ENGLAND were crowned World Champions again in France last weekend, writes JEFF HERBERT.

A record turnout of 36 teams battled it out on a very hard River Seine in

Paris and England were trailing in foruth place after Saturday's match.

But an unbelievable effort by the Drennan Team England on Sunday saw them overtake Italy and favourites France to clinch their seventh team gold since 1985.

Dorkings young superstar Will Raison finished top scorer for England in eigth position with the ever reliable Steve Gardener in ninth position.

Italy's Umberto Ballabeni took individual gold with four points.

Results: 1. Drennan Team England 68 points; 2. France 72 pts; 3. Italy 87 pts; 4. Poland 104 pts; 5. Croatia 111 pts; 6. Portugal 126 pts.

Durham's Jimmy Messer left everybody else well behind as the Darlington

Angling Centre star scooped his second River Wear Championship title

delivering a convincing 21.1.0

Pegged near the ornamental gardens at Prebends Bridge in Durham City feeder and caster down the deep mid river channel brought six chub, a barbel, a perch and a surprise carp of 3.0.0.

Chester-le-Street's Rob Underwood trailed well behind returning 6.12.0. On the Chester Moor length stickfloat and maggot tempted two decent chub boosted by a few dace.

Others: Mark Calvert (Newman Scott) 6.8.0, Peter Nixon (Newman Scott) 5.15.0, Peter Hamilton (Darlington AC) 5.4.0.

Foot-and-mouth restrictions resulted in this year's Ure Championship

sponsored by Ripon Builders Merchants Ltd down to just 70 anglers.

But with the river fining off nicely following a midweek flush through hopes of big catches particularly in the deeps were high.

KL Tackle's Robin Pickles lifted the prestigious Trophy recording 19.2.0.

Fishing below the Bell Banks fence at Sharow opposite the sand bank chub grayling and a few dace all responded to maggot and caster across.

Runner up Martin Hope of Ripon one below the famous Leatham's run off

caught all his fish in a hectic final hour burst.

Waggler and maggot tactics attracted five chub and icing on the cake proved a super perch of 3.0.0 for 16.0.0 at the weigh in from fellow rod John Fletcher 14.12.0.

A polished performance by Darlington's Bob Blenkinsop elevated him into top spot during the Darlington Brown Trout Scottish and Newcastle Trophy on the Tees between Coniscliffe and Croft.

Upsteam of the A1 motorway bridge at Low Coniscliffe waggler and caster located two good chub backed by chublets and a sprinkling of grayling on the sweetcorn for 21.5.0.

Best of the rest came Anthony Alderson on the Hud stream who swapped between feeder and stickfloat with caster and corn netting a mixture of dace grayling and chub for 13.15.0.

This event also incorporated the Club's Trout Cup which was duly taken byAnthony Alderson who finished on 4.9.0; Lance Todd took the best trout of the day landing an impressive brownie of 2.1.0.

At the Woodlands Complex Carlton Miniott the midweeker on Partridge and Skylark gave a string of big weights headed by Map Elton's Paul Jones bagging 62.7.0.

Pulling out Skylark's 27 long pole attack at 13 metres paid dividends. It

was carp all the way featuring specimens up to 6.0.0. falling to the

inevitable cat meat.

Meanwhile Tri-Cast's John Allerton adopted a similar approach but at 11

metres to fill second place.

On Partridge lake's peg, 28 small carp totalled 56.6.0 from Map Elton's Keith Kotchie 55.13.0.

Woodland Lakes Partridge & Skylark (67 rods): 1. J. McGarrell (Map Elton) 38.2.0 of carp from Partridge 15 to pole & cat meat at 13 metres 2. K. Kotchie (Map Elton) 34.2.0 3. M. Calvert (Newman Scott) 29.15.0.

Round-up - Tadcaster APA Open R. Wharfe at Smaws Ings: 1. V. Rooks (Glen) 11.13.0 - three chub & first perch to feeder & caster in mid river from peg 56; 2. A. Wilks (Tadcaster) 8.4.0; 3. T. Pickles (Glen) 6.5.0

Oaks Sessay Open - Maple Lake (Thursday): 1. R. Ogilvy (Oaks) 68.4.0 all carp to pellet and meat off peg 21; 2. S. Russell (Newman Scott) 61.9.0; 3. J. Allerton (Tri-Cast) 52.0.0

Oak's event on Sunday: 1. D. Pimlott (Keenets North West) 41.3.0. - Carp to long pole & cat meat off peg 23; 2. M. Coyne (Cleveland AC) 40.8.0; 3. R. Singh (Elton Tackle) 39.4.0

The latest round of the Ferryhill & District Angling Club Bankmasters Fly Fishing League takes place this Sunday at Farmire Lake near

Knaresborough. For further details contact Austin Lowery on (01388) 811768.

Ferryhill club are also running a Senior Pike Match on Talkim Tarn set for Saturday October 6. Bookings and information from Alan Dyke on (0191) 3772031.

Trout News

Jubilee Lakes Redworth - Tel: (01388) 772611

Olive zonkers, white tadpole, bloodworm and buzzers producing lots of big rainbows.

Cramlington's Keith Mortimer landed the biggest of 14.15.0 on a

black buzzer.

Over at Masham's Leighton Reservoir sport has been very good as 122 visitorstotalled 507 fish of which 140 were over 3.0.0 in weight.

George Hall of Shildon opted for a muddler taking an 8.0.0 rainbow which much to his delight was tagged and earned him a bottle of whisky.

Best flies Dawsons olive, muddlers and appetisers.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Woodland Lakes Open - Partridge & Skylark - Tel: (01845) 526110.

Sunday: River Calder Championships around Brighouse. First prize £500 - sponsored by Weyermann. Tickets cost £10 and are available from Simon Foster Tel: 01274 571175.

*York & District AA Noakes Cup River Ouse at Fulford & Middlethorpe. Tickets on 01904 629126.

*Boroughbridge AC Open River Ure - Boroughbridge to Aldborough - Tickets on (01423) 340224.

*Darlington Brown Trout Bambridge Cup River Tees - Coniscliffe to Croft.

*Tadcaster Open River Wharfe Smaws Ings.

*Oaks Sessay Open Maple Lake.