SUNDAY'S Skipton Winter League match was hit hard by the weather, with a strong and blustery south-west wind making fishing difficult.

Heavy rain was filling the canal up, with floating leaves becoming another handicap.

The Long Ing length at Barnoldswick was the venue and although most of the competitors caught, their hauls consisted mainly of small fish with only a decent skimmer and an eel being worth noting.

The results were notable in that the first and second places in the individual competition resulted in tied weights, something that has never occurred before.

The top weights were not spectacular for the venue and soon tailed off to a few grammes.

RESULTS – Individuals: 1= Ian Parker and Andrew Leatt 840g (1:13:4); 3= Darren Wright and Rob Thornton 680g (1:8:0); 5= Bob Fenn 470g (1:0:8) and Mick Cockshott 450g (1:0:0). Pairs: 1 Thornton and Parker 1520g (1520g (3:5:8); 2 Mawson and Leatt 1150g (2:8:8); 3 Bob and Dave Fenn 770g (1:9:4); 4 Wright and Barrett 680g (1:8:0).

With just two matches remaining to be fished, the positions at the top of both the pairs and individual competitions remain very close.

Everything is in place for a close finish, unless a sharp overnight frost on the evening prior to a match throws the fish off the feed.

LEADING POSITIONS – Individuals: 1 Ian Parker 105 points, 3790g (8:5:8); 2 Darren Wright 103 points, 3660g (8:1:0); 3 Dave Fenn 95 points, 3720g (8:3:0); 4 Wayne Hitch 83 points, 2200g (3:13:0); 5 Mark Bradley 77 points, 3460g (7:10:0); 6 Mick Cockshott 73 points, 1960g (4:5:0); 7 Ernie Ramsbotham 70 points, 3110g (6:13:8). Pairs: 1 Wright and Barrett 47 points, 5310g (11:11:0); 2 Thornton and Parker 46 points, 5400g (11:14:0); 3 D & R Fenn 45 points, 4960g (10:14:8); 4 Ramsbotham and Heaton 41 points, 4560g (10:0:0); 5 Bradley and Davenport 39 points, 4800g (10:9:4).

The next match will be fished on the hospital length of the canal at Skipton on Sunday, November 9.

Besides the normal competitions, the match will feature the semi-finals of the individual and pairs knockout competitions.

These will be Thornton v Hitch and D Fenn v D Wright in the individuals, while in the pairs it is Wright & Barrett v the Fenns and Ramsbotham & Heaton v K Wright & W Eason.