Drennan Team England were shaken after finding themselves 18 points adrift after day one in the 49th World Angling Championships on the River Mondego in Portugal.

The defending champions, along with the Italians and French, found themselves scratching to stay in the race with the unfamiliar mullet and bora upsetting carefully laid team plans.

Day one saw four times world champion Bob Nudd bank running and his place was taken by Sean Ashby, who unfortunately collected 20 penalty points. Spain were day one leaders with 26 points ahead of Portugal with 29.5 points, Belgium third with 36 points, Italy fourth 43.5 and England fifth with 44.

England's Stuart Conroy and Will Raison finished with two points and Steve Gardener recorded five. Former world champion Alan Scotthorne was disappointed with his 14 points from a poor area but the team coaches were still confident they could get among the medals.

Nudd replaced Ashby and finished with seven points while Gardener collected just two, Stu Conroy three, Will Raison recorded nine and Alan Scotthorne 18.

The team had overtaken the Italians but still failed to leapfrog the leading three. But Conroy landed the individual bronze for his superb two-day performance.

Mark Downes said: "Obviously we would have liked the team to come back with a medal but we beat the Italians and the French.

"Spain and Portugal fished brilliantly on a river they know like the back of their hand. Our lads performed consistently well and we have learned many lessons."

Overall results - Teams: 1, Spain 52.5 points; 2, Portugal 55.5; 3,Belgium 74; 4, England 84; 5, Hungary 93; 6, Italy 97. Wales 8th, Ireland 21st and Scotland 28th.

Individuals: 1, Juan Blasco (Spain) 3pts; 2, Juan Duran (Spain) 4; 3, Stu Conroy (England) 5.

It seems that autumn has barely begun and once again thoughts turn to the local winter league scene.

The Yorkshire Winter League will be the first to open up with the starting salvos being released over the Calder around Mirfield. Anglers World will be hoping for another crack at the big time after last year's giant-killing exploits.

The York Winter League will not start until December 1 with the other fixtures being December 29, January 5 and 19, February 2 and 16 and March 9.

There will be a delegates meeting at Tang Hall WMC on Tuesday, October 15 at 8pm when team registration will take place together with laying of notices of motion for the annual meeting.

This will be held at the same venue, also at 8pm, on November 6.

Sunday sees the first York match on the Ouse for some time when the waters below the City host the WJ Noakes Trophy.

The contest should provide some useful pointers for the upcoming winter campaigns. With little or no rain in the last week the venue should be bereft of any significant colour and roach and perch will be the main target species.

Odd bream will undoubtedly make the difference between match winner and also ran.

Weekend Bookings

Tomorrow: Claxton - CIU; Beningbrough Park - Shepherds

Sunday: Lagoon - Royal Oak; Poppleton - New Earswick; Beningbrough Park - Poppleton; Beningbrough Village and Below - Arriva; All Below York - Noakes Trophy; Tadcaster - Pudsey; Howsham Hall - Clifton; Stamford Below - YAA; Redhouse Middle - BRS

Updated: 11:47 Friday, September 20, 2002