GLOUCESTER canal guru Terry Girdlestone produced a stunning performance when he not only paralysed the 60 peg opposition during last weekend's Eckington AC Les Sumner Memorial contest but, along with Starlets ace Steve Ashmore, secured top place in the pairs league with an unbeatable two point total.

Drawn on the end peg of the upstream section, permanent 50, Girldlestone netted his first bream during the opening minutes of the match.

This was followed spasmodically throughout the day by a further 10 fish, giving him a fine winter total of 42-2-0, all fish falling to open end feeder tactics presented two thirds across the Avon with red maggot hookbait.

Way behind in second place was Tony Cox (Tewkesbury) who, after watching Girldestone netting fish regularly from the adjacent peg, finally contacted the shoal during the latter half of the match to weigh in 18-11-0.

Top catch from the downstream lock section was third-placed Steve Ashmore (Starlets) who took an all-roach net from his peg above Covert corner going 10-4-0, all of Ashmore's catch coming to pole and ledger tactics.

Fourth was Mike Mould (West Midlands) weighing 9-12-0 of roach taken on a 'lollipop' float and fifth was Richard Shakespeare (Tewkesbury) 7-13-0.

The pairs league was dominated by Girdlestone and Ashmore with two points, second were Worcester Phoenix anglers Gary Summers and Stuart Thompson with 14 points and third the Tewkesbury pair of Pete Cole and Richard Shakespeare 15.

The next round is this Sunday when the same sections will be used.

* Matt Roberts' title of Mr. Consistency once again proved well founded when he beat talented opposition to win the first Swan AC aggregate contest of the new year.

Roberts, winner of last year's title, got off to a flyer by taking a weight of 2-2-9 from his peg at Astwood Flights.

Two 10 ounce roach caught on caster from the deeper water saw Roberts open his account early in the match, and a change to pinkie presented across the canal saw a few perch and gudgeon added to secure the top place.

Runner-up was young Craig Bennett who adopted a small fish approach taking 65 gudgeon and ruffe together weighing 1-12-3, while third place went to Phil Holland with a roach, perch and gudgeon catch going 1-11-13.

Section winners were A: Alan Henson 1-8-3 and B section Colin Davis 1-7-7.

Catches improved for the third round of the Portobello AC winter league, held on a recently melted club pool at Rushwick.

There was a tie for first place between Lol Jameson and Graham Collins, both anglers netting carp along with small tench caught on the pole and maggot and weighing a level 10 pounds.

In third position was Mark Tomlinson with two carp taken on the pole which along with a few small fish weighed 7-8-0 and fourth, club secretary Max Hill's catch of one solitary carp and a few bits going 6-8-0.

* Thin ice still obstructed some pegs on the Saturday open at Moorlands Farm where most competitors adopted small fish tactics.

Coming out on top was Bristol star Lee Nutland who took 18-12-0 of roach from peg 20 on the bank pool, a catch which also secured him the "Golden Link" prize of £2,000!

Second went to Preston Innovations matchman John Taylor with a similar catch going 13-11-0 and third with 11-5-0 was Andy Newton (Lifestyle).

Sunday's open on the Meadow, Moors and Bank saw more familiar carp catches taken with Mark Pinsner being announced the winner for his 57-8-0 of waggler caught carp taken from peg 51 on the Meadow.

Runner up spot went to Starlets Nigel Bull with 37-0-0, third came John Taylor with 31-4-0 while Worcester carp catcher Terry King took the best weight from the Moors pool of 24-8-0 to secure fourth position.

This Sunday sees Moorlands stage the second of its popular Ultimate Double series where both winners of the carp and silver fish matches take home a guaranteed £400 prize.

Prospects: This weekend's final round of the winter league on the canal should produce reasonable weights now that the ice has cleared.

Once again caster will be the top bait, while chub along with quality roach will be the target.

Meanwhile, the River Severn is remarkably still in good shape with some excellent chub catches being taken from Diglis.

* WDUAA Severn water booked for tomorrow: Paynes Meadow.