All eyes will be on the Ouse below York on Sunday as the Fulford and Donkey Woods sections host the WJC Noakes Cup.

The first big York match of the autumn is always keenly anticipated as anglers engaged in Winter League duties over the coming months look for some practice and a few pointers as to what lies ahead.

The river should be in good condition, with normal levels restored after recent rain, and the colour looks good too.

With overnight temperatures starting to hint at the first frosts, however, it is likely to be a roach- and perch-dominated affair with just a few bream and skimmers expected to make an impact on the upper end of the prize list.

Skimmers were showing well earlier in the week when the river was still carrying extra water, with several good catches taken in the city centre from Marygate and at the upstream end of New Walk.

Roach are also feeding well upstream of York, with plenty of fish showing at Poppleton and upstream of Clifton Bridge.

Meanwhile, falling water temperatures saw a dip in weights at Langwith on Sunday, but it all made for a very close match won in the end by Pete Suggitt from peg 28 on Bethany’s Lake.

Using pellet down the middle, Suggitt kept in touch with carp to 3lb all day finishing with 74lb 14oz.

Just a fish behind was Tim Bell, who drew peg one on the same lake and used pellet tight across for a 72lb 11oz finish.

He edged out Dave Carroll, of Tight Lines Shaw, who opted for a two-pronged worm and maggot attack to take top weight on Kevin’s Lake with 73lb 2oz.

Low and bright conditions did not promise much on the River Aire at Beal on Saturday, but roach and a few hybrids put in an appearance and weights were much better than expected.

Hirst Tackle’s Martin Highe got the best of what was on offer at peg 123 just below Beal Bridge, where his waggler and maggot attack brought a net of 62 roach to 10oz for a 12lb 9oz finish.

Two pegs downstream, Pontefract rod Dean Grace opted for a pole and maggot approach to take roach of a similar stamp ending the day with a 50-fish haul for 10lb 2oz.

York-based Paul Burton, of Angler’s World Holidays, took the 60-peg Saturday open at Woodlands with a fine 122lb 13oz. Drawn on Partridge 20, he netted carp to 10lb using pellet under a waggler.

Paul Fletcher, of Woodlands Tackle, took second from Skylark 16, where he also found some big carp, netting fish to 12lb, on pellet up in the water at 16 metres.

John Chapman, of Garbolino Elton, made it two doubles in a row at the Oaks with victory in both of the 30-peg contests on Cedar Lake.

Saturday saw him ease ahead of his rivals on peg eight, where meat at both 11 and 14 metres found carp to 5lb in a winning 71lb 1oz.

Bert Poole (Oaks) took second at peg 22, with 66lb 13oz of carp on pellet at 14 metres.

The following day, peg 68 supplied the win, with 87lb 13oz of carp to 7lb succumbing to Chapman’s meat fished at 14 metres.

* Marley Pool, at Laybourne Lakes, in Hessay, will reopen on Mondays from October 5.


Match bookings

Saturday

Laybourne Marley (pegs 1 to 10, 37 to 53): York CIU Saturday League, 2pm to 7pm.

Sunday

Donkey Woods, Fulford, Palace Ings: YDAofA, WJC Noakes Cup.

Beningbrough (Park): York Angling Association.

Howsham (opposite Hall): Cygnet AC.

Laybourne Brown’s pool (pegs 16 to 36): Clifton Hotel AC.

Laybourne Marley pool (pegs 1 to 10, 37 to 53): York CIU Angling Section 7s.

Park View Lake (all pegs): Burton Stone Lane WMC AC.

Selby Canal Fire Station length: White Rose AC.

Saturday, September 26 Howsham Bridge: York Railway Institute Angling Section.

Sunday, September 27

Acaster: White Rose AC.

Donkey Woods: New Earswick AC.

Fulford, Palace Ings: Bishopthorpe & Acaster AC.

Goldsborough: Pudsey Royal AC.

Howsham Bridge: Clifton Hotel AC.

Laybourne Marley (pegs 1 to 10, 37 to 53): Huntington WMC AC.


Dave Towers above

Shepherd Angling Club enjoyed good sport along the Tower section of the Beningbrough Park stretch of the Ouse.

Plenty or roach and small skimmers kept the small field entertained.

Dave Findlay led with an excellent 9lb taken on stick and maggot from the bottom peg on the Nidd Mouth sand bed.

John Sturdy, with 6lb 7oz, and Alan Moult, with 5lb 15oz, were also kept busy.