HEWORTH angler Daniel Meek has landed a new river-record barbel from the River Swale.

The huge fish of 13lb 8oz was banked on Tuesday from a club-controlled stretch of the lower river and beats the previous record of 13lb 4oz set last year.

In only his third session on the stretch, the 26-year-old slaughterman landed his haul on the second cast of the day.

After a brief, but spirited battle, the huge fish, one of the biggest ever landed in Yorkshire, shed the hook seconds after being netted. Meek had to get a neighbouring angler to look after his prize catch while he sprinted the mile back to his car for a camera.

The pristine barbel fell to a home-made paste, based on John Baker's Frost and Flood mix fished in conjunction with a PVA bag filled with Elips pellets.

The John Smith's Hospital Cup is the feature match of the coming weekend when a good entry is expected to contest Sunday's showpiece on the Ouse at Fulford, Palace Ings and Donkey Woods.

The latter section produced most of the top weights in the Noakes Cup two weeks ago but with some cold, clear conditions in the last few days I expect the deeper pegs on the Palace Ings to come up trumps this time around.

Weekend Bookings

Saturday: Acaster - Local AC

Sunday: Fulford/Palace Ings and Donkey Woods - John Smith's Hospitals Cup, Howsham Hall - York AA, Howsham Paradise Farm- Huntington, Stamford Bridge - New Earswick, Red House Lagoon - Burton Stone Lane.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, October 07, 2005