JUST when it seemed that some milder weather would be on the cards for the latest Skipton Winter League match last Sunday, heavy rain followed by a keen overnight frost scuppered hopes of good catches and only five anglers actually managed to weigh in at the end of the three-hour match.

The fish must have been well and truly put off feeding for the match length, behind the hospital at Skipton, usually fishes quite well at any time of the year and fishing conditions were quite good with little wind and dull weather.

Robert Thornton recorded an easy win with 2,710g (5:15:8) which consisted of a decent pike and a 10g (0:0:8) perch.

Malcolm Mawson was second with a 590g (1:5:12) perch and Jason Aldis took third spot with a decent 400g (0:14:4) roach.

Dave Fenn struggled to find some small fish for his fourth place 190g (0:6:8) and fifth-placed Andrew Leatt had a single perch weighing 90g (0:3:4).

In the pairs event there was only one instance of two weights so the first four places were: 1 Wright & Thornton 2,710g (5:15:8), 2 Mawson & Leatt 680g (1:8:0), 3 Aldis & Heaton 400g (0:14:4), 4 D & R Fenn 190g (0:6:8).

With three matches remaining to be fished, the leading competitors are as follows: Individuals: 1 D Fenn 100pts, 2 R Thornton 97, 3 J Aldis 88, 4 D Bolland 74, 5 K Wright 69 and 6, A Thomas 59.

Pairs. 1 Wright & Thornton 49; 2, D & R Fenn 43, 3 Aldis & Heaton 41, 4 D & T Bolland 36, 5 Mawson & Leatt 27, 6 Thomas & Wharton 26.

The next match will be fished on the Dewhirst Mill to Aireville Park length of the canal on November 27.

This Sunday, November 20, there will be a warm-up match on the Magnet side of Aireville Park swing-bridge with the draw at 8am with fishing from 9am until noon.

Hopefully the competitors will experience better sport than of late but the forecast appears to be against them with easterly winds and frosts for the latter part of the week after a very mild start.