M A L V E R N U n i t e d Angling Association members kicked off the new river season by contesting the Ashwin Cup.

The venue was their newly acquired stretch of the Severn at Holdfast, where thanks to a small band of dedicated workers, the venue has been transformed from an unfishable wilderness into a very comfortable fishery with stages and steps in every one of the 24 swims.

So it was with some anticipation that the draw for pegs was made.

Unfortunately, the scorching conditions were to make it very hard going, with fish not willing to feed in the bright sunlight. The first hour of the match was likely to be the most productive and so it proved for Mike Spragg who, drawn on peg 20, landed one decent bream of around 3-8-0 and three skimmers early on. Mike took his catch using groundbait feeder tactics with maggot on the hook.

No further action followed but he put 5-3-0 on the scales which was enough to take the cup for this year.

In second place was Ian Goddard, on peg 7, who landed one solitary bream on the feeder but it weighed in at 3-15-0.

Third spot went to veteran club star Dave Harris with 3-0-0, which consisted of two skimmers. Dave rued the loss of a huge bream, estimated by himself at between 6-7lb, which would have brought him victory.

The low weights can be put down to the conditions, but the signs are there that this new water is going to be very productive.

The next contests are the Wednesday evening Sandford series on the pool, draw 6pm, followed by the Club Cup on the Avon on Sunday, July 3. Draw 7.15am, fish 8-1pm.