Weather fails to hamper Stuart

Stuart Aston (Swan JT) made sure of a sumptuous festive season with victory on the Boldings Pools Fur & Feather match, fished in icy conditions last Saturday.He led an 84-strong line up with the only frame weight to come from the Ash Pool, heading a string of close finishes with 41-9-0.

Stuart netted carp from 1lb to 7lbs, all caught on pellet, fished at 12 metres, which helped him to secure a bulging Christmas hamper, and the £120 winner's purse.

The Deepdale Pool provided the next three placings, with Graham Evason (OB Wolves) and Tony Hartshorne (West End) sharing second with 38-12-0 each. Graham had all his fish at eight metres on pellet and corn at peg, while Tony switched between close in and out at 10 metres with pellet, corn and caster, at peg 4.

Just behind them, on 37-6-0 at peg 14, was Richard Lawson (WB Clarke) who picked up 4th.

Jeff Harston (Wrexham) was top man on the Oak Pool with 36-12-0 and Steve Roberts (Rod 7 Gun) on 34-11-0 was best on the Hawthorn Pool.

It's been a while since Mel Kitson last won at Boldings, but the Rod & Gun star left no doubt as to who was top dog on Sunday when he scaled 67-9-0 at peg 9 on the Deepdale.

Pellet, corn and maggot, fished close in and at 10 metres, saw Mel put a margin of 15lbs between himself and runner-up Mick Jameson (Middy ML). Mick was also on the Deepdale, at peg 6, where pellet at eight metres attracted carp and skimmers for 52-2-0.

Dave Brown (Maver Tipton) took third with an Ash Pool best of 49-6-0 from peg 20, and Steve Conway (Lichfield) filed fourth by scaling a Hawthorn best of 42-3-0.

Dave Barnard (Maver Wolves) framed twice again in the mid-week opens, but was second each time this week. On Wednesday Richard Duke (Bridgnorth AS) got the better of "Barney" and was a clear winner with 52-8-0, which came to pellet at 10 metres at peg 3 on the Hawthorn.

Barney was on peg 5, and fished pellet and maggot to the island for 38-14-0. Mick Jameson framed again, taking third this time with 32-2-0 from corner peg 7.

The opposite side of the Hawthorn gave the top two catches on Thursday, when Tony Foster got between Dave Barnard and the winner's purse. Tony drew peg 13 and tempted carp to 7lbs with pellet, close in and at 10 metres, for a level 45-0-0.

Dave was on peg 9 and fished pellet and maggot to the island for carp to 5lbs and a total of 43-1-0. Third went to an Ash Pool of 41-7-0 from Ken Humphries (Morgans Oswestry).