One of only two river matches fished in Yorkshire on the opening weekend saw 60 anglers struggle with a rising and coloured Ouse at Nun Monkton.

The river, which had been in fine fettle, fell foul of some freak thunder storms on the previous day as lob worm did most of the damage.

Martyn Highe (Hirst Tackle) drew first blood from peg one opposite Newton. Ledgering worm he took a bream plus a small chub and barbel for his 7lb 9oz.

Clive Stokes (Armley Angling) was second from peg 16 on the shallows where he netted a decent chub on worm plus a small barbel and some dace on maggot feeder for his 5lb 2oz.

John Wilkinson (Yeadon) had a single bream to thank for his level 5lbs while Gerry Eastwood (Castleford) had the day's best eel net at 4lb 14oz

A sell out field of 70 were left disappointed as the Nidd at Cowthorpe failed to produce its usual early season form.

A rising river the previous day saw competitors in the Bradford No1 contest battling with large rafts of floating weed. Arthur Hand (Bradford No1) had the upper hand from peg 44 on the Gas Pipe. Fishing waggler and maggot he netted a bream of nearly 8lbs plus a chub and barbel for his winning 16lb 12oz.

Simon Foster (Bradford No1) was left to rue two lost barbel which cost him dear. Drawn 54 on the dog kennels, he took four barbel and a chub on bomb and caster for 15lb 8oz.

Geoff Cox (Bradford No1) was helped into third with a double figure pike, which along with a single chub gave him 14lb 9oz from peg 29 in the dip.

Saturday's contest at Woodlands saw 69 competing on Skylark and Partridge for the season's first Kamasan points.

Winner of the big four was Lee Harrison (Browning Scunthorpe). Pegged on Partridge 27, he fished pellets at five and 13 metres where he was kept busy with lots of small carp. Biggest fish in his winning 46lb 14oz haul was just 2lbs.

Ian Thompson (Barnsley) had the top weight of Skylark lake with 41lb 2oz from peg 31. Fishing paste over pellets, he included fish to 6lbs in his all carp net.

A field of 53 contested Wednesday's open on the same two lakes at the Carlton Minniot complex.

It was corner peg Skylark 18 that provided Pete Suggitt (Driffield) with victory. He tempted carp to 6lb on pellets and corn for 50lb 15oz. Shaun Rogers (Robin Hood) led on Partridge with his 44lb 3oz from peg 23.

A disappointing turn-out of just 33 fished the opening round of the summer league at the Willows where once again pegs on Goldrush dominated.

In-form Keith Gray (Anglers World) did the business from peg 35. Fishing pellets and corn over pellet feed, he netted 33lb 8oz of small carp, ide and orfe.

Steve Cromie (KL Tackle) was close by on peg 37 where he used chopped worm attack for 30lb 12oz of orfe, tench and skimmers with a couple of carp.

Pegs sheltered from the strong winds that battered Maple Lake dominated Sunday's 53 entry at the Oaks, Sessay.

Dave Armitage (Hirst Tackle) topped the event thanks to five bonus carp taken on pole and corn at peg 63. He added smaller fish on pellet across to finish with 35lb 12oz. At the next peg Kevin Guy (Harrogate Angling Supplies) alternated maggot and pellet across for an all small carp bag of 24lb 5oz.

Updated: 12:01 Wednesday, June 20, 2001