LAST week's Embassy Challenge qualifying event staged on the Kennet & Avon Canal at Devizes produced some good sport once again and gave two local matchmen an exciting trip to Spain for the Grand Final next spring.

The winning pair in the event was Andy Jefferson and Stuart Angel from Staines in Middlesex with 192 points and a weight of 13 lb 15 oz with Chippenham's Stuart White and Robin Guy, from Melksham, taking second place with 187 points and 12 lb 14 oz.

Gary Williamson from Devizes and Swindon's Alan Brown just missed out in third place with 186 points and 12 lb 6 oz 8 dm.

Individual honours went to Brian Shuttler, from Devizes, with a mixed bag of tench and roach weighing 10 lb 7 oz 8 dm taken on long pole fished casters on a 20 hook. Richard Tomala took second spot with 8 lb 15 oz with David Speller third with 8 lb 11 oz.

Carp made up the weights in the Lavington match fished on Sunday at Merritts Lake. First prize went to Bob Gould, of Melksham, with an all carp catch weighing 58 lb 8 oz taken on pole fished luncheon meat on a 12 hook.

Hilperton's Don Keats took second prize with another carp catch weighing 32 lb 3 oz taken alternating with pole fished casters and red maggots on an 18 hook.

Paul Crook, from Melksham, clinched third prize with yet another carp catch weighing 22 lb 8 oz taken on pole fished sweetcorn and red maggots. Other placings: 4. Brian Ellis (Melksham) 20 lb 4 oz; 5. Terry Fell (Devizes) 16 lb 8 oz; 6. Mike Noonan (Erlestoke) 13 lb 6 oz.

Anglers struggled in the Calne Open match fished on Sunday at Hazeland.

Bradford on Avon's Alan Arnold carried off top prize with a single bream weighing 5 lb 2 oz taken on feeder fished worm on an 18 hook. The runner up prize went to Andy Auger, from Newbury, with another single bream catch weighing 3 lb 7 oz taken on feeder fished red maggot on an 18 hook. Martin Pallet, also of Newbury, took third prize with an all chub catch weighing 3 lb 3 oz taken on stick floated red maggots on an 18 hook. Other placings: 4. Simon Fear (Calne) 3 lb 2 oz; 5. Brian Pallet (Newbury) 2 lb 1 oz; 6. Gary Dodson (Calne) 1 lb 11 oz.

Competitors in the Bradford Committee match enjoyed good sport at Todber Manor on Sunday.

Ian Willetts, from Bradford on Avon, took top honours yet again with an all carp catch weighing 34 lb 8 oz taken on pole fished sweetcorn on a 14 hook. Runner up prize went to Holt matchman Pete Neate with a carp catch.