ANGLING: CHIPPENHAM bowed out of the Supercup competition against Chard and South Cerney in a match which became something of a farce.

The match was fished on Chard Reservoir and was notable for the absence of fish. Chard won with 30 points followed by Chippenham with 31 and South Cerney with 36.

Melksham matchman Robin Guy, fishing for Chippenham, was runner-up with a catch of small roach weighing 9oz and Mark Wooldridge, of Chippenham, was third with a roach catch of a meagre 3oz. Crack specimen hunter Dr Mark Everard has ended his season in great style.

Taking a day out on his favourite stretch of the Avon at Chippenham on the last day of the coarse fishing season in sub zero temperatures and snow flurries, he again hit the jackpot with a magnificent catch of specimen roach. Alternating with quivertipped and float fished maggots and bread flake, Everard captured five roach over the magical 2lb mark, topped by a magnificent 2lb 6oz fish.

He took his fish from a variety of swims along a one mile stretch. He also took some fine dace up to 11oz. The Wednesday pen match at Ivy House Fishery produced a close result. Veals matchman Dave Downton won with a mixed catch of small carp and silver fish weighing 13lb 12oz, taken on pole-fished red maggots. Elick Payne, of Chippenham, was second with a mixed catch weighing 11lb 12oz, taken on pole-fished sweetcorn.

Gary Etheridge, of Devizes, was third with a mixed catch weighing 10lb, taken on pole-fished red maggots. Etheridge rounded off the week with a fine win in the Ivy House open match on Friday. He won with a mixed bag of small carp and silver fish weighing 20lb 12oz, taken on pole-fished red maggots.

John Gooch, of Ivy House, was fourth with a mixed bag weighing 7lb 3oz. There was mixed sport in the Waterside match at Cuckoos Rest on Sunday. In a close finish Barry Perry, of Trowbridge, won with a mixed catch of carp and roach weighing 14lb 3oz, taken on feeder-fished catmeat. Right on his heels came Steve Sheppard, of Frome, with a mixed catch of carp and bream weighing 14lb 2oz, taken on feeder-fished worm.

Competitors in the Airsprung match enjoyed good sport at Rood Ashton on Sunday. Dean Adams, of Bradford, won with an all-carp catch weighing 65lb 9oz, taken alternating with method-feeder fished bread flake and red maggots. Rob Hunt, from Melksham, was second with a carp catch weighing 64lb 9oz, taken on method-feeder fished red maggots.

Wayne Henley, of Bradford, was third with a carp catch weighing 37lb 6oz, taken on method-feeder fished red maggots.

Other placings: 4 Bill Turner, Trowbridge, 33lb 10oz; 5 Steve Green, Trowbridge, 32lb 6oz; 6 Richard Stainer, Trowbridge, 26lb 8oz.

Competitors in the Wilts Angling open match enjoyed good sport on Sunday at Hordle Lakes. Paul Cooper, of Melksham, won with an all-carp catch weighing 88lb 7oz, taken on pole-fished pellets. Dave Bancroft, of Trowbridge, was second with a carp catch weighing 62lb 2oz, taken on pole-fished catmeat.

Mick Martin, of Trowbridge, was third with a carp catch weighing 59lb 8oz, taken on waggler-fished pellets.

Other placings: 4 Vic Abbott, Melksham, 48lb; 6 Ted Smith, Trowbridge, 38lb 10oz. Future events: April 2, Airsprung match, K & A Canal at Moulton Drive.