THANKS to a ground-breaking partnership with national charity Education Extra, the joint governing bodies of angling will be promoting angling in every school in the UK from December 17, writes Colin Scull.

The National Federation of Sea Anglers has got together with the National Federation of Anglers and the Salmon and Trout Association to offer 10 bursaries as part of Education Extra's 2001 Award scheme which will put £125,000 of goods and services into school to help boost extra-curricular activities.

The awards both provide national recognition for the hard work and dedication that many schools put into extending opportunities for young people and also provide funding for new and existing projects which show innovation and excellence.

Application for the awards are sent to every head teacher in the country and everyone of them will have the opportunity to apply for a donation of angling equipment either to kick start an angling club or develop an existing one.

The second round in the Avon and Somerset Police Individual League was fished on Wednesday on the Frome at Farleigh Hungerford where, despite high and coloured water, there were some reasonable weights.

Haines AC matchman Phil England won with an all bream catch weighing 8lb 11oz taken on feeder fished maggot and worm cocktail on a 16 hook.

Chris Haines, of Frome, was close behind in second spot, with another bream catch weighing 8lb 7oz 8dm, also taken on feeder fished worm and maggot on an 18 hook.

Clive Glisson, fishing for Frome Victorians, was third with a mixed bag weighing 5lb 6oz, taken on feeder fished maggots on an 18 hook.

The Blue Circle Christmas match was fished on Sunday on a quiet Kennet and Avon Canal at Hilperton.

Bathampton matchman Martin Barrett, from Trowbridge, won with a mixed catch of roach and skimmers weighing 3lb 5oz, taken on pole fished punched bread on a 20 hook.

Gerald Lugg, from Beckington, was second with a mixed catch of tench and skimmers weighing 3lb 1oz, taken on feeder fished red maggots on a 20 hook. Kevin Grant, of Trowbridge, was third with a mixed catch of roach and skimmers weighing 2lb 14oz 8dm, taken on pole fished fluorescent pinkies on a 22 hook.

Other placings: 4 Dave Bancroft, Trowbridge, 1lb 14oz 8dm; 5 Nigel Osmond, Frome, 1lb 12oz; 6 Ian Willetts, Bradford, 1lb 8oz 8dm.

The Bath Spartans match was switched from a flooded Avon to the Kennet and Avon Canal at Bathampton on Sunday and small fish made up the catches.

Mark Noton, of Bath, won with a mixed catch of small roach and gudgeon weighing 2lb 15oz 8dm, taken on pole fished double squat on a 22 hook. Runner-up prize went to Glenn Earwaker, of Frome, with an all roach catch weighing 2lb 7oz, taken on pole fished punched bread on a 20 hook. He was followed by John Kelly, of Bath, with a mixed catch of roach and gudgeon weighing 2lb 2oz taken on pole fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

The Airsprung Christmas match was fished on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Avoncliff on Sunday when, after a heavy overnight frost, weights were quite reasonable.

Tom Ince Jnr, of Trowbridge, won with a mixed catch of roach and skimmers weighing 5lb 9oz, taken on pole fished pinkies on a 22 hook. Runner-up prize went to Westwood matchman Joe Amaldi Snr with a mixed catch of tench and perch weighing 4lb 14oz, taken on waggler fished chopped worm on an 18 hook.

He was followed by Tom Ince Snr, also of Trowbridge, with a roach and perch catch weighing 4lb 8oz, taken on pole fished red maggots on a 20 hook.

Other placings 4 Tim Suttle, Westbury, 4lb 2oz; 5 Dean Bird, Bradford, 3lb 14oz; 6 Dean Adams, Bradford, 3lb 8oz.

The Airsprung Junior Christmas match was fished on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Avoncliff on Sunday when small roach and gudgeon made up the weights.

Matt Oliver, from Bradford, took top prize with a mixed catch of roach and gudgeon weighing 1lb 13oz, taken on whip fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

Second prize went to Chris Oliver, from Bradford, with another roach and gudgeon catch weighing 17oz, taken on pole fished punched bread on a 20 hook. He was followed by Lee Ross, of Trowbridge, with a roach and gudgeon catch weighing 1lb 1oz, taken on pole fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

Other placings: 4 Dean Cooper, Melksham, 15oz; 5 Luke Scott, Bradford, 14oz 8dm; 6 Adam Slusarczyk, Trowbridge, 10oz.

Fish were hard to tempt after an overnight frost in the Devizes Christmas match on Sunday on the Kennet and Avon Canal, from the Magpies to the Piles.

Adrian McTiffin, of Potterne, won with a mixed catch of roach and skimmers weighing 4lb 15oz 8dm, taken alternating with pole fished punched bread and pinkies on a 20 hook.

Second prize went to Rob Kepner, of Melksham, with another roach and skimmer catch weighing 4lb 7oz, also taken alternating with pole fished punched bread and pinkies on a 22 hook. He was followed by Brian Haigh, of Melksham, with a roach and skimmer catch weighing 3lb 10oz 8dm, taken on pole fished pinkies on a 22 hook.

Other placings: 4 Darren Morgan, Devizes, 3lb 3oz; 5 Robin Guy, Melksham, 3lb 2oz; 6 Stuart White, Chippenham, 2lb 14oz 8dm.