MICK Denton prevailed against his rivals and a crowded River Thames to win Oxford & District Angling Association’s first open match of the season at Medley.

With swimmers and boaters around and a clear river, it was unsure whether the fish would feed. But there were some impressive weights in every section.

Denton (Drennan Oxford), drawn in the middle of the Poplars, won with 60lb 2oz 0drms after catching 15 bream and two big perch.

All the fish fell to pole fished worm over chop worm and caster at 14m.

John Aldridge (Isis) was second with 39.0.0, which included 12 bream, while Martin Phipps pipped Oxford Drennan clubmate Gary Barclay for third with 29.0.0.

Dave Hawkins, from Didcot, narrowly won the fifth round of the Ace Tackle and Bait Oxford Carp League at Tunnel Barn Fishery’s Top Pool.

Hawkins beat off 21 rivals in sweltering conditions with a haul weighing 65-8-0, which included a double-figure carp.

Reigning champion Craig Partridge (Kidlington) was just behind with 63.6.0, while third place went to Les Hill (Bicester) on 47.8.0.

Partridge still leads the standings by four points.

League positions: 1 C Partridge 14pts, 2 A Benwell 18, 3 M Stickley 20, 4 S Johnson 24, 5 P Dann 25.

Brian Hutchings kicked off the new river season by winning Littlemore AS’s Chairman’s Cup on the River Thames at Sandford.

Fishing the pole and waggler with maggot and hemp, he put together a good net of roach and bleak for 8.6.0. Chris Webb was second with 6.3.0, while Paul Hitchman came third on 5.5.0.

Dave Pether beat ten rivals to win Masons AC’s match at Lake View, Worminghall. He caught small carp for 31.11.0.

Paul Armstrong was second with 30.0.0 ahead of Brian Goodman on 25.14.0.

Steve Walters (Drennan) landed a venue record haul of 318.0.0 to win Sunday’s competition on Oakfield Fishery’s Red Kite Lake. His catch consisted of mainly carp, weighing more than ten pounds.

RESULTS

Oakfield Fishery (Wednesday, Red Kite, 17 fished): 1 M Talbot (Kamasan GOT Baits) 138.5.0, 2 M Giles (RS Baits) 123.5.0, 3 B Llewellin (Dynamite Oakfield) 104.10.0.

Oakfield Fishery (Saturday, Brook & Red Kite, 19 fished): 1 A Quarmby 89.14.0, 2 M Talbot (Kamasan GOT Baits) 80.6.0, 3 R Wall (Dynamite Oakfield) 76.5.0.

Oakfield Fishery (Sunday, Red Kite, 13 fished): 1 S Walters (Drennan) 318.10.0, 2 G Thorpe (GOT Baits) 265.1.0, 3 M Talbot (Kamasan GOT Baits) 240.0.0.

TOMORROW’S FIXTURES

Littlemore AS: J Henwood Shield (Points 2), Sandford, draw 6, fishing 7.15-12.15.

North Oxford AS: Match v Brown Bros, Kings Bridge, draw 8, fishing 9-2.

Masons AC: Match v Marston, Club Lake, draw 8, fishing 9-3.