DESPITE breaking his landing net on a 19lb carp and having to borrow another, Graham Millingham won the first Halfway House AC contest of the new season.

Peg one on Church Farm pool is not normally used in contests but Millingham took four carp on pole-fished meat presented close into the bank for a winning 42lbs 0oz 0dr total.

Runner-up Colin Bradley also targeted the margins of his peg nine with meat and corn to weigh in a mixed bag going 35-10.

Third place went to Keith Deaner, who also caught close in as well as on the straight lead for his 25-2 weight.

In fourth place came Steve Williams, netting a brace of carp and a few silvers going 17-8.

The next Halfway House contest is on Sunday, May 8.

The Canal and River Trust have removed all the trees from the canal bank at Caunsall and this was reflected in catches when Swan AC visited.

Coming out on top with just 1-11-11 was Sue Jaques, who took a few roach early on bread punch before adding small perch on pinkie and worm baits.

Second-placed Doug Gosling put eight bread-caught roach onto the scales for 1-9-5, Rich Brewer weighed in a brace of good perch for a third-placed 1-6 and in fourth came Les Sanders with 1-4-10.

Swan AC visit Sixways for their next contest on Sunday, May 8.

The Birmingham and Worcester canal at Shernall Green hosted a Barley Mow match, where Ken Legge topped the 15-angler turn-out with 7-2-8 of bream and perch caught on pinkie and worm.

Pete Chance was second weighing in a bread-caught skimmer net of 5-14-8 and third came Mick Price with 2-10-10.

Section winners were Chris Ballard and Rob Reece.

Worcester’s Tony Whitcher (St Stephens) won the Sunday open at Woodland View with 71-2 of carp taken on pole-fished corn from peg 10 on Deans pool.

Rob Wilson came second weighing 69-12, while third was Martin Pritchard’s 60-12 catch.

Saturday, High pool open: 1 M Lutwich 59-1, 2 T Perry 47-8, 3 D Jordan 46-8.