It was odd skimmers or bust for the 16-entry Acomb Tackle match on the Ouse at Fulford.

With the river running a strange milky colour the roach were hard to tempt.

Terry Carlton (Acomb Tackle) found a few small roach, plus a skimmer from the bay hole at Fulford.

Fishing groundbait and maggot feeder his meagre winning net scaled a level 2lb.

Acomb veteran Norman Linfoot took second with a brace of small skimmers from the old end peg on the Palace Ings for 1lb 11oz.

Other prize-winners included Colin Plant with 1lb 9oz and Colin Hibberd with 1lb 4oz.

On the opposite bank the Icebreakers had to endure the worst of the conditions and R Walker needed just 12oz for victory.

Six others of the 15 entry had fish for the scales.

Their previous match at Beningbrough Park produced a talking point.

Winner Paul Freed was drawn on the bottom of the sandbed at Nidd Mouth and using a stick float and maggot he worked hard for his winning net of 6lb 2oz all of which were dace.

I can only guess the fish must have been washed downstream out of the Nidd during the floods.

Freed also took the honours at Howsham Hall, albeit with a smaller net of 1lb 7oz.

M Longhurst was the only other angler to trouble the pounds column with a level 1lb.

The conditions on the River Ure at Ripon proved to be a real leveller for Sunday's 73-pegger with unfancied pegs taking all the prizes.

The biggest beneficiary of the conditions was Kevin McGloughlin (Marsh Tackle) who drew on the Skell Mouth. As the conditions worsened his peg improved and legering a lob worm into the slack provided by the river's confluence, he netted a brace of chub and a 2lb perch in the final hour for his winning 8lb10oz worth more than £200.

The peg below Bell Banks gravels is another nightmare draw, but Paul Werritt (Doncaster) made his dreams come true by tempting three chub from its swirling waters on bread feeder.

The story did not have a happy ending however as he lost two other chub, either one of which would have boosted his 8lb 3oz to a winning score.

Others: Dougie Fawkin (Airborough) 6-2-0, Tommy Marshall (Turners Tackle) 5-12-0, Steve Newns (KL Tackle) 5-6-0, Stuart Holt (Dam Brighouse Geers) 5-4-0.

The Ouse at Hunters Lodge was two feet high and rising on Saturday for the 51-entry Bob Co Tackle match.

With plenty of colour in the water the odd bream showed, adding some respectability to the top end of the frame.

In reality the event was a real grueller with numerous blanks. Bob Ramshaw (Armley Angling) feeder-fished worm at peg 224 below the bungalows, where he found four slabs for his 21lb 10oz runaway win.

Tony Webster (Hirst Tackle) was also among the slabs at peg 189 below the willow garth, where he netted a single specimen of 7lb 7oz on lob worm.

Others: Stuart Wilson (Marsh Tackle) 5-9-0, Dave Miles (Marsh Tackle) 4-11-8, Stan Haigh (Anglers World) 1-10-8 and Marjorie Harrison (Glen) 1-7-8.

Only nine fished a chilly Raker Lakes on Sunday.

As an icy easterly wind cut across the Wheldrake complex John Cosgrove (Anglers Corner) scored an easy win from Horseshoe peg 22.

Fishing pole and maggot at 14 metres he netted seven carp for his 12-13-0.

Goole stalwart Paul Cannon (Tommos) took second with three carp on bomb and maggot from peg 19 for his 7-12-0.

Updated: 11:38 Wednesday, February 07, 2001