The Drennan GOT Baits team held on to their Angling Times Winter League Oxford Div-ision title after their fifth win from six outings on Sunday, writes Andy Webber.
A field of 50 anglers fished the final round on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Avington after it was switched from the Oxford Canal because of concerns over breaking the ice near the number of moored boats around Oxford.
The Kennet and Avon was covered by up to three inches of ice in a lot of places, but actually fished very well once holes were cleared.
Richard Rosinski (Sensas A4) was top man with 9.5.0. He was drawn on top end peg and broke the ice out to seven metres, catching roach and perch on bloodworm over joker.
John Hassler (Fox Match Isis) was just an ounce behind from the only ice-free section, an all-roach on bloodworm over joker.
Martin Kirk (Turners Tackle) was third with 9.2.0 from the same section and caught similar bag of fish.
Drennan GOT Baits triumphed with 48 points, with Sensas A4 and Turners joint-second on 41 points.
Drennan GOT Baits and Sensas A4 go through to the semi-finals.
Oxford Waltonian were on the Thame at Wheatley Bridge for their Christmas match, fished by 12, nine of whom blanked.
Jason Smith was the clear winner with eight chub for 22.8.0 on pole and maggot.
Chris Webb fished a stick float with maggot and caught dace for a second-placed 6.0.0, followed by Salli Bond with five ounces on pole with maggot.
It was hard work for the six anglers fishing the Jolly Anglers’ Christmas match on the Thames at Chalmore.
Using a maggot-feeder, Dick Edm-unds netted four chub for a winning 12.1.0, while Alex Critcher caught two on feeder for 2.1.0. The rest blanked.
There were nine blanks among the 12 anglers fishing Tackley’s Christmas match on the Cherwell at Northbrook.
The top three all fished legered bread and caught chub. Anthony Alder landed four for 11.14.0. Second with two chub for 6.4.0 was John Spencer, while Gary Cooke had a 3.13.0 chub for third.
Twenty-five matchmen turned out for Kinloch’s Christmas match at Milton Pools, which fished well.
Dean Bowerman triumphed with a net of skimmers, roach, crucians and perch for 9.12.0 on punch and pinkie.
A similar net of fish on pole and punch gave Graham Wilsdon second spot with 9.2.0, followed by Fred Harrison with 8.2.0 of skimmers, goldfish and roach on punch and maggot.
There was ice forming in the margins for the 15 anglers in Cuddesdon Mill VAA’s Christmas match on the Thame at Chistlehampton.
Tony Sexton drew the same peg as the previous match and once again walked off with all prizes thanks to two chub on legered bread for 6.11.0.
Richard Cantwell was runner-up with two chub on waggler and maggot for 4.13.0, and third with a 2.7.0 chub on legered worm was Bryan Ball.
A low, clear and cold Thames at Meadside left the eight Dorchester matchmen praying for just one bite.
Winner Mick Marriott had two, resulting in two chub on maggot-feeder worth a winning 6.2.0.
Ian Fisher netted a 4.4.0 chub using his favourite liquidised bread in a feeder and flake on the hook for second, and Dave Evans-Roberts had a chub of 2.14.0 on bread for third.
Yarnton’s Christmas match attracted 17 anglers to Wood Lake at Panshill. Colin Bolton won for the first time with a carp of 5.11.0 on pole and maggot, followed by Harry Oliver (RS Baits) with 1.5.0 and Mick Willoughby with 1.0.0.
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