ONCE again the annual Christmas matches are approaching and this is the time of the year when there is a wealth of prizes on offer, with most clubs holding either open of members' events.

Every year many anglers who do not normally participate in angling matches turn out and more often than not carry away their fair share of the prizes.

The first of the Christmas matches is on Sunday December 2 when there is a wide choice of events to choose from. Devizes will stage their match on the Kennet and Avon canal at Devizes and Airsprung will also be holding an event of the Kennet and Avon Canal at Avoncliff

Bristol and West stage an open match on the Avon at Keynsham and Ridgeway will be holding a match on the Avon at Freshford.

On Saturday December 8 the Devizes junior Christmas match takes place at Devizes. The Chippenham match will be fished on Sunday December 9 on the Avon at Chippenham.

The big event of the year is the Bathampton open Christmas match on Sunday December 9 and this event always attracts a very big entry.

The Calne match is on Sunday December 16 at Hazeland and the same day the Bristol docks open match will be fished at Bristol Docks.

The Bath open match at Bathford will be fished on Sunday December 16 and on Sunday December 23 the Bradford match will be fished at Bradford.

With no flow and clear water, fishing on the golf course stretch of the Avon at Bradford was extremely hard in the Airsprung match on Sunday. Trowbridge matchman Ian Stainer won on a low weight day with an all- roach catch weighing 4lb 15oz, taken alternating with pole and feeder fished casters and pinkies.

Kelvin Oliver, of Bradford, was second with a mixed catch of roach and skimmers weighing 3lb 3oz, taken on feeder fished red maggots on a 20 hook. He was followed by Phil Eggleton, of Trowbridge, with an all roach catch weighing 3lb, taken on Avon floated red maggots on a 20 hook.

Skimmers fed well in the Wilts Angling open on Sunday at Shearwater. There was an exciting finish resulting in a tie between Trowbridge matchman Nicky Johns and Warminster matchman Liam Braddell, with weights of 41lb 4oz.

Future events: Saturday November 24, Westinghouse match at Chippenham; Sunday November 25, Amalgamation Winter League at Newbridge; Calne open pairs match at Hazeland.