THIS summer's opening Shakespeare Qualifier was fished at Hampton Ferry and Evesham Town Waters on Saturday.

An extremely hot dry day with a clear river didn't make for the best of conditions but 70 anglers fought long and hard in the quest to earn a place at the prestigious Shakespeare Championships on Saturday, August 27.

The overall winner was Paul Wilson from Kidderminster, who fishes for the Cock & Magpie and weighed in ten lbs six ozs, consisting of one tench and a mix of smaller fish.

He fished with a pole/worm off peg seven on the Town waters.

In second place and also booking his place at the Festival was W B Clarke team man Steve Pierpoint from peg 28 on the Ferry with one barbel weighing 9.3.8.

The day's third qualifier was Daiwa Gordon League member Jason Buick who used a feeder/worm on peg 50 on the Ferry and took to the scales one bream and two skimmers for 7.20.0.

Other placings: 4 Steve Ashmore (W B Clarke)6.10.0 (Ferry 71); 5 Tony Marshall 6.9.0 (Town 50).

The next qualifier takes place on Saturday, June 25 when the draw takes place at 9am.