STEVE Arthurs was crowned the king of Coldstone AC as he won the club’s open match on the Evenlode at Ascott-under-Wychwood, writes ANDY WEBBER.

The ten matchmen were in danger of getting frostbite in the bitterly cold conditions, but despite that, plenty of fish were caught.

Legering breadflake, Ar-hurs landed four chub for a winning 13.4.0.

Geoff Townsend fished a maggot-feeder two catch chub worth 6.4.0 for second.

In third place with a mixed bag of chub and roach was Mark Rivett with 5.3.0.

Coldstone will be staging another open at the end of the month.

Because of the state of the Thames, the Jolly Anglers match was moved from the Town Waters stretch to the lock cut.

The five hardy souls struggled, but Anthony Brooker caught a fine chub of 5.10.0 on a cage feeder full of liquidised bread and flake on the hook.

The only other angler to catch was Lee Crook, who had a 0.0.4 roach on maggot for second place.

The first thing I said to North Oxford’s John Coleman when I spoke to him about last Sunday’s Victory Cup match was: “Did you have to break the ice?.”

John’s reply was “What ice?”

In fact he told me that they even saw three boats travelling down the Oxford Canal at Frenchay Road.

The five members found the fishing very hard work and it was John who emerged triumphant with 2.7.0 comprising a decent perch, plus a few small roach.

He fed some old joker and then fished pinkie over the top on the inside.

Maurice Winstone used chopped worm well over and finished second with 1.3.0.

He was followed by Cliff Harris with some small perch and roach on pinkie, weighing in 0.9.0.

Kidlington moved their Green Road SC-sponsored open from the Cherwell to the canal at New Bridge.

The 12 anglers had to break the ice before they could start fishing.

Unsurprisingly, it was tough going, but in the end Dave Scott-Picton took the honours with four perch on worm over chop for 1.11.0 Also using worm over chop, Henry Clarke only just missed out on top spot with two perch for 1.10.8.

Jason Bean weighed in 1.6.0 of small roach and perch on pinkie fished over joker for third.

Sutton Courtenay were on Culham Cut for the first leg of their Markertow Shield.

But only one fish was caught among the nine competitors who braved the freezing weather.

Malcolm Vigor tempted the solitary dace of 0.3.0 on a maggot-feeder with a 22 hook and single pinkie.

Let’s hope the next leg, which is to be fished on the Lower Moors, is better.