DEVIZES AA finished third and lifted the bronze medal in the team event in the Embassy Division Five National angling championship on the Shropshire Union Canal on Saturday.

They also pocketed £432 from the team pools as they totalled 219 points.

Devizes skipper Kevin Abigail, who lives in Westbury, also praised Mark Shepperd, who fishes for a Midlands side and who supplied the team with a 20-page peg-by-peg dossier of the venue.

Said Abigail: "Mark provided us with just the right information we needed. It was really detailed and accurate and helped us so much as we didn't have hardly any time to come up and practise properly.

"We owe Mark a big thank you and I know we wouldn't have done as well without his expert knowledge. That dossier put us on the right path. The squad fished well and we are delighted that we have gained promotion."

Weights were fairly even in the Airsprung match fished on Sunday at Burbrook.

Ian Stainer, of Bradford, won with a mixed catch of roach and crucian carp weighing 15lb 6oz, taken alternating with pole fished pellets, sweetcorn and casters.

Roger Green, of Trowbridge, was second with another roach and crucian catch weighing 10lb 11oz, taken on pole-fished casters on an 18 hook.

Nigel Hiscocks, of Trowbridge, was a close up third with another roach and crucian catch weighing 10lb 1oz, also taken on pole-fished casters on an 18 hook.

Other placings: 4 Adrian Parrish, Trowbridge, 7lb 11oz; 5 Richard Stainer, Trowbridge, 5lb 9oz; 6 Wayne Henley, Hilperton, 4lb 6oz.

The Wilts Angling open evening match fished at Rood Ashton on Thursday produced reasonable catches of carp.

Gary Dallimore, of Frome, won with an all-carp catch weighing 35lb 12oz, taken on pole-fished cat meat on a 12 hook.

Dean Adams, of Bradford, finished a close up second with another carp catch weighing 34lb 1oz, taken on pole-fished pellets on a 14 hook.

He was followed by Kevin Grant, of Trowbridge, with another all-carp catch weighing 23lb 1oz taken on pole fished cat meat on a 12 hook.

There will be a special general meeting of Bradford on Avon AA on Tuesday 10 June commencing at 7.30pm at the Wesley Road Club, Trowbridge.

All members are requested to make a special effort to attend.

The total catch on the Bristol Water trout fisheries has passed the 20,000 mark and catches at Chew last week were excellent following further restocking of the lake prior to the international to be fished on June 6.