LAST weekend's Evesham Angling Festival attracted bumper crowds and it promises to be even better in 2006 with more suppliers, manufacturers and corporates becoming involved.

Event sponsors Wychavon District Council, Shakespeare Angling UK and Midland Angler and Match Fishing were delighted with the success of the event and have all pledged to continue their sponsorship beyond the initial three-year agreement that ends next year.

This year's winners were Charlie Hague who was crowned Shakespeare champion, Rob Middleton who won Sunday's Wychavon title with Saints claiming Monday's team prize with Sam Wildsmith topping the individual standings.

Seventy competitors were in action on Saturday and the eventual winner proved a popular one among the fishing fraternity.

Veteran Hague, from Earlswood, took 11.4.0 to the scales from peg four on the Town Waters, a catch containing one barbel and two small gudgeon taken on feeder/pole.

In second place was 2003 Fishomania champion Matt Hall (Nottingham) who fished from peg 17 on Evesham Town and weighed in a mixed bag with one or two larger fish.

Alcester's George Avery was third with 7-13-0 fishing just off the boards on peg two on the Town.

Under the conditions and the enormous crowds that thronged the river bank it fished reasonably well with many four to six-pound weights.

Sunday's Wychavon event was another success story with bookies favourite Rob Middleton taking top spot with 7lbs 4 ozs.

He was followed by the man pegged next to him, Ray Malle, who weighed in 7-3-8.

Monday's Midland Angler Team Championship was also exciting and, with bloodworm and joker allowed for just this one day, it proved that angling can be an exciting spectator sport.

Sam Wildsmith, fishing with Brow-ning Hotrods, took to the scales 20lbs of roach for a truly beautiful bag of fish caught on the pole/bloodworm from Town peg 44 to claim the £750 prize.

After three sections points in the team standings indicated that Saints and Essex Van den Eynde were neck and neck. However, the final result saw the former take the lead to win the £3000 prize money.

Results - Shakespeare Championship: 1 Charlie Hague 11.4.0 (peg 10); 2 Matt Hall 8.9.8 (17); 3 George Avery 7.13.0 (9); 4 Steve Ringer 7.8.0 (25); 5 Adrian Narbeth 6.13.0 (29). Section A: Dave Kimber 5.13.0 (7). Section B: Keith Hobson 6.12.0 (14). Section C: Steve Toone 6.6.0 (22). Section D: Lee Klimcsuk 4.2.0 (31). Section E: Paul Boothby 4.12.0 (44). Section F: Tony Peel 5.4.0 (55). Section G: Giles Cochrane 6.7.8 (68).

Wychavon Championship: 1 Rob Midd-leton 7.4.0 (peg 20); 2 Ray Malle 7.3.8 (19); 3 Steve Ashmore 6.0.8 (67); 4 Chris Vanderbilt 5.4.0 (30). Section A: Mark Malin 4.15.8 (1). Section B: Clive Roberts 2.14.8 (17). Section C: Tony Skinner 5.0.8 (25). Section D: Wayne Swinscoe 4.2.8 (31). Section E: Trevor Chalk 3.14.8 (46A). Section F: Denis White 2.7.8 (52). Section G: Dean Barlow 4.6.8 (65).

Midland Angler Team Championship: 1 Saints 61pts; 2 Essex Van den Eynde 54; 3 Daiwa Trentmen 50. Individual: 1 Sam Wildsmith (Browning Hotrods) 20.0.0 (peg C4); 2 Kevin Hibbert (Daiwa Trentmen) 9.9.0 (A2); 3 Kian Wardle (Starlets) 9.6.0 (A7). Section A: Paul Bick (Shakespeare) 9.0.8 (A13). Section B: Matt Hall (Mosella Garbolino) 8.0.0 (B1). Section C: Paul Hughes (Saints) 7.10.0 (C12). Section D: Steve Boyd (Saints) 9.1.0 (D12). Section E: Bob Nudd (Essex VDE) 4.6.8 (E3).