Come 4pm on Sunday afternoon the City of York could proudly be laying claim to the most successful match angler in the country.

The battle to be crowned Kamasan champion looks poised for a final twist in this weekend's last points-scoring opportunities. Long time king-in-waiting Dean Smith (MAP Elton), who hails from Dodsworth Avenue, Heworth, failed to score at his favoured points-accruing venue Woodlands last weekend, while his two closest protagonists both did.

Former champion Andy May (Sensas Daves of Middlewhich) drew level on 52 points with three on Saturday and Mark Coyne (MAP Elton) moved to within striking distance on 48 with a five-point haul notched over both days.

Front-runner Smith, dubbed Dynamite Dean, will be looking nervously over his shoulder as the contest is almost certainly settled at the same North Yorkshire complex over a nail-biting ten hours this weekend.

The diabolical form of the Ouse around Hunters Lodge in recent weeks has been attributed by some to the attentions of cormorants and goosanders. Their numbers have certainly been swollen by extra birds dropping in from frozen stillwater fisheries.

The visitors do undoubtedly have some impact on fish stocks but I believe their main influence is in disturbing and shoaling fish to the extent that they are unlikely to feed other than under the cover of darkness. Timely news came this week that Britain's largest shooting organisation is looking at ways it can help anglers address the problems caused by cormorants.

Officials from the National Federation of Anglers (NFA) and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) met recently to discuss co-operation and have identified ways in which they can work together.

BASC has a particular expertise in dealing with predation by birds and has conducted intensive research into non-lethal methods of deterrence. Where licences have been granted to use firearms to scare off cormorants BASC will offer advice on the acquisition and the use of shotguns and training for licence-holders with a shotgun certificate.

The BASC will also help fishery managers contact clubs, gamekeepers or similarly experienced individuals who can help with deterrence where necessary.

Martin Salter MP, the Parliamentary spokesman for Angling and Shooting, commented: "This really is a countryside alliance worthy of its name and I am delighted to have helped in bringing these two great organisations together to help angling fight the menace of cormorant predation."

NFA membership services manager, Bob Clark, said: "The aim of the NFA Cormorant Action Group is to provide direct assistance to clubs suffering from cormorant predation. Our link-up with BASC means that NFA clubs can receive direct assistance in completing and submitting their licence applications and, as an additional service, we can now link them with a shooting club in their area who will bring a special expertise in dealing with predators."

Jeffrey Olstead, spokesman for the BASC explained: "We are very pleased to be able to help fellow sportsmen in what can be a difficult area. We have considerable expertise in predator control and since many shooters are also keen fishermen we have a good understanding of the problems involved."

Match bookings

Saturday: Acaster - Local AC.

Sunday: Acaster - Pudsey; Ouse below York - York WL; Redhouse Lagoon - Icebreakers

Updated: 09:54 Friday, March 07, 2003