The biggest entry on a weekend of poor turn-outs for river angling matches in Yorkshire saw 55 fishing the Ure at Ripon.

Having fallen nearly a yard the night before the match it was only just possible to fish the streams, with 18 inches of falling floodwater to contend with.

Chub guru Steve Evans (Bentley AC) led from peg 218 below Hutton beck mouth. After taking six chub on feeder and wasp grub he switched to bomb and worm for one last fish that boosted him to 21lb 10oz.

Joint runners-up were Graham Skirrey (Turners Tackle) and Mick Tiffany (Leeds) both win 13lb 14oz.

Skirrey landed six on bomb and caster close in on peg 207 above Bell Banks, while Tiffany had four chub on bomb and worm and four grayling on stick and maggot from 136 at North Bridge.

Others: Stuart Holt (Dam Brighouse Geers) 7-10-0; Gordon Shields (Wibsey) 7-6-0; Steve Knowles (Middlesborough) and Paul Wood (Airborough) 5-10-0.

The Ouse at Thorpe Underwood and Widdington was eight feet above normal on Saturday but it was not enough to deter the hardy 35 anglers in the Bob.co League match.

It did, however, deter the fish and Tony Webster (Hirst Tackle) won with only 2lb 8oz. Drawn 34 at Widdington he had two eels and two roach on lob worm.

John Cyrowski (Armley Angling) was second, with 15 small roach on maggot feeder from peg ten at Thorpe Underwood for 1lb 15oz

Others: Martyn Highe (Hirst Tackle) 1-5-0; Mick Shaw (Hirst Tackle) 1-3-0; Bob Ramshaw (Armley Angling) 0-15-8.

With the Ouse at Hunters Lodge still carrying four feet of flood water it was tough going for the 46 anglers on Sunday.

Peter Hyde (Marsh Tackle) led with just 2lb 15oz. Drawn 224 below the bungalows he legered maggot for four roach including a cracking red fin of 1lb 10oz.

Terry Morgan (Marsh Tackle) was below the Willow Garth where he found four roach and three dace on maggot feeder for 1-14-0.

Others: Vic Rookes (Glen) 1-13-0; Keith Mitchell (Selby) 1-12-0; Dave Miles (Marsh Tackle) 1-10-0; Dave Pollitt (Hirst Tackle) 1-8-8.

The 26-peg Knaresborough open match on the flooded Nidd at Knaresborough was won by Martin Dodsworth (Knaresborough) for the second match in succession.

Pegged below the Sawmills he took a barbel and a chub on lobby and six grayling on stick and maggot for his 10lb 1oz

Others: Martin Chapman (Darlington) 6-4-0; Stuart Proctor (Knaresborough) 5-12-0; Keith Whincup (Knaresborough) 5-2-0; Cliff Lofthouse (Ripon) 4-14-8.

At Raker, 25 fished Horseshoe Lake where Rick Johnson (Leeds) led with 28lb 8oz. His winning net was made up of carp to 3lb on pole and maggot at 11 metres from peg 30.

Others: Paul Connolly (Hull) 16-9-0; Glen Jewitt (Leeds) 16-4-0; John Cosgrove (Anglers Corner) 15-2-0.

The top three Black Horse anglers in the inaugural match at the newly refurbished Tollerton Pond all netted nearly 30lb bags of small carp, tench and roach.

Richard Bedford led with 30lb 6oz. Most of his fish fell to waggler and maggot. The best of the rest were Chris Evans on 28lb 14oz, Ray Wright 28lb 9oz, Phil Maddigan 15lb 10oz and Brian Pallister 14lb 4oz.

At the Oaks the form pegs led Sunday's 51-peg match on Maple Lake. Kev Woods (Oaks) won with 41lb 13oz from peg one. Fishing pole and corn at 11 metres his all-carp bag included a match-winning bonus fish of 7lb.

On peg 22 (Phil Sharpe) West Park used pole and maggot at 13 metres to the corner of the island for his 41lb 4oz of pasty sized carplets.

In-form Dean Smith (Van den Eynde Goole) finished third, using pole and maggot from peg 47 with 21-2-0.

Others: Rab Ogilvy (Oaks) 19-6-0; Pete Jones (MAP Elton) 19-0-0; Rob Morgan (Cleveland Angling Centre) 15-8-0.

Paul Brown (Boston Spa) won the 21-entry match on the Wharfe at Tadcaster with a modest 1-9-8. Fishing bomb and maggot at peg 62 he netted half a dozen roach.

Others: Martin Craig (Big Waters) 1-8-8; Dennis Gelderd (Boston Spa) 1-3-0; Steve Roberts (Big Waters) 1-1-0.

Updated: 12:30 Wednesday, February 27, 2002