YORK’S Christmas Cheer angling match narrowly beat the rising floodwater on the River Ouse.

Fido angler Rod Chalk won the York & District Amalgamation of Anglers contest with one bream in his net of 4lb 13oz, ahead of Ricky Gaunt, who also caught a bream in his 4lb 9.5oz.

Rich Darling was third with 3lb, including three roach and a bream, while Bill Collier was fourth and Dave Findlay fifth.

A field of 48 anglers entered but only 34 fished and 20 weighed in. There was an early end to the match due to the rising water.

River levels permitting, the amalgamation’s Animals Hospitals Cup will be held at the Donkey Woods, Fulford and Palace Ings stretches of the Ouse on Sunday.

The draw will be held at St Clement’s WMC at 8.30am.

Meanwhile, Laybourne Lakes at Hessay, near York, was closed this week due to flooding of the approach lane and various areas around the lakes. The venue was expected to reopen this weekend.

The amalgamation’s annual general meeting agreed a year book price rise of £1 to £40, with a disabled or senior citizen book up £1 to £22 and an intermediate book up 50p to £20.

York Joinery angler Paul Kozyra won the Raker Lakes Wheldrake Open on Horseshoe lake with a haul of 45lb 12oz.

Positioned at peg 30, Kozyra’s all carp net was caught at 14.5 metres fishing up in the water alternating between double caster on the hook and bread punch feeding casters little and often. Leeds’ Steve Massa was second from peg 27 with 38lb 6oz of carp, while Gareth Sellers, of Leeds, was third with 33lb 6oz from peg 22. Easingwold’s John Cosgrove took fourth place from peg ten with 32lb 12oz.