MARTIN Thorpe (Headingley Anglers) won the £500 first prize in the 105-peg Ripon Interiors Ure Championship on Sunday.

Drawn in the run-off from Bell Banks gravels he enjoyed a hectic opening to the match, hauling out 21 chub on waggler and caster over hemp before the sun came out and put an end to his catches.

He needn't have worried as his 41lb net was well clear of the rest.

Steve Smith (Marsh Tackle) went home £300 richer for his 23lb 14oz bag taken from the willow garth run-off.

A mid-match spell saw him take 11 chub on waggler and caster that just beat off the challenge of Steve Newns (KL Tackle), who took 23lb 3oz of chub, dace and roach on waggler and maggot from the end peg below Hewick Bridge.

Others: Colin Higham (Hornsea) 20-0-0, Ian Lumb (Turners Tackle) 18-9-0 and Ray King (RSPS Tekneek Trabucco) 17-8-0.

There were no surprises at the Willows on Saturday when Addie Mitchell (Harrogate Angling Supplies) won the open match with a ton-up haul.

Peg 42 on Goldrush was the scene for his fifth win out of six. He dominated the 38-peg entry competition, offering pellets to some overhanging reeds. Carp, tench, bream and ide soon responded for a huge winning net of 106lb 12oz.

Dennis Geldard (Boston Spa) did his best to stay in touch from peg 54 but fell well short of the mark with his 90lb 8oz of cat meat caught carp.

Others: Dave Pollitt (Hirst Tackle) 71-8-0, Alistair Wilkes (Boston Spa) 46-15-0, Ben Fisk (Leeds Juniors) 45-14-0 and Dave Cheatham (Castleford) 43-0-0.

John Brain (Harrogate Angling Supplies) used his head to top Sunday's 60-entry match on Maple Lake at the Oaks with a level 50lb.

Drawn to fish from peg 62 he neglected the usual margin approach for a far-bank attack. Offering maggot over pellet and groundbait at 13 metres he had small carp to 3lb.

Dave Pimlot (Drennan Elton) used small pieces of meat tight across from peg 42 for 40lb 10oz of carp to 5lb.

Others: Chris Hall (Oaks) 40-0-0, Mark Coyne (MAP Elton) and Gareth Drury (Oaks) both 36-2-0 and John McGarell (MAP Elton) 35-12-0.

The 36-peg mid-week open match at the Willows was fished on Ridge Pool where the weights were down on the recent Goldrush bag-ups.

Andy Gallant (Bob.Co) led from peg eight where he fished pole and paste to the point of the island for 24lb 6oz carp to 6lb.

Rob Minikin (Harrogate Angling Supplies) was second with caster tempted carp and ide from peg three weighing 18-2-0.

Others: Barbara Jeffries (Bob.Co) 17-0-0, Dave Pollit (Hirst Tackle) 16-10-0, Mick Atkinson (Harrogate Angling Supplies) 15-10-0 and Addie Mitchell (Harrogate Angling Supplies) 14-6-0.

Updated: 11:24 Wednesday, September 17, 2003