After two weeks of inactivity due to the bad weather and Christmas holidays, anglers were able to get back on the rivers last Sunday, although extra care was needed with waters swollen by the snow.

There was a good turn-out of 12 anglers for the Masons match on the Thames at Donnington where Steve Wildman was the runaway winner with five bream on groundbait feeder and bread for 14.7.0.

Runner-up with three bream for 6.8.0 was Jason Smith, who used the same method, while Bob Yeomans netted a perch and a roach on maggot-feeder for a third-placed 1.15.0.

Cuddesdon Mill VAA fished their Cuddesdon Cup on a bank-high Thame at Warren Barn where Dave Bloomer topped the seven-strong field with three chub on legered bread for 6.11.0.

Also using bread, Mick Harding netted two chub worth a second-placed 6.7.0, and third with a 0.8.0 chublet on bread was Phillip Almond.

North Oxford were on the Oxford Canal at Frenchay Road for their Christmas Match, which went to Ron Hamblin.

Feeding liquidised bread and using punch on the hook, he caught skimmers for 4.12.0.

Alan Bateman caught skimmers and perch on bloodworm over joker for 4.5.0 and second, followed by Maurice Winstone, who fished chopped worm and caught two decent perch, plus bits, for 3.5.0.

Kidlington’s rearranged Christmas Match was fished by 12 anglers on the Cherwell at Thrupp which was up slightly and had a little colour.

Using a pole and bread, Mike Watson hooked a bream of 3.0.0, which was enough for first place.

Giles Cuss was runner-up with a 2.5.0 chub on legered worm, and third with 0.5.8 was Tony Hore, who trotted a stick float with maggot to catch small roach and gudgeon.

Sutton Courtenay were on the Otneys stretch of the Thames for the first leg of their Markertow Shield, the ten matchman finding it hard.

Stuart Harrop weighed in a couple of skimmers and roach on the pole with a feeder and alternating between worm and maggot, for a winning 2.11.0.

Bob Gosbee was second with 1.10.0 of a roach and skimmers on groundbait feeder with red maggot, while John Percival also fished the feeder with red maggot to tempt a skimmer and a roach for 1.0.0.

The Thames at Wallingford was up around a foot for the Jolly Anglers’ match fished by 11 members.

Phil Ansell was top man with 14 little fish on feeder with maggot for 0.15.8.

Tony Clemson had two roach on feeder and maggot for 0.14.0, followed by Warren Cave with 0.8.0.