THE Millennium Cup contest, which was kindly sponsored by Worcester City Tiling was held on a swollen River Severn at Hanley Castle by the Malvern United Angling Association.

The match was only made possible by the hard work of members the previous day in preparing the banks to be safely fished.

Drawing a swim with some slack water was the key to success and Mike Spragg did just that by pulling number 28 out of the hat, this peg had produced the winner of the last three contests.

Fishing close in due to the flow Mike used a blockend feeder filed with hemp and casters with red maggot on the hook to take small eels, roach and fine perch of around 2-0-0 to take the cup with a winning weigh of 3-6-0.

Second place went to Richard Gilks on Peg 9. Richard also employed blockend feeder tactics to take several small chubb for a weight of 2-6-0.

Match Secretary Ian Goddard finished third with 1-8-0 form peg 19.

Section wins went to the following:

Dave Harris 0-15-8 from peg 4, John Shaw 0-5-8 mainly small fish from peg 7, Tom Hawker 1-6-0 from peg 16, Mick Harris 0-9-0 from peg 29, Will Brimmell 1-4-0 from peg 22, a good effort in his first ever contest.

Winner Mike Spragg was presented with an engraved hip flask and glasses generously donated by Chairman Phil Harding back at the Green Dragon, Guarlford Road.

In a rousing speech to members, Chairman Phil Harding hailed the day as a great success and thanked everyone for coming and hoped that the good spirit that the match was fished in would encourage new members to the match scene to attend more contests in the future.

Thanks were extended to Mark at the Green Dragon for laying on the after match spread and to Hanley Castle AC for the use of their water.