A couple of news items to start with this week: Derek Hopkins is running another of the popular NIAC open at Skilts pool on Sunday.

Call him on 450450 to book in but hurry because I hear the pool has been fishing very well lately and all the spare places will soon be snapped up.

The AGM of the Redditch Business Houses Angling Society takes place tomorrow at the Studley Sports and Social club (ENTACO) starting at 8-30pm, when all the business for this year's match will be discussed. It is important all teams intending to fish send delegates to the meeting.

Now on to this week's match reports, starting with this year's Broadacres festival, well sponsored by northern bait and accessory firms Whizzo and Octoplus and ably run as ever by well known local matchman Malcolm Hayes.

Despite the petrol supply problems, Mal had a full entry of 37 anglers for Friday's disabled match in which travelling anglers certainly made their mark. Top performer in a very tight match was Stoke DAS team man Gary Brooks with a 13lb 5oz catch of carp taken on the pole from peg 33.

Clubmate Bryan Gray was close behind with a similar bag of 13lb 3oz from peg 32 ahead of Telford angler Frank Bridgewater with a level 13lb. Karen Booth (Stoke DAS) was fourth with 10lb 4oz and the best of the local contingent, Andy Jackson (Redditch) was a creditable fifth with 9lb 11oz.

Next day's ladies' event saw some much better weights. With 26 anglers lining the pool, Karen Booth followed up her previous day's placing with an excellent 41lb 5oz bag of carp taken up in the water with meat on the hook from peg 41.Birmingham-based Doreen Williams (Greylings AS) was runner-up with 17lb 9oz, with Rosemary Brotherton, wife of popular Alcester AA official Harry, fishing in her first open match third with 17lb 3oz. Janet Hill (Birmimgham) was fourth with 15lb 3oz.

All in all, these events were clearly a great success and my thanks also go to Redditch tackle dealer Stan Wood for his help with the prizes for both matches. Oh, and by the way, is it true Harry Brotherton is cooking the dinner next Sunday While Rosemary does a bit of fishing?

On Saturday, I was lucky enough to get on Phil Rutter's little open at Trev's pools near Claines and although weights were not spectacular, the 26 lads fishing made some good catches.

In pole position, Mick Pinfold (St Davids) had 36lb 13oz of carp taken mainly on the meat with a few on the corn. Runner-up Mick Tuohy (Studley Road) had 34lb 9oz ahead of myself (on the flier again!) with 30lb 11oz. Section winners were Colin Govier (Studley Road) 27lb 1oz, Glen Ralph (Matchbox) 30lb 8oz and organiser Phil Rutter (Label Innovations) 26lb 7oz. I hope Phil runs another one of these matches soon as I can't wait to have another bash at this super fishery.

The Arrow at Oversley produced its best weights for some weeks in the Dark Lane AC's "Bass Shield" match on Saturday.

On a heavily coloured river, dace and roach as well as the usual chub showed well and Barry Feldhahn took a 12lb 7oz mixed bag to the scales for a clear win. Barry took his fish on stick float tactics from a downstream peg and his best fish was a chub of over a pound. Robin Cope was second with another mixed bag of 6lb 1oz just 1oz more than Simon Howl. John Arkel was fourth with 5lb 12oz and 15-year-old Daniel Page was fifth with one barbel of 5lb 8oz.

The Avon at Hillborough was also on the rise for the Enfield AC club match. Richard Steel finished in front with two barbel plus roach for a 5lb 8oz catch taken from peg 19. In second place experienced Don Palmer had a brace of good perch, one of over 2lb and bits for 4lb 9oz.off peg 23 with Lenny Phillpott third on 25 with a couple of chub and eels for a level 4lb return.

The river had dropped a little for Sunday's Bidford AC club match, although still pushing hard as a result the swimfeeder was the best method for most. John Knight using it to good effect to take chub and perch for a 6-15-8 top catch. On the bridge peg, Don Palmer was in the frame again taking a fair skimmer plus chub and perch for 6-2-8 and second place, with Des Nosworthy third with 5-6-0. There was a tie for fourth with Ray Nosworthy and Rob Knight both weighing in with 4-10-0 catches.

I hear that entries are now required for this year's Bernie Nosworthy memorial match, which is run by the Bidford club on several stretches of the Avon around the town. The match takes place on Sunday, October 8, and is for teams of four anglers. Call Ray Nosworthy on 01789 778609 for more details.

I recall this match was a great success last year when some big weights were taken as well as raising some much needed cash for the Macmillan cancer appeal fund. After the match, I'm told there will be a pig roast so there will no doubt be some fun and general merriment to be enjoyed in addition to some good fishing.

Like the Arrow, the Alne also fished a little better this week. At Great Alne, Phil O'Donnell took the Needles bank clearers match with a pole and caster tempted bag of chub, weighing in at 9lb 11oz from peg 30. Derek Hopkins fished the meat on peg 20 to take runner-up spot with 6-1-8 of skimmers to head Mick Cleverly with 4-8-0 of chublets and Cliff Stanley fourth with 3-4-0.

Over on the Stratford canal at Warstock, 20 anglers fished this week's RMG open. Studley-based local matchman Paul Gilbert (Maver) finished in front with a good towpath score of 4-5-0.Paul took perch and roach on long pole tactics for his win. Pete Lewis (Studley Road) was second with 3-5-0 ahead of John Prior (BAA) with 2-15-9. Rob Butcher (Lifford) was fourth, just one dram behind and Jerry Lundy (John's FT) fifth with 2-15-0.

Tight Lines!