THE Ruston Paxman Trophy was fished on the Upper pound of the Sankey Canal with 24 anglers taking part and produced the tightest of finishes with only one-and-a-half ounces separating first, second and third places.

Kev Clarke took victory with a catch of bream and roach on long pole, for 8lbs 7ozs 8drms.

Second was veteran Liverpool match ace, Eddie Slater, with an all roach catch of 8-7-0 and third was Newton match man Ivor Bolton, with a 7-2-4 catch of roach and bream.

Mike Rogers won his section 25 to 49, with 6-11-8, and Dave Lloyd won the other section 53 to 79, with 5-3-8.

Twenty anglers fished the seventh round of the Summer League, which was won by Stan Roberts of Ashton-in-Makerfield. Fishing off peg 24,

Stan weighed in with roach and perch on 8-metre pole for 7-15-0. Second was David Jolley from Leigh, with eel, roach and perch, fishing on peg 66 with 6-15-0.

Third was Liverpool ace, Eddie Slater, fishing on short pole from peg 52 for 6-11-0 of roach and perch, while Mick Roberts of Haydock had 6-10-0 of roach and perch on peg 60, with 6-10-0.

In the junior section young Martin Sayer won the Labour Club Junior Cup for under-12s on the upper pound last Saturday. Fishing on peg 39, he weighed in with 2-10-0.

Second was Jonathon McClymont, following in the footsteps of dad, national team player Mark McClymont, with 1-4-0 off peg 30. And third was Ryan Arnold fishing on peg 33, with 0-11-6.

In the Northern Fisheries Trophy for juniors over 12, first place went to Neil Douglas on peg 37 with 1-7-6.

He was closely followed by Nathan Smith with 1-2-2 from peg 35, with young Andrew Hay, in third position with 1-0-2 from peg 38.

Junior members are reminded that coaching sessions are held on Saturdays at 3pm at the swing bridge - don't forget to take your permits please.

In the ladies section Shirley Dilsworth showed a clean pair of heals to the opposition in the Houghton Arms Trophy. Fishing off peg 28 she caught roach and skimmers for 1-15-5.

Second place went to former association ladies champion Lynn Speakman, fishing on peg 24, for a similar catch for 1-1-2 and third was Irene Deakin on peg 25, with 0-10-10.

Dates: The disabled and over-60s matches start again on Thursday, August 21.

Fishery News: The members only section of the Sankey Canal at Penkforth Bridge is fishing well for tench, perch, crucian carp, roach, carp and even the odd koi.

Maggot and caster are both scoring well up in the water, but most other baits, such as corn, meat, bread flake and worms, are catching the bigger fish.

For the last five Sunday mornings there have been working parties on this section, with the usual band of volunteers. It would be great to see some help from other members who use this fishery, or it will have to stay closed on the work party mornings without exception.

Both the Vulcan and the Yew Tree reservoirs are fishing to their full potential, with silver fish showing well, with skimmers to 1lb-plus. At both these waters there are tench and carp well into double figures with meat, corn, bread, worm, maggots and casters all scoring well.

The day ticket sections of the upper and lower pounds are fishing well. Bream, tench, roach, perch, and carp again well into double figures are all showing.

The lower pound can produce some great sport with roach, rudd, bream and tench, and is really worth a try. On both sections bread, corn, worm, maggot and casters will produce fish and there are some very big eels to be had here also.

The Sankey Brook is at a lower level due to the dry weather. Rumour has it that yet another fish mortality has occurred in the upper reaches at St Helens and this has had an affect on sport.

However I'm led to believe that chub, roach, dace, bream, gudgeon and perch are still showing through our section at Clayton House Farm. Bronze maggot seems to be the bait at the moment.

l ANYONE wanting to either join or pay subs can do so at the Houghton Arms Pub, Earlestown on Monday nights at 8pm. New senior members should take two small photos for their ID pass.