THE opening round of the Yorkshire Winter League saw 70 anglers struggle to control pole tackle on a windswept Aire and Calder Navigation around Pollington.

Roger Ellis (Marsh Tackle) made the most of his end peg draw below the lock at Pollington. Fishing pole and maggot over hemp at 9 metres, he took a steady stream of roach and perch in the 4 to 6 oz class for his winning 6lb 12oz.

Tony Earnshaw (Hirst Tackle B) was pegged opposite the boats where the following wind afforded some shelter. Alternating squatt and pinkie over groundbait at 10m he netted roach, perch and gudgeon for his 6lb 10oz.

Tony Stevenson (Anglers World) took the top weight in the 40 pegs below the bridge with his 6lb 6oz of pole and maggot caught roach. Bill Collier (Armley Angling) had a level 5lb of roach from the peg next to the winner for fourth. Other leading weights: Paul Clarke (Hirst Tackle A) 4-14-0 and Mick Harrison (Wibsey) 4-11-0.

Hirst Tackle A got off to a winning start with 56 points thanks to fielding a number of venue specialists from the now defunct Normark squad. With the second round next weekend on their home venue, the Calder, an early lead looks certain. Anglers World were in second and they will be hoping to keep in contention until the final three matches on the Ouse below York when they will be looking to score well. Their 52 point haul was enough to see off Armley Angling on 47, Wibsey 46, Hirst Tackle B 31, Marsh Tackle 26, and Castleford 24

The Wharfe at Smaws Ings had dropped four feet overnight to allow the 56 peg Tadcaster open to go ahead but the heavily coloured conditions made it a big fish or bust contest.

Tom Poole (Glen) led from peg four at Newton Kyme with 13lb 15oz. Legered lob accounted for a brace of 5lb slabs with the wasp grub adding a 3lb chub to his net. The worm also proved effective for Mick Wood (Tadcaster) who took an 8lb bream and a 4lb chub from peg 76 above the weir for his 12lb 3oz. A fine brace of chub gave Bob Smith (Pontefract) his 10lb 4oz.

Others: Bill Nevison (Glen) 10-2-0, Jim Cowgill (Boroughbridge) 6-4-8, Ian Walker (Lower Wharfe Angling) 5-2-8.

Lower weights made for a tight frame on Maple Lake at the Oaks where the 60 entry had to battle with gale force winds and driving rain. Peg 62a returned to winning ways where lucky resident was Jack Ferguson (Stainforth Preston Innovations) fishing pole and corn to the aerator he bagged carp to 4lb in his winning haul of 31lb 11oz.

Close by was Rab Ogilvy (The Oaks) who crept further up the Kamasan leader board with another three point from corner peg 63. Fishing pole and pellet to the island and down the track he had small carp to a pound for his 25lb 1oz.

Others: Wayne Nolan (Leeds Juniors) 23-0-0, Keith Pentland (The Oaks) 21-10-0, Robin Pickle (KL Tackle) 21-3-0, Mark Lucas (Ted Carter Preston) 20-0-0.

Lyndon Roberts (MAP Elton) led the way in Saturday's 58 pegger on Skylark and Partridge lakes at the Woodlands complex. Alternating cat meat and corn into the corner on Skylark 22 he had a number of small carp to 2lb for his 42lb 5oz.

Dave Cooper (Darlington Angling Centre) fished long pole and corn from Partridge three for a mixed bag of carp, tench and barbel scaling 39lb 13oz.

Others: Peter Nixon (Newman Scotts) 39-1-0, Paul McBrinn (Normark) 30-6-0, Nigel Johnson (MAP Elton) 28-11-0, Dave Pimlott (Keenets Elton) 25-10-0.

Updated: 12:19 Wednesday, October 10, 2001