A busy weekend of match action across the York area saw the opening salvos in the Yorkshire Winter League clash with the John Smith's Hospital Cup.

The Ouse was in much sterner mood for the latter and refused to offer up much in the way of bream and skimmers.

It was small fish that made the running and Keith Ellerby (Acomb Tackle) fared the best from the top peg in the pumper at Fulford. Offering pole and maggot, he netted a 7lb 8oz mixed bag of roach and perch.

Mick Wood (South Bank) took second from peg eight on the same section where pole and caster connected with an all-roach 5lb 4oz. Andy Sleightholme continued his impressive comeback with third on 4lb 10oz from peg 24.

Others: Steve Messenger 4-8-0; Rod Chalk 4-5-0; Rob Morris 4-0-0.

The Calder was in more forgiving form and plenty of roach and chub made for an interesting opening encounter in the keenly contested series.

Paul Thompson, from Malton, put on a fine display from the Healy Mills section where his 21lb 15oz bag of quality roach and dace helped his Anglers World Holidays team-mates to a promising second place. Mirfield set the early pace and took the honours with a 57-point haul.

The 90-mile round trip from Hull was made worthwhile for Nick Butler as he picked up the winner's purse at Langwith Lakes on Sunday. He took 76lb 12oz from peg 22 on Bethany's Lake which unusually produced little else of note.

Despite the lake being below par, Butler made light of it and found carp to 3lb with maggot fished across to the island.

Venue regular Pete Uttley finished top on Kevin's Lake and second overall with 74lb 12oz of carp taken on pellet and maggot to the island.

Result: 1 Nick Butler, Everett's Tackle, 76-12-0; 2 Pete Uttley, Langwith, 74-12-0; 3 Ben Fisk, JT Rogers, 64-8-0; 4 Andy Simpson, Angel of the North, 60-12-0; 5 Roger Holmes, Langwith, 58-6-0; 6 Mick Sykes, West Park, 54-15-0.