Matches across the county were once again disrupted by the freezing winter cond-itions last weekend.

The Oxford Canal and lakes were frozen over and unless you were very lucky, you had to scratch around for a bite.

Our rivers fared a little better and thankfully, the chub obliged.

The place to head for last weekend was the Evenlode and the little river turned up trumps for Coldstone AC’s match, which was fished by 19 anglers last Saturday.

The winner with a super net of chub was John Swann, who gave the scalesman 62.12.0 of fish to weigh.

Most of his fish came on liquidised bread in a feeder with flake, but he also had some on pole and maggot.

Also on bread, Percy Hickman finished second with another net of chub weighing 34.8.0, while third place went to Ben Curtis with 11.4.0. He had all his fish on maggot.

Coldstone are staging another open on January 31, and it’s a fair bet it there will be a full house.

Incidentally, Coldstone AC have a new match secretary, Steve Arthurs, who can be contacted on 01608 641763.

All nine matchmen who turned out for the Oxford Waltonian open on a very cold Thame at Wheatley Bridge were rewarded with something to weigh in.

Paul Bowers fished the pole and alternated between worm and caster for a clear win with seven chub weighing 22.13.0, the best going 4.15.0.

Fishing a disc float with bread, Mick Baston had two chub for a second-placed 9.15.0, and third with 6.15.0 was Barry Edwards, who landed two chub on flake with a cage feeder and liquidised bread.

Dorchester were on the Thames at Meadside for their Hayward Cup where the eight anglers found a very cold, clear river, but again the chub showed.

It was bread all the way in this match and winner Tony Krason used it liquidised in a feeder, with flake on the hook. He had four chub out for an impressive 13.3.0.

Second with a brace of chub weighing 4.13.0 was John Barratt, while Lol Budd and Ted Budziszewski tied for third with one chub each weighing 2.14.0.

The Town waters was the venue for the Jolly Anglers’ club match fished by nine. There was a fair drop of water coming through and you needed around 21/2 ozs of lead to hold bottom.

Martin MacDonald came out on top with two chub weighing 9.4.0, the best going 5.1.0. He had one on cheese and the other on the maggot feeder, with maggot on the hook.

Also using a maggot feeder, Phil Ansell netted three chub for 8.2.0 and second place, while third with a 3.6.12 chub on flake was Steve Gray.

Kidlington were away to Tackley for their Henderson Cup and although 24 fished, only three fish were caught.

Fishing a simple straight bomb with worm, Jason Bean had a 3.14.0 chub to come out tops.

A chub of 3.1.8 on his first cast out with a piece of bread earned Ron Hillier second place, while Alan Middleton was third with a chub of 2.13.0 on feeder with worm.

Points after 15 matches: J Bean 96, H Clarke 91, A Middleton 75, D Britnell 72.

The Thames at Sandford was the venue for Little-more’s K Mills Cup, and in the freezing conditions, only three hardy members turned out.

All three went on the bread, using it liquidised in feeders, and all three caught one chub each.

When the final whistle was blown, the result was Gerald Perks 4.13.0, Ken Franklin 4.5.0 and Alan Campbell 3.8.0.

The Oxford Carp Winter League 08/09 was fished by 17 on a frozen Lower Court, the ice so thick that a rowing boat and shovels had to be used to break it up.

Andy Benwell (Predator) emerged the winner with two fish on maggot. He was in a corner of the lake and his first fish was so cold it was hardly recognisable – he thinks it was a roach!

With five minutes to go, he also had a carp, ending up with 4.5.0.

Also fishing maggot was Ivan Graham (J&K Tackle), pegged by the chimney. He landed one carp weighing a second-placed 3.2.0.

There was only four anglers contesting Oxford Bus AC’s match on the ‘school waters’ and Terry Yates told me his wife thinks they were all mad to be fishing in the icy conditions.

Tony Prescott triumphed with two small chub weighing 1.9.4 on a small feeder rod. He fished close to the bank with maggot and worm.

Pete Clarke had to settle for second with some small roach going 1.9.0 on the pole midstream with bread paste.

No-one else caught and Terry told me that it was so cold, even the worms were going stiff.

Maybe his wife was right!