THE midweek open match at Ivy House Fishery produced some good sport with reasonable catches of carp.

Gary Etheridge, of Devizes, won with an all-carp catch weighing 48lb 9oz, taken on waggler fished pellets on a 14 hook.

Elgin matchman Pete Connor took second prize with another carp catch weighing 44lb 12oz, taken on pole fished pellets on a 14 hook.

He was followed by Chippenham's Elick Payne with a carp catch weighing 44lb and Bristol's Peter Sivell with another carp catch of 37lb 8oz.

Ivy House fishery again produced reasonable fishing in last week's open event when Chippenham ace Elick Payne chalked up another fine win.

Elick took top spot with an all carp catch weighing 39lb 8oz, taking his fish on long pole-fished soft pellets.

He was followed by Simon Jones, of Ivy House, with another carp catch weighing 27lb 6oz, taken on pole-fished pellets on a 14 hook. Paul Powell of Swindon Tribe took third place with a carp catch of 26lb 10oz with Kevin Millard of Glenville fourth with 25lb 12oz.

The Veals Teams of Four Winter League at Viaduct Fishery produced good catches on both the carp lakes and silver fish lake.

Avon Angling took team honours with 49 points followed by Sensas Thyers with 43 and Westerleigh Blue with 42.

Competitors in the Avon Christmas match enjoyed excellent sport, with roach feeding well on the Avon at Melksham and Beanacre on Saturday.

Darren Fletcher, of Melksham, won with an all-roach catch weighing 19lb 12oz, taking his fish on stick-floated punched bread on an 18 hook.

Runner-up was Tony Gilbert, of Melksham, with another all-roach catch weighing 14lb 13oz, taken on pole-fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

Glen Wicheard, of Melksham, was third prize with yet another roach catch weighing 11lb 6oz, taken on stick-floated casters on an 18 hook.

Other placings: 4 Stuart White, Chippenham, 11lb 8dm; 5 Hugh Evans, Colerne, 10lb 15oz 8dm; 6 Howard Adams, Devizes, 10lb 11oz.

Fish were hard to tempt in the Blue Circle Christmas match fished on Sunday on the Avon at Staverton.

Frome matchman Gary Dallimore turned in a good performance to clinch top prize with an all-roach catch weighing 7lb 4oz taken on pole fished red maggots on a 20 hook.

Graham Potter, of Trowbridge, took second prize with another roach catch weighing 6lb 1oz, taken on pole-fished bronze maggots on a 20 hook.

He was followed by Mick Martin, of Trowbridge, with yet another roach catch weighing 5lb 13oz, taken on pole-fished casters on an 18 hook.

Other placings: 4 Nick Johns, Trowbridge, 5lb; 5 Nigel Smith, Chippenham, 3lb 5oz; 6 Joe Amaldi, Trowbridge, 2lb 15oz 8dm.

Future events: December 13, Calne junior Christmas match; December 14, Bathampton open Christmas match at Newbridge/Saltford; Chippenham Christmas match at Chippenham; Lavington; Christmas match at Merritts Lake; Calne; Christmas match at Hazeland.