman Scott )41.5.0

Woodland Lakes Sunday Open (42 rods): 1 Lyndon Roberts (Map Elton) 30.6.0 Carp to cat meat & pole at 13 metres Skylark 4. 2 Vince O'Connor (Map Elton) 26.7.0 3 Paul McBrinn (Normark) 21.1.0.

An almost sell out open of 66 rods on Sessays Maple Lake produced some excellent sport in a match when at least 29.0.0 was required to win every section.

Comfortably ahead John Bradshaw under the Sensas Garbolino banner ended an arm aching session bagging 57.0.0. On peg 46 and opting for pole and maggot to 11 metres lots of small carp fed mostly samples to 1.0.0.

Mr Consistent Map Elton's John McGarrell had to settle for runner up spot returning 43.5.0 of carp to hold off the rest.

Backing weights: M Lucas (Ted Carter Preston) 42.11.0 4 J Chapman (Keenets North West) 36.14.0.

Thursday's Open at the Oaks Sessay - Maple Lake (29 rods): 1 John Allerton (Tri Cast Whizzo) 60.8.0 - all carp to 13 metre pole & maggot off peg 5. 2 Dean Smith (VDE) 54.4.0 3 Paul Smith (Boston Spa) 42.10.0

Leeds rod Andy Sparling won a fish for fish battle on adjoining pegs against venue supremo Dave Wright during the Carpvale Pool Wednesday Open at Moor Monkton.

The big difference was Andy put four carp onto the scales for nearly 40.0.0 as Dave netted smaller samples.

Sat on peg 16 Andy worked the pole at 16 metres across to the island side catching all carp on the meat for a super 71.8.0 haul from Dave's 34.4.0.

Trout News

Despite recent rain Jubilee Lakes remain crystal clear and there were five double figured rainbows landed last week with the best of 12.12.0 falling to a green buzzer for Newton Aycliffe angler Kevin Harvey. Zonkers, montanas and small white or black lures deadly at present. Rod average 3.2.

Leighton Reservoir still open with the last day this Sunday 4 November.

Water levels up on the reservoir but Dawson's Olive and various fritz tempting rainbows upto 8.0.0. Last week 134 visitors totalled 227 trout.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: *Gordon Lee Charity Open Match River Wear Franklands. *Woodland Lakes Open.

Sunday: *Yarm AA RAFA Open Lower Tees (140 pegs) Tickets 01642 / 786444. *Thornaby AA Festival Cup River Tees Croft to Hurworth. *Northallerton & DAC Grayling Cup River Swale at Scruton. *York & District AA Animals Hospital Cup on the Ouse. Tickets 01904 / 629126. *Bradford City AA John Illingworth Trophy River Ure at Brampton (60 pegs). Tel: 01423 / 547537. *Ripon Pisc. Open (80 pegs) River Ure - Tickets on 01765 605467. *Tadcaster APA Open (60 pegs) R Wharfe at Smaws Ings -Tickets 01937 / 832972. *Chester le Street WL (Round 2) River Wear. *Woodland Lakes Open. *Oaks Open Maple Lake. *Thirsk Open Cod Beck.