THE dreadful weather of the past week put paid to the weekend's top match with the decision taken on Sunday morning to cancel the Ouse Championships.

With the county's premier river carrying more than eight feet of rapidly rising flood water the organisers were left with no choice but to return entrance fees to the expectant throng of 130 hardy river men.

The contest has been re-scheduled for Sunday, November 10 - the date normally reserved for the Hammond Trophy.

Only York waters are available on this weekend and tickets, which are on sale from all the usual outlets, will be limited to 80.

The popular Mitre Angling Services autumn series drew to a close on Sunday at the Rising Sun fishery near Aldwark.

Following 30-plus peg sell-outs at Tollerton Ponds, the Potteries at Strensall and York University Lake, things were poised for a tight finish.

At the end it could not have been closer with Terry Carlton and Pete Child tied on points. Carlton got the nod with a superior aggregate weight, 33lb 2oz to 30lb 2oz.

Derek Barker took third overall.

Sunday's match went to John Haw with a 14lb 8oz net of roach and skimmers ahead of Alan Atkinson on 8lb, Terry Carlton with 7lb 6oz and Pete Child with 4lb 11oz.

Rising flood waters and rafts of leaves made life difficult for the 50-entry on the Nidd at Knaresborough but at least it was a river match that escaped cancellation.

The river was carrying two feet of chocolate at the off and was a yard above its normal level by the close.

Only odd fish were tempted with the shelter provided by the willows at Chapmans below the most productive area.

Ken Wright (Gee Tee Angling Silsden) was here on 112 and legered lobworm in a near bank slack for a single barbel of 5lb. Runner-up Stuart Holt (Guisley Angling) was in the same area and had a single chub of 4lb 6oz to identical tactics.

Others: Ian Lumb (Darlington) and Steve Brennan (Leeds) both 3-6-0; Dave Owen (Knaresborough) 2-1-0; Richard Sowerby (Knaresborough) 1-9-0.

Despite the gales that lashed the North Yorkshire Oaks complex at Sessay, many of the 58-entry enjoyed good sport with any of the frame a bonus fish away from the top.

Mark Silman (Maver Barnsley) led a star-studded leaderboard from peg three. Combating the conditions by only going out to six metres, he offered maggot over loose feed of the same. His all-carp 49lb 4oz net included fish to 3lb.

John Kenning (Snaith) was on the consistent peg 65, where he was able to fish down the inside at 13 metres. Again maggot was the killing bait with fish to 5lb filling his 46lb 13oz catch.

Others: Ian Bowman (Maver Barnsley) 46-11-0; Andy May (Sensas Daves of Middlewich) 45-6-0; Dave Pimlott (Elton Tackle) 46-6-0; Roger Holmes (MAP Elton) 41-4-0.

Saturday saw another big entry at Woodlands with 83 turning out to tackle Partridge, Skylark, Kestrel, Curlew and Wagtail.

Tony Neesom (Elton Tackle) led from unfancied peg nine on Curlew with 43lb 5oz. Alternating maggot feeder with pole and corn at 13 metres he took a real mixed bag with bream to 4lb, carp to 8lb plus tench, barbel and chub.

George Grundy (Thorne MG) also utilized the feeder to good effect from peg 26 on Kestrel. Fishing well out he tempted a 40lb 2oz bag of small carp.

Others: Kevin Hill (Sensas Garbolino) 37-13-0; Mark Lucas (Ted Carter Preston) 31-12-0; Mark Silman (Maver Barnsley) 30-3-0; Mark Coyne (MAP Elton) 29-12-0.

The mid-week open saw an entry of 56 tackle Partridge, Skylark, Wagtail and Curlew.

Jamie Hamer (Team Lineside) led from peg 11 on Skylark with 48lb 12oz. Alternating corn and caster on the pole at seven metres, he netted carp to 8lb.

Steve Mitchell (Tri-Cast Calder) was also on Skylark, on peg 14, where he took 38lb 2oz of carp on pole and corn at 13 metres.

Others: Tom Ferguson (Cleveland Police) 36-5-0; Steve Raper (Hirst Tackle) and John Leyton (Cleveland Angling Centre) both 33-4-0; Alan Gregory (Elton Tackle) 32-13-0.

Updated: 12:02 Wednesday, October 30, 2002