The Ouse had been carrying nearly six feet of flood water over the festive period, so it was with some relief that competitors in Sunday's York Winter League were faced with less than a yard of additional water.

The freezing night temperatures did little to enhance sport and many of the 90-strong field struggled in the second round of the Acomb Tackle backed league.

The odd bream and skimmers made all the difference to both the individual and team events with roach hard to come by.

Kev Ellaby (Acomb Tackle) led from the end peg in the bridge field at Bishopthorpe with 7lb 13oz. Offering chopped worm close in on the pole, he tempted three skimmers, a hybrid and a couple of roach for his winning net that also went some way towards securing the team event for his five colleagues.

The consistent Colin Hardy (Waterline Wibsey) took second spot from a peg in the paddock at Fulford where he had a good bream plus some small roach on feeder fished worm for a total of 5lb 3oz.

Third place went to team-mate Tony Layfield, who also had a bream, plus some roach and perch on pole and maggot, from a peg in the bottom field in the Donkey Woods for his 4lb 15oz

Best of the rest were: Kev Price (Tang Hall Match Group) 4-14-8; Dave Collinson (Acomb Tackle) 3-14-0; Tony Stephenson (Anglers World York) 3-5-0.

The team contest went to Acomb Tackle with 14lb 9oz from Waterline Wibsey who had 11lb 12oz for second place which took them to the top of the league.

Other leading teams were: Tang Hall Match Group 10-7-0; South Bank 9-15-0 Anglers World York 9-12-0 and Barlby Village Stores 8-7-0.

After two rounds Waterline Wibsey lead the way with 27 points ahead of nearest rivals Barlby Village Stores, who are two adrift on 25. South Bank, with 24, and Anglers World York, with 21, are their closest challengers.

The Sunday Bob.Co event at Carpvale was only fishable thanks to the efforts of fishery owner Kev Whincup who broke the layer of ice that covered Cyprio Pool with his boat.

The main benefactor was Alan Humphries, who used feeder and worm from peg nine for an all-carp bag of 24lb 8oz.

John Sykes took second from peg 14, where he had half a dozen carp on pole and corn for a level 19-0-0. The only others to top double figures were Mick Green with 16lb 8oz and Bernard Guy, who weighed in 11lb 8oz.

Updated: 10:34 Wednesday, December 31, 2003