Walsall canal specialist Steve Cope finally hit No 1 spot following several high placings with an outstanding on the day 15-9-8 in the latest Bilston Angling open match.

The contest attracted a strong entry to the Shropshire Union canal at Brewood where Cope left everyone trailing.

He caught more than the next three places put together.

Drawn at peg ten, a noted area for chub, he decided to go for them under the far bank with chopped worms and casters.

It was a wise decision and he eventually contacted the shoal and hooked seven all around the 2 lb plus mark. The best brace tipped the scales at 6 lbs 8 oz.

Second placed Dennis Kneller (W B Clarke) was nearby at peg number one under the bridge where he caught 5-6-9 of roach and gudgeon with squatt and pinkies.

Neil Cole (Ashmore’s) was third with 5-1-0 over Colin Cole (Bilston Angling) 4-9-12, Martin Spruce (Bilston A C) 4-6-8 and Tony Eagles (Ian’s tackle) 3-15-6.

Willenhall towpath exp-ert Dave Lloyd broke his recent lean spell in style with a 7-1-0 victory in the first round of the Stoke City A A’s Individual League.

The new series took place on the Shropshire Union canal at Norbury Aqueduct where the Tipton VDE team stalwart picked out peg number 90 which is near the access.

Alternating casters and squatt maggots well across he attracted roach to eight ounces and perch to 2 lbs.

Wolverhampton’s Dave McCall (Shakespeare) was second with 5-15-7 from the same area where he found lots of gudgeon and roach with similar tactics.

Veteran Eclipse team expert Fred Cheetham used his favourite punched bread approach for a third placed 4-15-2 while his team mate Eric Gardner was next with 4-14-7, again all redfins.

Rugeley based ‘Digger’ Conway was fifth with 4-5-8 and Paul Ross (Shakespeare) sixth with 4-0-10.

Led by top individual scorer Jez Williams the Black Country based squad Three D’s clinched the first round of the new Bridgnorth A S winter league.

This took place along the right bank of the River Severn above the town. Running at normal level and very clear the river proved a hard nut to crack.

But Williams was soon in action at peg 46 near the Mayfield where he landed ten barbel plus one chub with a swimfeeder and pellet bait. Deeside Dynamo’s grouped Jamie Potts who travelled down from Liverpool was second with 36-12-0 .

He drew peg number six where he also caught barbel but with a waggler float and maggots.

Organiser Brian Preece (Bridgnorth A S) was third with 3-15-0 from the golf course section peg number eight and he too caught barbel.

Roy Baker (Bridgnorth Legion) was next with 33-3-0 over Dan Sheldon (Three D’s) 28-5-0.

Team points were Three D’s 20, Storey’s and Deeside Dynamo’s both 16 plus Mid Severn M G and Bridgnorth A S both 14.

The latest Stirrup Cup A C’s Sunday open match was held along the Birmingham Fazeley canal at Curdworth where the high numbered pegs produced a very close result.

Winner with 5-4-4 was Dams & Lock team member Graham Massey who was drawn at 47 where he used squatt maggots to catch lots of very small roach

Local lad Alan Newman’s second best 4-15-0 came from the same area but much further along where he managed to locate a few larger fish, especially perch, again with squatt maggots.

Ray Walbank (Stirrup Cup) was next with4-2-0 over Alan Newman (Dudley) 4-0-0. The Shropshire Union canal at Rodbaston Road, Pendeford was used for the latest Wolverhampton Over Fifty Five contest .

Pegs were staked towards the boat club and it was number one outside the building which yielded a 4-8-10 winning haul for Colin Cole.

Wearing the Bilston A C colours he hooked a brace of bream with chopped worm and casters plus small roach and perch.

His colleague Mick Coxon was second with 4-0-4 from peg 14.on the bend where he whipped out all small gudgeon with squatt maggots.

Yet another Bilston based rod, tackle shop owner John Hall was next with 3-14-7 over Alan Homer (Walsall) 3-0-8, John Bickley (West End) 2-15-7 and Cliff Harris (Penkridge) 2-14-11.