WEIGHTS in general have been good over the Christmas period at Ivy House Lakes, where Gary Laidler took 91lb of carp on Christmas Eve to win the match from peg 33.

Kevin Smith followed with 40-14-0 (peg 5) ahead of Harold Mayers 30-8-0 from peg 47 and fourth was Gary Etheridge 22-7-0 from peg 23.

Consistent water performer Simon Jones led the Veterans home with 57-7-0 from peg 45 in the Friday match.

Harold Mayers again drew peg 47 and came second with 32-8-0, followed by Allan Mitchell 27-2-0 (peg 27) and Paul Connor 25-1-0 from peg 29.

Allan Mitchell moved up the leader board to win the Saturday event with 52lb from peg 41.

Phil Cooper was second with 36-14-0 (peg 45). Third was John Masey 33-3-0 (peg 12), with Chris Davis fourth with 25-1-0 (peg 47).

It was harder in very cold bright conditions on Sunday, where water owner Jo Warner won from peg 25 with 20-11-0. Second was Martin Baston 14-14-0 (peg 31) and Elick Payne was third with 7-12-0 (peg 24).

Bristol, Bath and Wilts membership cards are now available and if you join before March you can save £3 off the £30 joining fee for a full adult or a £2 saving on concessionary, juniors, ladies and senior citizens.

Paul Lewis from Wootton Bassett won the latest Greenhill Fishery with a 17-2-0 mixed bag. Second was Dereck Hillier 13-2-0 and he was followed by Dave Lewis 6-14-0 and John Sainsbury was fourth with 6-7-0.

THERE have been some favourable reports of good chub and roach catches from the River Thames, with chub showing well to big baits at Rushy and Tadpole, and roach feeding freely at Lechlade.

Haydon Street AS renewals for the start of their year are available from House of Angling 2 in Gorse Hill.

DIARY DATES

New Year's Day

Chippenham AC Open on the River Avon. Ring 01249 654593 to book.

Friday, January 2

Ivy House Lakes Veterans' Open.

Sunday, January 4

Highworth AC Chub Cup at Buscot upstream. Draw in car park 7.45am, fish 9am to 1pm.

Sunday, January 11

North Wessex Winter League, first of the semi-finals at Bedwyn. The top 10 teams of the 2003 series are involved.

Sunday, January 18

Peatmoor Junior Winter League, Round 3.

Sunday, February 1

North Wessex Winter League, second semi-final on Devizes AC's waters.

Sunday, February 15

Chippenham AC Bob Taylor Trophy, charity match, proceeds to air ambulance. Sixty peg limit, ring 01249 659210 to book, £15 all in.