TOUGH was the going on a low and clear Ouse at Linton and Thorpe Underwood for the Leeds Open, where only those anglers pegged at the downstream end of the Linton section gained joy in the 54-pegger.

Pete Hyde (Marsh Tackle) led from the end peg at Linton. He used a small feeder with chopped worm for his winning 4lb 9oz of fish to 8oz.

Mick Shaw (Hirst Tackle) enjoyed some hectic late action at peg 285, where he found 3lb 12oz of roach on pole and caster at 13 metres in the closing stages.

Others: Ian Bates (Hirst Tackle) 3-2-0; Eddie Bridon (Shimano Quaker) 2-15-0; John Parkinson (Shimano Quaker) 2-11-0; Mick Potter (Anglers World Holidays) 2-7-0.

Woodthorpe-based river expert Steve Hodson played his part in an epic encounter on the Swale.

Keith Mottram (Airborough) shattered the five-hour match record when he topped the 240-peg RSPS Tekneek Trabucco Team Masters fished on the river between Morton and Baldersby St James.

Drawn below Morton Bridge, Mottram had the work of the organisers to thank for his historic net of 123lb 12oz.

River Swale Preservation Society's Jeff Herbert explained that the peg he won from was a featureless and fish-devoid straight until his organisation began an extensive habitat creation scheme back in the mid-1990s.

The fish approved of the far-bank willow cover as Mottram employed a simple stick and maggot attack.

A chub on his second run through heralded the start of a hectic match. By the time the whistle sounded five hours later a shattered Mottram had netted another 46 chub to secure his place in the record books. He revealed that he spent so much time playing fish he only fed a meagre two pints of maggots into the swim.

Hodson took second place with 54lb 2oz net of 20 chub taken on waggler and maggot at Tweddles Farm.

Other results

Millbridge Fisheries, River Ouse, Linton & Thorpe Underwood, 54.

Pete Barron (Middy Team Dons) 9-12-0, 3 chub on caster feeder from peg 11; Wayne Shillito (Selby) 7-9-0; Andy Miller (Waterline Wibsey) 5-2-8; John Illingworth (Middy Team Dons) 4-1-0; Martin Thorpe (Leeds) 3-2-8; Roy Knox (Airborough) 2-15-0.

Oaks Whizzo, Cedar, 56. Johnny Kenning (Daylite Baits) 42-2-0, pellet and corn over to the island on peg 28 for carp to 2lb; Paul Todd (Elton Tackle) 23-6-0; Tim Moran (Waterline Wibsey) 21-12-0; Steve Sharples (Bob-Co) 18-13-0; Steve Rotheray (Daylite Baits) 17-12-0; Ray Singh (MAP Elton) 15-15-0.

Ripon, River Ure, 65. Steve Beckwith (Leeds Angling Centre) 52-5-0, 16 chub on stick caster and maggot from peg 317; Nick Smith (Airborough) 43-0-0; Fred Prudham (Medlock Bridge) 37-14-0; Steve Simpson (Sensas Walton) 21-0-0; Dennis Wood (Airborough) 17-6-0; Mick Brentall (Derby AS) 13-10-0.

Updated: 10:06 Wednesday, February 23, 2005