Sunday’s Tower Trophy saw a field of 54 battle against atrocious conditions on the Ouse below York.

Torrential rain in the early stages of the contest made way for a gale-force wind that left many pole anglers holding shattered pieces of expensive carbon.

It was the occasional bonus fish in the guise of bream and skimmers that made all the differnce on a testing day with Phil Austin (Barlby Village Stores) leading the way from a peg on the Palace Ings bend.

Fishing a small feeder with chopped worm, Austin tempted half a dozen perch and a couple of skimmers before the intervention of a 6lb slab pushed him well clear of the field.

His final tally of 10lb 1oz was enough for a comfortable win and also secured victory in the pairs event for him and partner John Cyrowski, who totalled a combined 12lb 3oz.

Second place went to Dennis Murray (Tang Hall Match Group) from a peg near the bridge on the Fulford bank. He also worked a small feeder down the edge and alternated worm and maggot for a level 7lb comprising a brace of quality skimmers plus roach.

Tim Coop (York) completed the top three from a peg near the bottom of the Palace Ings. Again it was the feeder and worm combination that scored, this time tempting a 4lb bream that was boosted by small roach to 5lb 11oz.

Others: Rich Darling (Mosella Selby) 5-6-0; Bill Collier (Union) 4-9-0; Ricky Gaunt (Leeds Angling Centre) 4-9-0; section winners: P Howdle 2-12-0; A Jacques 3-3-0; J Cyrowski 2-2-0; I Brown 3-13-0.

The same venue hosts the opening round of the Acomb Tackle York and District Winter League on Sunday when anglers will be hoping to find more favourable conditions in which to target their quarry.