THE WEATHER could hardly have been better for the fourth Skipton Winter League match last Sunday which was fished on the Snaygill length of the canal near the Bay Horse Inn in dull, windless and quite mild conditions. Even the boat traffic remained within acceptable limits.

Weights were also above average and consisted mainly of large numbers of small roach or perch, with the leading competitors also featuring a decent-sized perch in their catch, the best being a 680g (1lb:8oz) fish. Another outstanding fish and unusual for the canal, was a good chub hooked by Malcolm Mawson, which unfortunately managed to shed the hook at the net.

Dave Fenn managed to maintain his fine run of form in the individual event to win with 1400g (3lb 1.4oz) against Brett Young’s second place weight of 1040g (2lb 4.8oz). Rob Thornton and Danny Bolland shared third spot with 930g (2lb 0.12oz), Andy Wharton was fifth with 800g (1lb 12oz) and Andrew Leatt sixth with 770g (1lb 11oz).

In the Pairs competition, the top weights basically followed those of the individuals but with the addition of their partners weight and were as follows: 1 Dave & Bob Fenn 1670g (3lb 11oz); 2 Kenny Wright & Rob Thornton 1540g (3lb 6oz); 3 Danny & Terry Bolland 1480g (3lb 4oz); 4 Andy Wharton & Andrew Thomas 1350g (2lb 15.8oz), 5 Brett Young & Ernie Ramsbotham 1190g (2lb 10oz).

With four matches remaining to be fished, the leading competitors in the various competitions are as follows: Individuals: 1 Dave Fenn 81 points; 2 Rob Thornton 75; 3 Danny Bolland 74; 4 Kenny Wright 69; 5 Jason Aldis 68, 6 Andrew Thomas, Brett Young 59. Pairs: 1 Wright & Thornton 38; 2 The Bollands 36; 3 The Fenns 35; 4 Aldis & Heaton 32; 5 Young & Ramsbotham 26. The semi-finals of the Pairs Knockout are the Bollands versus the Fenns, and Wright and Thornton versus Mawson and Leatt.

The next match will be fished on the hospital length of the canal at Skipton on Sunday, November 13, while the remaining three matches will be on the Broughton Road length at Skipton and the final two on the Long Ing length at Barnoldswick.