Angling: the festive period was quiet on the Yorkshire match circuit with flooded rivers and frozen lakes keeping activity to a minimum.

The 65-entry Gas AC Christmas match on the Mirfield Canal went to Bradford stalwart John Illingworth (Middy Team Dons) with 9-12-0. He used waggler and caster to net nine small chub plus roach.

Stef Armitage (Bradford) took second at the next peg where he used a 13-metre pole and caster for his all-roach net of 7-4-0.

Others: Geoff Cox (Hirst Tackle) 7-0-0; Nigel Storr (Trabucco Halifax) 6-10-0; Pete Barron (Middy Team Dons) 6-6-8; Martyn Highe (Normark) 6-4-8.

The 48-entry York Millennium Match on the River Ouse saw a few pegs on the Fulford bank take all the prizes. Though the river was clearing it carried a couple of feet of extra water and as usual under such conditions it was occasional bream that made the running.

Keith Mitchell (Selby) used pole and maggot on the stump at Fulford, taking a bream and a few roach for his 5-9-0. A few pegs away another Selby man, Graham Austin, used the same tactics for a bream-plus-roach haul of 4-8-0 from the bottom of the Pumper section.

Others: Neil Webster (York Tackle) 4-3-0; Graham Flesher (Dick Clegg Bradford) 3-12-0; Tim Harrison (Anglers World) and Tony Marshall (York) both 2-8-0.

The Wharfe at Smaws Ings provided some seasonal cheer, drawing good entries for both holiday matches.

The first contest went to Mick Wood (Tadcaster) who topped the 56-entry with 14-7-0. Drawn on peg 69, he used stick with maggot and caster for his fine net of roach and dace. Mick Webb (Tadcaster) opted for the same approach at peg 13 which proved lucky for him as he went on to net 10-13-0 of dace. Lee Furness (Tackle Box) took 9-8-8 of roach and dace from peg 82 for third.

Others: Clive Stokes (Armley Angling) 8-11-8; Kevin Gilligan (York Tackle) 8-5-0; Tom Gausden (Anglers World) 7-12-0.

The second contest on Sunday drew an entry of 57 and fished even better with 7lb needed to top every section. Geoff Wilmore (Armley Angling) proved he is more than just a big-fish man taking a fine mixed net of roach, dace and a bonus 5lb chub. Pegged one below the gauging station, he used stick, float and maggot for his 14-0-0 catch.

Dave Wrigglesworth (Burley Cons) took second from peg 3 at Newton Kyme where he also used stick and maggot, netting roach and dace for 9-6-0.

Others: Steve Wilson (Harrogate) 9-3-0; John Allerton (Tricast) 8-14-0; Chris Stockdale (Bobs Tackle) 8-5-0; Mick Wheelhouse (Leeds) 8-3-0.

The 108-entry RSPS Open on the Middle Swale went to Nick Smith (Aireborough). Drawn on the Bradford number one water at Maunby, he fished stick float and bread to the far bank cover for six chub, scaling 16-2-0. Martin Chapman (Darlington) was below the cattle grid at Maunby where he fished a bread feeder for five chub and 15-6-0. Cyril Close (Shilden) used his favourite wasp grub below the Iron Bridge taking five chub for 14-2-0.

Others: Graham Smith (Northallerton) 13-4-0; Caroline Stead (Boroughbridge) 12-4-0; Dave Nicholson (Darlington ) 12-1-0.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.