The Northern semi final of the Winter League on Leicestershire's River Soar has now been relocated because of the foot-and-mouth crisis, writes JEFF HERBERT.

Woodland Lakes at Carlton Miniott will now stage this prestigious event set for Saturday, April 28.

This is the furthest North the semi final has ever been fished since its introduction in the 1960s and local champions Newman Scott will relish the opportunity to capitalise on home advantage. Six lakes on the complex will be used for the final and these include Dragonfly, Kestrel, Mallard, Partridge, Skylark and Swallow.

Sunday's Open on Kestrel Partridge and Skylark attracted a big turnout of 96 rods. Competitors were tested to full battling against snow blizzards and extreme cold.

Leader George Webb of Cleveland Angling Centre gambled on waggler and maggot only dispensing with the usual loose feeding approach and won the match off Skylark 7. Lots and lots of small carp kept George active throughout supplementing his 31.4.0 bag with a few better samples up to 5.0.0. Darren Walters of Team Angling Man sat on the adjoining peg but opted for the feeder and maggot for an small carp net of 22.6.0 from Rob Wood of FAPS 19.11.0 & Russ Hodgson Cleveland Angling Centre 19.7.0.,

Saturday's result from Woodlands (73 rods):1st Graham Dawes (Ted Carters) Skylark 21 23.12.0. 8 carp bomb and corn; 2nd Keith Kotchie (Map Elton) 21.11.0; 3rd Paul O'Donovan (Maltby) 17.10.0.

The midweeker (65 rods): 1st Lindon Roberts (Map Elton) Skylark 17 38.6.0 All small carp to 13 metre pole and corn; 2nd Ken Golightly (Map Elton) 32.11.0; 3rd Gordon Poole (Leeds) 27.10.0.

Sessay's new match only lake Maple kept up its momentum delivering super carp sport following last week's opening. Map Elton's John McGarrell pulled out peg 49 and stormed ahead recording 35.8.0. Varying his pole and maggot attack between three and 12 metres and loose feeding maggots and pellets John netted a succession of small carp. Next came Dave Emson of Northallerton weighing in 31.13.0 off peg 62. Pushing the pole and maggot out at 13 metres attracted a slightly better stamp with several around the pound mark.

Best of the rest: Paul Taylor (Pole Ninjas) 30.9.0; tying Gary Pollett (Oaks) & Ian Bailey (Harrogate Angling Supplies) 29.7.0.

Barnsley juniors topped Wheldrake's Raker Open for the second week on the trot. Following Jamie Wild's success teammate Andrew Geldart gave the seniors a lesson.

Fished on Horseshoe and Heron Lakes, most of the action came from the former. Drawing peg 15 on Horseshoe Andrew cast around his swim on bomb and maggot and located small carp up to the pound and come the whistle he registered 26.1.0.

Venue regular Paul Connelly of Hull Works was relegated to second place on 22.0.0. On peg 19 he collected carp to 3.0.0 on the 18 metre pole and maggot. Quality fish were reluctant to feed at Moor Monkton's Carpvale Pool during the present cold snap but a fine performance by York's Dave Maddison put a convincing 19.10.0 onto the scales. Dave patiently coaxed out 6 carp along farside reeds on peg 33. Extending the pole and maggot on the hook to 16 metres his biggest sample was a hard fighting mirror of 6.0.0.

John Haw of Acomb Tackle finished a comfortable runner up needing just two carp for 13.2.0 from Mick Addinall of FAPS 11.10.0.

Trout News: Redworth's Jubilee Lakes remains open and sport stepped up a gear last week with a rod average of 4.5 fish. Good numbers of rainbows in the five to 9.0.0 range and several double figured fish the best of 15.0.0 landed by Paul Calvert of Guisborough on a cats whisker. Floating and intermediate lines working well with cats whisker, black lures and hares ear productive.

The opening fixture in the Ferryhill Bank Masters Fly League to be fished this weekend on Thornton Steward Reservoir has been postponed due to restrictions on access because of foot-and-mouth.