With match action restricted to local stillwaters it was a surprise that any contests went ahead following the icy blanket that had engulfed the area during the course of the week.

With York Amalgamation wisely taking the decision to move the Animals Hospitals cup back two weeks in order to avoid a clash with a rowing regatta it was the few ice-free commercials that provided the only match interest.

Many chose to leave the poles in the shed but those that did brave the chill found a few fish willing to feed Eskimo-style through broken ice.

Shaun Wagstaff won the Saturday open at the Willows with a level 25lb. Drawn on peg 11 on Ridgepool, he offered pellet at 11 metres, where he found some decent-sized carp willing to feed.

His winning margin would have been more impressive but for the loss of eight big fish. Gareth Malham took second from peg 22 where his maggot bait proved tempting to a string of small chub, carp and ide for a 24lb 10oz net.

Although falling temperatures took their toll, weights on Kevin's Lake at Langwith Lakes remained encouraging. Indeed Dave Sutton had a very busy day at peg 22 where maggot pushed across to the island brought a steady stream of small carp and by the final whistle he had 89lb 4oz in the sack.

Also finding carp to three pounds with pole and maggot was James Clay at peg 27, but a slower strike rate left him some way behind with 48lb 10oz.

After finishing second in the previous two rounds Jeff Wilmore went one better this time out and showed the rest a clean pair of heels in the Raker Lakes match with 79lb 2oz despite the handicap of an iced over peg.

The Leeds ace offered maggot at 16 metres off a peg 22 draw on Horsehoe to take

carp in the 3-6lb bracket. John Cosgrove also kept himself well to the fore with a comfortable second that came via a level 41lb of chub, roach, skimmers and small carp taken on pole and caster at peg 14.

Just an ounce separated the top two in a sell-out open at the Oaks, Sessay on Sunday. With many venues still suffering from the big-freeze the prolific North Yorkshire venue stayed ice-free thanks to the deployment of the aerators to keep the water moving and the fish feeding.

Steve Rotheray (Daiwa Goldthorpe) took the top spot by the narrowest of margins from form peg 65.

Deciding the fish would be in no mood to feed, the South Yorkshire commercial-ace decided against any loose-feed and just offered his hook-bait, either corn or maggot, at 12 metres. Carp to 3lb responded for a winning 45lb 7oz.

Bert Lockwood (Bob-Co Tackle) was on peg 23, where he placed his trust in the same bait selections and tempted 45lb 6oz of fish to just over 2lb tackling the deeper water down the track.

The yellow peril provided John Chapman (Garbolino Elton) with a memorable weekend double at Woodlands.

Regrettably, the cold weather kept the entries in the 30s denying the Lancastrian with an 8-point Kamasan haul. Bomb and corn paved the way to success on both days.

Saturday's win came from peg three on Dragonfly where his 37lb 4oz net comprised just three carp to 12lb plus a few small skimmers. Sunday saw him in more emphatic mood taking victory by a comfortable margin with 51lb 5oz from Partridge six.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, November 23, 2005