Angling's Steve Laurence signs off with victory

With many matches around the county curtailed by the stormy weather they managed to fit in a full programme at Boldings with Laurence (PI Boldings) leading the way.

Fishing from point peg eight on the Sycamore, Laurence presented corn and maggot eight metres out, which he alternated with fishing close in to each side of the point, to find just enough carp to 5lbs to give him a winning margin of just over 2lbs when he scaled 33-6-0.

On the other Sycamore point peg, number 13, Eric Bancroft (Rod & Gun) stuck to the close in line with maggot, and found that the fish were of a smaller stamp, with carp to 4lbs adding up to a level 31-0-0.

Alistair Humphries (PI Bold) and Martin Smith (PI Bold) could not be separated and shared the prize money for third and fourth places when they each weighed in 19-14-0.

Kel Emlyn (Oakengates Angling Centre) became the first winner of 2014 on New Year's Day, when close in maggot tactics produced enough 1lb to 4lb carp to clinch a convincing victory with a weight of 49-11-0 from Oak peg 13.

It was a coincidence that in addition to number 13, peg numbers four and eight also featured again, with Oak peg four providing the runner-up net this time.

Shakespeare rod Mark Taylor drew it and tackled it with corn and maggot at eight metres to take 1lb to 3lb carp weighing 36-3-0.

Tony Foster (PI Bold) was one fish behind on 34 2-0 on peg eight, and not far behind him was Richard Lawson (Matrix Total Angling) on 31-11-0 at Oak 16.

Nige Clarke (Matrix TA) recorded a narrow victory on Thursday after he drew peg 16 on the Ash. Combining corn and maggot at 13 metres, alternated with maggot down the side attracted carp to 4lbs, which gave a final tally of 49-14-0.

Over on the Beech Pool, Bancroft had carp to 4lbs with bream to 2lbs fishing pellet at 12 metres from peg seven. He could have done with one more carp and one less bream, as the scales left him just five ounces short at 49-9-0 in second place.

Third also came from the Beech when Andy Williams (Colmic Vespe) was credited with 45-6-0 at peg 20. A Sycamore best of 44-10-0 from peg 45 handed fourth to John Nugent (PI Bold).

Sean Barber (Maver Sonubaits) posted top weight of the week to win on Saturday when both point pegs on the Sycamore featured in the frame again.

Barber was on peg eight and fed maggot at 12 metres to pick off carp and barbel, with samples to 5lbs and 3lbs respectively giving a finishing weight of 63-11-0.

On the other point, peg 13, young rod Morgan Davidson (Oak Ang Cent) also netted carp and barbel, with fish to 6lbs and 3lbs for 58-8-0 to secure second. Maver Midland rods filled the remaining places, with Dave Brown (48-4-0) collecting third just ahead of Martin Harrell (47-2-0).

Brown moved up to top spot on Sunday, making Oak peg 13 a winner again. He included roach to a pound with carp to 5lbs in his 50-9-0 top catch.

Maggot and corn brought carp and barbel to the net at Oak peg 22 to give Mark Taylor 44-11-0 and another runner-up prize.

Peg 23 on the Sycamore provided third for the second time in two days, and gave Clark his second visit to the prize list.

The fish were less responsive than the previous day and 28-8-0 was enough to take the prize.