The Coldstone Open was a disappointing affair with only nine anglers turning out and weights low from a stretch of the Evenlode which normally fishes well.

The river looked in good winter trim, but the chub didn’t want to play.

Steve Arthur tells me the poor returns were partly because of some tree removal and general bank clearance work.

One of the pegs that wasn’t affected produced the winner in Barry Barnes, with 13.5.0 of chub. He used liquidised bread and flake.

Gary Didcock caught two chub on the same tactics for a second-placed 5.3.0, and third with a chub, plus bits, weighing 4.6.0 was Nick Maynard.

Kinloch AC staged the P Woodley Winter League on the Thames at Lechlade Marina and although it was bitter, all 12 anglers caught.

A net of perch weighing 8.8.0 won it for Martin Blackman, who fished the pole and worm.

Second with 5.4.0 was Nick Maynard, who alternated between chop and maggot and caught roach, perch, gudgeon and some big ruffe.

Paul Woodley and Malcolm Crook were joint third with 5.0.0. Paul landed perch on the chop, while Malcolm fished punch and chop and had roach and perch.

Oxford Bus AC’s match at Fritwell was fished by seven brave rods who had an easterly wind blowing straight at them.

Mark Heath landed 7.8.0 of carp at 13 metres on white maggot for top spot.

His dad, Bob, fished against some old tree roots with maggot for a second-placed 5.11.0 of carp, while Tony Prescott used pinkie close in for 4.8.0 and third.

Eight hardy anglers turned out for Sutton Courtenay’s Markertow Shield second leg which was moved from the Lower Moors to Culham Cut Only two anglers troubled the scalesman. Gary Stafford captured 6.14.0 of perch on worm, while Steve Wheatley had four perch on chop for a second-placed 4.12.8.

Cuddesdon Mill VAA fished their Ken Cook Memorial Cup last Sunday instead of the Pairs Match on the Thame at Cuddesdon, which was still up and pushing through for the seven anglers.

Only two chub were caught and they both fell to Jeff Ring, who used legered bread to win with 5.3.0.

The last round of the Masons AC Individual Winter Series took place on the canal at Rock of Gibraltar.

The first three were all pegged in the marina, with bleak, gudgeon, small roach and the odd skimmer caught.

Gary Pether won with 4.1.0 on pole at 13 metres, alternating between maggot and worm. Andy Benwell finished second with 3.10.0, and Martin Robinson third with 1.9.0.

Final standings – Group A: A Benwell 56pts, G Pether 47, M Robinson 42. Group B: S Morton 57, W Gray 49, B Goodman 47.5.

Kidlington’s Hillier Championship was fished on the canal at Grovelands by eight members.

Two perch and some roach on double bloodworm over joker gave Henry Clarke the honours with 2.14.0.

Terry Lester finished second with 2.8.0 of skimmers on pole and punch, while third with 2.2.0 of bits was Jason Bean, who also fished the punch.

The canal at Walton Well Road was the venue for North Oxford’s match.

Only five braved the elements, so they pegged either side of the road bridge.

Maurice Winstone had three little perch on worm for 0.8.0, second two ounces behind was John Coleman, while Mick Abbott was third with 0.1.0.

The Thames at Carmel College was the venue for Acorn Angling’s Open which was fished by ten and saw with only two fish caught.

Using a cage feeder with liquidised bread and flake, Rod Rose had a four- ounce roach for first place.

The only other fish caught was a bullhead of 0.0.4 by John Barratt.

  • TWO AGMs for the diary: Kidlington hold their’s at Green Road Social Club on February 12 (8pm) while North Oxford’s is on February 17 at the Plough Inn, Wolvercote, also at 8pm.