The start of what promises to be another hard-fought Yorkshire Winter League campaign begins on Sunday.

The reduced number of teams and smaller team sizes, together with the redistribution of the talented Normark squad, should make for fierce competition.

The opening round venue, the Aire and Calder Navigation around Pollington, has been in temperamental mood of late with roach failing to feed willingly.

A chopped-worm attack for the deep canal's perch shoals might be a safer bet.

Runners and riders declared so far are Anglers World, Armley Angling, Hirst Tackle, FAPS Bradford, Marsh Tackle and York. However, there are still places available to accommodate late comers.

The opening salvos of the winter battle are normally fired a week later which has led to an unfortunate clash of fixtures. Sunday was due to have seen waters above York hosting their first open of the season in the shape of the John Smith's-sponsored Hospitals Cup.

Due to the fixture congestion ticket sales were poor and the plug was pulled on Wednesday. No details are to hand at present, but I suspect that the match will not be re-scheduled.

The Anglers World side, who fielded six York-based anglers in their 12-strong squad, enjoyed mixed fortunes in last Saturday's blue riband event - the Division One National.

Fished on the Great Ouse and Cam it was a contest of feast and famine as records tumbled whilst many blanked or struggled for ounces.

The team finished 38th out of the 62 sides to retain their top-flight status for another season. Tony Stevenson, Paul Lansley and Tim Harrison fared the best of the Yorkies scoring 48, 56 and 55 points respectively.

Harrison was also unlucky, narrowly missing out on a medal. Drawn in the bream-packed Dimmocks Cote section of the Cam the Copmanthorpe man hauled out nearly 40lb of slabs to finish in 14th place overall with just the first 12 receiving medals.

The match was won by England international Dave Vincet with a new national record weight of 56kilogrammes to narrowly beat the previous best of 55.2kg set in 1999 by Darlington's Rob Stubbs from Lincolnshire's Hobhole Drain.

Yorkshire provided the top team again with Dick Clegg Ossett taking pride of the place on the podium which they shared with RAF and Browning Hotrods.

Anglers wishing to fish this season's York and District Winter League should attend the registration night on Tuesday, October 9 at St Clements WMC.

There may be a reduced number of pegs available this season with a number of areas overgrown following the enforced absence of anglers as a result of foot and mouth.

The Bridge Field section at Bishopthorpe may also be unavailable. With this in mind it is hoped that some consolidation of squads can take place to ensure that all sides field a full six anglers.

The opening match will be on December 2 with further fixtures on December 30, January 20, February 3 and 17, and February, March 10.

The league will be run by Linda Wallis of Mitre Pets who also has places still available for her series of matches at Brafferton Pond. The event starts on the October 14 and will cover four matches before finishing on November 11. Details from Mitre Pets.

Saturday

Redhouse Lagoon - York RI, Poppleton - Local AC, Acaster - GPO, Howsam Hall - Transco.

Sunday

Redhouse Lagoon - Royal Oak, Donkeywoods - Poppleton, Fulford - Huntington, Acaster - New Earswick, Poppleton - Shepherds, Howsham Hall - Ben Johnsons.

Updated: 11:59 Friday, October 05, 2001