It was a quiet weekend on the York match angling scene with activity limited to stillwater fisheries.

The Poppleton Lakes complex has been in good form of late and the different ponds offer variety. Both of the weekend matches produced big weights but to differing species and tactics.

Best weight went to Andy Sparling. He topped the contest on Horseshoe Lake with a cracking net of bream and skimmers scaling an impressive 77lb 14oz. Pole and chopped worm at 11 metres proved the successful tactic.

The same approach paid off for Geoff Wainwright who had 45-14 and Rob Coldwater who took 42-15.

On Railway Lake the carp provided all of the action with most fish falling to surface baits such as dog biscuits and floating bread flake. Kev Wilson led the way with a 69-8 net ahead of Neil Horne on 49-3, Mick Bannister 38-14 and Chris Abbot 29-4.

Over at the Willows, anglers enjoyed plenty of variety in the open contest on Goldrush lake. Sean Rogers triumphed from peg 35 where he alternated meat and worm in open water for a 61-8 mixed net of ide, tench and carp to 4lb. Andy Rymer took second with his 49-8 catch from peg 29 where he targeted an overhanging willow with pellet and paste for carp to 6lb. Alistair Wilkes of Tadcaster took third from peg 45 with 43-9 of carp to 5lb.

Others: Steve Pearson 39-10-0; Joe Carrass and Geoff Wilmore both 35-8-0.

Johnny Kenning (Daylight Baits) missed a bumper pay-day in the 48-peg Oaks open on Cedar Lake, where he was four ounces adrift after pulling out the jackpot peg. Had his 48-3 haul, taken on pole and pellet from peg 59, included an extra fish his winnings would have included an extra £400. Party-pooper was Greg Norris (Bob-Co Oaks) who fished paste down the track on peg nine for 48-7 of carp to 3lb.

Others: Bruce Poland (Oaks) 45-9-0; Ray Singh (MAP Elton) 43-3-0; Paul Taylor (MAP Elton) 39-3-0; Chris Haw (Oaks) 38-0-0.

The 71-peg sell-out open at Woodlands saw pegs on Partridge dominate, taking all top four places. The main surprise was the absence of York's Dean Smith from the frame, such has been his recent dominance. Another of the usual suspects, however, Mark Coyne (MAP Elton) led from peg 11.

He fished shallow with meat at 14 metres for two big carp around 10lb each, plus smaller fish to 3lb, for a winning net of 83-11. Steve Mellmoor (Oldham) took second from peg 23 where he used paste at 11 metres for his 71-14 net of carp to 4lb.

Others: Darrell Taylor (Daiwa Goldthorpe) 71-7-0; John Murray (Elton Tackle) 61-10-0; Phil Sellars (Elton Tackle) 57-10-0; Alan Barker (MAP Elton) 56-6-0.

Updated: 08:35 Wednesday, September 08, 2004