THE Oxford Winter League has moved to the canals for the last three matches and practice for tomorrow’s fourth round on the Aylesbury Arm was fished by 42 anglers last Sunday.

The weather turned cold overnight and there was a biting wind, while one of the sections was 18 inches down on normal.

The added distraction of 30 canoeists going through the match length before the start also meant it would be hard work for most competitiors.

Mick Denton (Drennan GOT Bait) was top man with 11.7.0. He caught on the punch to start with, then switched to bloodworm over joker.

However, it was his chopped worm line fished tight over that produced the bulk of his weight with three big skimmers and perch to a pound.

Second was Mark Bowerman (Sensas A4) with 10.12.0, made up mainly of three skimmers for around 8lb caught in the last 15 minutes of the match on chopped worm.

Martin Phipps (Drennan GOT Bait) caught around 4lb of skimmers and roach on punch before switching to bloodworm over joker for a third-placed 9.7.0.

Beehive AC fished for their Abingdon Blast Cup at Milton Pools in perfect conditions and the venue didn't disappoint with over 400lb hitting the scales from the 14 anglers.

Bob Alder led them home with 54.0.0 of carp to pole, pellet and corn in the margins.

Nigel Waters was second with 46.2.0 of carp and tench to pole and maggot, followed by Chris Dingle with 43.2.0 of pole-caught carp to corn and paste, again from the margins.

Only four members of the Jolly Anglers turned up to fish their latest match on the Thames at Fairmile, but they were able to select their pegs.

Lee Crook topped the standings with 46.0.0 – ten big bream, plus some large skimmers, on groundbait-feeder and maggot.

Frank Butler landed seven bream on groundbait-feeder for 41.6.0, followed by Martin MacDonald with 18 chub on maggot-feeder, plus 21 roach on waggler, for 30.15.0.

Seven matchmen turned up for the latest Oxford Bus AC match on their school waters at the top of ‘The High’ in Oxford and once again the Cherwell fished its head off.

With a quality net of roach, perch and bream on breadpunch, Anthony Tompkins romped home with 17.6.0.

Also using punched bread, James Pagano finished second with 11.4.0 of quality roach and perch, while Pete Clarke was third with 10.4.0 on caster.

The Cherwell at Thrupp was the venue for Kidlington’s Green Road SC-sponsored open, fished by 12.

Jim Martin (Kidlington) netted two chub, plus perch, on a feeder packed with hemp and caster and worm on the hook for a winning 8.12.0.

Paul Hamilton followed him home with 6.6.0, which included a chub of 5lb, plus some perch and chublets on worm.

Jason Bean caught a chub of 4lb and some bits on maggot-feeder for 6.4.0 and third.

The Lechlade Marina Winter League series is under way and the 14 anglers found the marina starting to rise, but still pretty clear.

Graham Perkins won with a bag of roach, perch, gudgeon and a rudd for 7.9.0 caught on pole, alternating between chopped worm and maggot.

Keith Winfield snr was second with a net of worm-caught perch for 6.10.0, while third-placed Nick Maynard also had perch on worm for 4.13.0.

Coldstone’s match was for the Derek State Trophy on the Evenlode at Lyneham and Shipton, fished by eight.

Regular framer Brian Ballard was top with 7.1.0, comprising a chub of 3lb and some roach and dace on maggot.

Steve Arthurs had a mixed net of dace, roach, chublets and gudgeon on maggot for 5.2.0 and second, followed by Barry Barnes with 4.4.0 – five small chub also on maggot.

The Cherwell at Marston Ferry looked spot-on for North Oxford’s Roach Cup, but it proved just the opposite.

Ron Hillier won with a net of roach on punch for 6.14.0.

Ron Hamblin used punch and maggots for a second-placed 3.2.0 of small roach, gudgeon and a decent perch, while Sonny Ayres was third with 2.0.0.