ANGLING: CHIPPENHAM match secretary Steve Palmer carried off the top prize in the Chippenham Christmas match.

Fishing on the Avon at Chippenham he took a mainly roach catch weighing 9lb on pole fished casters on an 18 hook to take home a Christmas hamper and £60 in cash.

Sean Wilkins, of Chippenham, also took home a hamper for second place with an all-roach catch weighing 6lb 2oz, taken on stick floated casters on an 18 hook. Similar tactics gave third prize of another hamper to Roger Newman, of Chippenham, with a roach catch weighing 5lb 11oz.

Other placings: 4 Mick Ash, Chippenham, 5lb 10oz 8dm; 5 Simon Stacey, Chippenham, 4lb 9oz; 6 Mark Wooldridge, Chippenham, and Phil Burry, Chippenham, 4lb 4oz.

Fishing was difficult in the Avon open Christmas match fished on Saturday on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Melksham after heavy overnight frost put the fish down.

Alan Brown, of Swindon, won with a mixed catch of small roach and skimmers weighing 3lb 12oz, taken on pole fished pinkies on a 24 hook. Rob Kepner, of Chippenham, pushed him all the way to finish a close runner-up with another roach and skimmer catch weighing 3lb 11oz 8dm, taken on pole fished punched bread on a 20 hook.

Kevin Abigail, of Westbury, was third with yet another roach and skimmer catch weighing 3lb 1oz. Kevin Rowles, of Devizes, was fourth with a roach and skimmer catch weighing 2lb 10oz.

Following overnight frost competitors in the Wilts Angling open match at Longleat on Sunday failed to attract a bite in the first half of the match, but when the sun came through small roach put in an appearance and Nick Johns, of Trowbridge, took an all-roach catch weighing 4lb 7oz on waggler fished pinkies on a 22 hook to clinch victory.

Vic Abbott, of Melksham, was second with another all-roach catch weighing 2lb 1 oz, taken on waggler fished casters on a 20 hook.

He was followed by Howard Carpenter, of Trowbridge, with a single bream catch weighing 2lb 8oz and Graham Potter, also of Trowbridge, with an all-roach catch weighing 2lb.

The Bathampton open Christmas match once again attracted a big entry from near and far to the Bristol at Newbridge and Kelston on Sunday but local anglers took the top prizes.

Lee Trivett of the home club carried off top prize of £350 and a hamper with an all-bream catch weighing 20lb 9oz, taken on feeder fished maggot and worm cocktail on an 18 hook.

Weights tumbled in the Airsprung Christmas match on Sunday on the canal between Tithe Barn and Avoncliff after heavy overnight frost.

There was a tie for top prize between Ian Stainer, of Bradford, and Richard Merritt, of Trowbridge, with mixed bags of roach, gudgeon and ruffe weighing 2lb 2oz 8dm, both catches being taken on pole fished punched bread on 20 hooks.

Andy Merritt, of Trowbridge, drawn next to his brother Richard, was third with another mixed bag of roach and gudgeon weighing 1lb 9oz also taken on pole fished punched bread on a 22 hook.

Other placings: 4 Pete Creech, Trowbridge, 1lb 2oz; 5 Tim Suttle, Melksham, 1lb 1oz; 6 Dean Bird, Bradford, and Kelvin Oliver, Bradford, 1lb.

Frosty weather conditions hampered the progress of the nine youngsters who competed in Devizes Angling Association's annual junior Christmas competition on Saturday.

Richard Harding took first place with 1lb 3oz of roach fishing pinkie over crumb.

The competition was held in conjunction with the launch of the new fishing platforms installed by British Waterways in order for the Devizes Angling Association to offer a teaching facility for newcomers to the sport.

Danny Williamson of Devizes Angling Association said: "The 10 platforms will provide a vast improvement with regards to safety and comfort whilst fishing and the extra space will enable one-to-one tuition."

Anyone interested in tuition can contact Danny Williamson on (01380) 860479.