Coldstone’S Open was switched from the Evenlode to Lower Court at Chadlington because of high water levels, and the eight anglers found the going hard in the cold weather.

Don Barnes had an early carp on waggler and maggot that weighed 10.8.0, a very good start, and went on to win the match with 13.8.0.

Brian Ballard caught some late carp for a second-placed 8.4.0, followed by Steve Arthurs, who had small roach and rudd on waggler and maggot for 1.6.0.

The Cherwell was still hammering along last Sunday for the Oxford Bus AC match, so the six members decided to fish the backwater at ‘The School.’ The only man to catch was Pete Clarke, who had three bream for 6.5.0 on the pole with a lollipop float and a worm on the hook.

Cuddesdon Mill VAA fished their Ken Cook Memorial Cup on the Thame at Chistlehampton, where the seven anglers decided to have a rover, so at least they stood a chance of catching.

Bryan Ball took the honours with a chub of 4.13.0. He found a bush on his inside bank and flicked a piece of bread under it, which did the trick.

Bread also provided second and third places. Geoff Ring fished it right under his feet to catch a 3.1.0 chub for second place, and Mick Harding also fished under a bush to tempt a chub of 2.5.0 for third.

Eight hardy anglers were on the Oxford Canal at Frenchay Road for the North Oxford AS club match. Much of the canal was frozen, but an ice-free stretch was found, so they pegged it.

John Coleman won with 3.3.8 of small silver fish from the inside ledge with bloodworm over joker.

Runner-up with 1.6.8 was Ron Hamblin, who fished well over with bloodworm over joker and caught small silver fish.

Dave Scott-Picton started on punch and caught a couple of small roach, then switched to chopped worm and had two little perch worth a third-placed 0.14.8.

There was a good turn-out of 13 for the Lechlade Marina Winter League, although the cold weather made it a struggle on a water that normally fishes very well.

Nick Maynard caught small roach and perch on pole and red maggot against the side of a boat for a winning 2.14.0.

Second-placed Fred Harrison had to wait almost to the end of the match for a perch of 1.12.0 to take his lobworm.

Joint third were Graham Wilsdon and Dennis Harris with 1.4.0. Both caught small roach and perch on maggot and worm.

The Oxford Canal at Roundham Lock, which is between the Wise Alderman and Grovelands, was the venue for Kidlington’s Dearlove Challenge Cup, fished by eight.

The stretch was frozen, so first job was to smash the ice in front of them, which always makes for hard fishing.

Using pinkie on the hook over chopped worm, Giles Cuss found some small perch for a winning 1.15.0.

Terry Lester had to settle for second three ounces behind. He landed a chub, plus small roach and perch, using maggot over chop.

Third with 0.14.0 of little ruffe was Henry Clarke, who fished the long pole with bloodworm over joker.

Points after 14 matches: J Bean 106, H Clarke 95, A Middleton 92, G Cuss 74.

Littlemore switched their Keith Mills Memorial Cup from the Thames at Sandford, which was still unfishable, to the canal at the Rock of Gibraltar, which also had ice on it.

Alan Campbell could only find bleak willing to feed and had 40 of them on fluro pinkie for 0.15.0.

On the next peg, John Davis also caught bleak for a second-placed 0.7.0, and third with a few bits in the last hour was Brian Hutchings with 0.5.0.

  • Open matches have started at Panshill on Thursdays and Saturdays on Pans Lake, and Fridays and Sundays on Wood Lake. Draw time is 9am.