The Ripon Builders Merchants-sponsored Ure Championships drew a sell-out field of 70 to the river around Ripon on Sunday.

The falling river was still deeply coloured and the failure of chub to show in numbers made for a much fairer contest.

Robin Pickles (KL Tackle) led from peg 186 opposite the sand bed at Bell Banks. After a quiet first hour the fish moved into his steady peg where he used waggler and caster to tempt five chub, plus plenty of grayling and dace, for a winning 19lb2oz.

Martin Hope (Ripon) had to wait for the final hour for his first bite, but it was hectic sport until the whistle as he bagged five chub, plus a near 3lb perch, on waggler and caster from the peg below Leathams run off. His late catch weighed in at a level 16-0-0.

John Fletcher (Ripon) secured third with a 14lb12oz net of chub and dace from last week's winning peg on the Skell Mouth.

Others: Colin Townsend (Leeds) 11-6-0, Alistair Atkinson (Ripon) 11-4-0, Graham Burnham (A1 Garage Doors) 10-12-0.

The Calder around Mirfield drew Yorkshire's biggest match entry of the weekend.

With 6lb of stick or waggler caught silver fish needed to win every section, it is not difficult to see why 90 anglers flocked to the pride of the White Rose county.

Chris Dennis (Tricast Highfield) scored a comfortable win from an unfancied peg on the Newgate length in downtown Mirfield.

Edging a stick and caster through his 7ft deep peg he tempted more than 100 roach to 6oz plus a sprinkling of dace for his winning net of 13lb13oz.

Local ace Ian Bates (Hirst Tackle) continued his good run on the venue with 8lb4oz. His all dace bag fell to stick and maggot from a peg at the back of the Pear Tree Inn.

Dave Pollitt (Hirst Tackle) took third from a peg in the consistent area below Calder Road Bridge. Fishing stick and maggot he netted a dozen small barbel plus 80 roach and chublets for his level 8lb.

A delighted match organiser Martyn Highe failed to add to his Kamasan tally, but said he did not care after watching his beloved Leeds United hit the top of the Premiership.

Others: Tony Earnshaw (Calder Anglers) 7-8-0, Adam Jaffier (Tricast Highfield) 7-6-8, Dave Pilgrim (Brighouse) 7-5-0

The in vogue cat food dominated again at the Oaks, taking the top three places on Maple Lake.

Dave Pimlott (Keenets NW) led the 54 field from peg 23 where he fished down the track for carp to 4lb in his 41lb3oz.

Mark Coyne (Cleveland Angling Centre) took second from peg 4. Employing similar tactics he had fish to 3lb in his 40lb8oz.

Others: Ray Singh (MAP Elton) 39-4-0, Ian Exley (Middy Team Dons) 33-1-0, Damien Bracken (Trevs of Wilmslow) 32-8-0, Keith Pentland (The Oaks) 32-6-0.

The Saturday open at Woodlands attracted 67 despite atrocious weather.

Only those who had some shelter from the lashing storms could fish the long pole and John McGarill (MAP Elton) took full advantage of the tail wind at Partridge 15 to reach out to 13 metres. Fishing cat meat he bagged small carp to 3lb for his winning 38lb2oz.

Close by on Partridge seven Keith Kotchie (MAP Elton) rounded off a good week with 34lb2oz of carp to 6lb taken on meat at 5 and 11 metres.

Others: Mark Calvert (Newman Scotts) 29-15-0, Dave Gill (MAP Elton) 29-13-0, Ian Bowman (Maver Barnsley) 27-6-0, Tony Leeming (Newman Scotts) 26-5-0.

Vic Rookes (Glen) took the 41 peg Tadcaster open on the Wharfe at Smaws Ings with 11lb13oz. Pegged on the gauging station he fished mid river with a caster feeder for his three chub and a single perch.

Alan Wilkes (Tadcaster) had a surprise second from end peg 85, more noted for its winter dace form, where he netted three chub on maggot feeder for his 8lb4oz.

Others: Ted Pickles (Glen) 6-5-0,; Geoff Lewis (Otley) 5-10-0, Brian Trigg (Tadcaster) 4-2-0.

Updated: 11:36 Wednesday, September 19, 2001