Mark of esteem!

ANGLING: MARK Darbyshire won the latest Twingate AC winter match on the club waters.

Using the long pole and maggot, he tempted 12lb 6oz of ide, skimmers and f1s. Darbyshire’s effort was a fish too many for Mick Diskin, who had to settle for a second-best 11lb 12oz, also made up of ide, skimmers and f1s taken on maggot. The next winter match for members only is on Sunday.


MICK Sharpe claimed first place in the Thornhill AC open on the Thornhill Canal, where he opted for bloodworm, caster and maggot for 5lb 11oz of small roach and perch.

Runner-up Keith Marshall was second, with 4lb 4oz of roach to 4oz and perch to 12oz. He used bloodworm and caster.



ROYTON angler Martin Taylor, of Halifax Matrix, continued his good run of form with a win in the Mirfield AC open on the Mirfield Canal. Using bread punch and pinkie, Taylor caught steadily throughout the event for a 6lb 10oz bag.

Adam Jagger (Tri-Cast Rochdale) was second with a 4lb 8oz catch of small fish which fell to pole and bread punch.



TOMMY Smith required only one bite to win the latest of the Twingate AC OAP matches on the club water. He landed a 6lb 8oz carp - almost double the catch of George White, who weighed in 3lb 10oz for second place.



JOHN Meredith, of Tri-Cast Rochdale, topped the Saltaire Open on the town sections of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Using bread punch, he attracted 4lb 11oz of small roach, beating Martin Taylor (Halifax Matrix), who also opted for bread punch short and long to attract 4lb 6oz of roach.



ANOTHER Tri-Cast Rochdale rod, Dave Wells, has to be the most consistent angler in the North-West.

He netted victory in the following Saltaire open, on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Drawn on the boats and using bread, Wells plundered his swim for 5lb 3oz.

John Meredith (Tri-Cast Rochdale) was second with 4lb 15oz of small skimmers and perch which fell to bread punch and worm respectively.



THE next Todmorden AS members-only match is at Croft on Sunday, while Townhouse is the venue seven days later.



FINALLY, many thanks to all that have contributed to making this article a really good read. Have a fish-filled New Year.