PERSISTENCE paid off on the Ouse on Sunday when Peter Hyde (Marsh Tackle) topped the 55-entry Hammond Trophy with a catch taken entirely in the last hour.

After a biteless three hours he decided to go for a stroll from his peg below the little sand beds at Killingbeck.

On his return a rolling bream marked the start of a hectic last 60 minutes where five slabs to 6lb took his caster feeder and worm combination. His last-ditch winning haul scaled 24lb 13oz.

Unluckiest angler of the day was undoubtedly Andy Miller (Waterline Wibsey) who took a superb all roach bag of 17lb 4oz. Drawn two pegs below Killingbeck he was plagued with missed bites on the feeder.

Switching to a waggler in the eight-foot deep peg he found the fish queued up for his casters and hauled out quality roach to a pound in the last two hours.

The remainder of the prize-list was made up of roach catches and encouragingly all were from the York stretches between Killingbeck and Poppleton. Perhaps Sunday's events may persuade anglers to desert their traditional winter haunts below the City in favour of waters further upstream.

Others: Les Pickard (York) 10-1-0, Tony Hewson (Armley Angling) 6-12-0, Tim Harrison (Anglers World York) 5-15-0 and Noel Speight (Compton Arms) 5-12-0

A good entry of 78 turned out to sample the new pool at the Oaks complex. Named Cedar, the 80 peg snake style venue will be hosting regular opens, including Saturdays, starting from next week.

Steve Webley (Oaks) won from peg 18 where he fished at the bottom of the far ledge at 11 metres. Alternating pellet and corn he amassed 36lb 8oz of small carp to a pound.

The same tactics also paid off for Gareth Drury (Harrogate Angling Supplies) who was on peg 8 where he took another small carp net of 35lb 8oz.

Others: Steve Rotheray (MAP Elton) 34-13-0, Stef Armitage (Team Glum) 31-7-0, Andy Rawson (Waterline Wibsey) 31-2-0 and Tim Moran (Waterline Wibsey) 30-4-0

The latest match in the Winter Series at Raker Lakes went to Trevor Scott of (JT Rogers) with the excellent weight of 65lb 8oz.

Drawn on peg 18 he floated his pole out to a full 18 metres to reach the far bank. Alternating between maggot and pellet he found plenty of small carp with odd fish to 5lb.

Leeds junior Oliver Hewitt (Team Gem) continued his good form at the Wheldrake complex with second place from peg 12. Fishing maggot at 12 metres he had a level 39lb of small carp.

Others: Gareth Sellars (JT Rogers) 25-14-0 and Rick Johnson (Leeds) 23-2-0.

Updated: 11:06 Wednesday, November 12, 2003