THE Ouse below York carried a couple of feet of cold flood water and fell for Sunday's York Amalga-mation Christmas Cheer event.

Despite the far from ideal conditions most of the 86-strong field caught fish in an even contest where the prizes were well distributed.

Colin Hardy (Waterline Wibsey) led with 10lb 10oz from peg 38 which was five pegs up from the bottom of the palace ings section. Fishing a small groundbait feeder, his double red maggot was to the liking of three skimmers and a 5lb slab which all came in a hectic 30-minute spell from 2pm.

Rich Darling (Selby DAA) was in the middle of the bridge field at Bishopthorpe where he used groundbait feeder and worm for four skimmers plus some small roach scaling 9lb 15oz.

Kim Temple (York) was third using pole and worm above the donkey woods sand for a skimmer plus roach and 4lb 9oz.

Others: John Cyrowski (Armley Angling) 4-5-0, Rob Morris (Acomb Tackle) 3-13-0, Dave Findlay (South Bank) 3-3-0, Mick Wood (South Bank) 3-2-0; Phil Austin (Bob.Co) 2-14-0, Stan Haigh (Anglers World York) 2-11-8.

Hardy and his brother, Trevor, won the pairs contest with 11lb 10oz. They finished ahead of consistent pairing Phil Austin and John Cyrowski and Acomb duo Rob Morris and Derek Barker, who had a combined aggregate of 5lb 10oz.

There wasn't much to be jolly about in Sunday's flood-affected 56-entry Christmas Cheer contest on the Ouse.

Most anglers had to rely on lobworm to tempt fish on a river a yard above normal level and still rising.

Peg 220, a winner at the last five matches, didn't pay off this time. Bob Foster (Waterline Wibsey) won from peg 242 at Linton with lobworm paving the way to a six roach and three eel 4lb 8oz success.

Martyn Highe (Hirst Tackle) pushed his Kamasan haul into the 30s with second from 248. He fished a groundbait feeder with maggot for eight roach and a solitary eel for 2lb 10oz.

Others: Dave Pollit (Hirst Tackle) 2-2-0, Paul Bennet (Waterline Wibsey) 2-10-0, Trevor Hewitt (Hirst Tackle) 1-14-0, Barbara Jeffries (Armley Angling) 1-13-0

The Ure at Ripon was still falling after a sudden influx of flood water the previous day making for a dire 86-peg contest.

Pete Ludevitch, from Haxby, needed just a single chub of 4lb 6oz for victory. Drawn above the yacht club he used his usual huge bread offerings to tempt the match-winner late in the day.

Nigel Robson (Ripon) was below the nab end where he used a small maggot feeder for a single chub and two roach for his 3lb 14oz.

Others: Gordon Shields (Waterline Wibsey) 3-12-0, Mal Britton (Ripon) 3-1-0, Norman Proctor (Ripon) 2-7-0, Andy Hartley (Doncaster) 2-6-0.

Sunday's open at Raker Lakes went to Geoff Wilmore (Armley Angling) with 46lb 13oz. He netted carp to 5lb on pole and corn at 14 metres from peg 22.

Others: Oliver Hewitt (Team Gem) 43-12-0, Mick Hare (Headingley Angling) 23-4-0, Chris Storey (JT Rogers) 19-7-0

Updated: 10:11 Wednesday, December 17, 2003