THERE were 48 members competing on Tuesday at the Northfield Starlets Veterans event.

Fishing at Woodland View's Deans pool it proved to be a tight finish with Bill Drew (Bewdley) continuing his good run with a winning 52-12-0 by pole fishing meat up in the water at peg 50. Ken Giles (Alvechurch) was second with 47-4-0; third, Roy Dugmore (Northfield), 47-0-0.

On Wednesday the West Midlands Civil Service was at Solhampton near Stourport for its Treasurer's Cup contest. Birmingham's David James took the top honours by pole fishing corn at Match pool peg 27 for 69-15-0. Graham Upton was second with 58-3-0 and Dick Dark third with 56-3-0.

The Astwood Fisheries' Bluebell pool open went to Rob Francis (Spa MG) with a pole and corn catch of 79-1-0 from peg five. Second was Rickie Harrison (Astwood) with 46-1-0; third, John Halfpenny (Astwood), 34-13-0.

Moorlands Farm's Meadow pool open went to Mark Tooze (Moorlands Mosella MG) with a runaway catch of 142-1-0 from the margins of peg 37 taken with pole, corn and pellets. Mal Watson (DGL) followed with 80-7-0 and a close third went to Alan James (Moorlands) with 80-2-0.

Thursday saw the Moorlands Farm record smashed with a 242-12-0 haul of carp and again it was James (Moorlands Mosella MG) who did it by pole fishing corn in the margins of peg 49. All told, there were eight ton-up catches taken, with Wayne Blizzard (M & N Autos) taking second spot with 168-6-0; third, Harry Ward (Moorlands), 161-4-0.

Telfish AC held its Spring Cup contest on the Staffs-Worcester Canal at Hinksford. Bromsgrove's John Miller was the winner by alternating squats and pinkies for Gudeon, then casters for Roach, to scale in with 4-12-0 from by the chalets at bridge 38. Graham Upton had to settle for second again with 4-11-0, and yours truly Tony Brunn was third with 3-7-8.

The KH Veterans fished their event at Barbourn Pool, Cotheridge. Terry Kavanagh (Stroubridge) was staked at peg one where he short pole fished meat for a top catch of 38-12-0. Second, Gordon Noble (Worcester), had 31-10-0 and third was Roger Banfield (Stourport), taking 30-8-0.

On Saturday, the Broad Acres Main lake open was won by Lickey End matchman Mark Blackburn (Smithies) with a pole and corn catch of 47-5-0 from the margins of peg 12. Runner-up Mick Driscoll (Moseley) had 44-5-0; third, Ricky Keenan (Triplex), 28-11-0.

Woodland View's Arles and Deans pools open was topped by Steve Ringer (Shimano VDE) by pole fishing meat up in the water at Arles peg nine for 107-1-0. Tony Morton (Preston Innovations) was second with 103-1-0; third, Richard Lawson (Colmic), 92-9-0.

Des Shipp (Daiwa Dorking) was the big catch winner at the first round of the four-man team Moorlands Farm summer league. Alternating meat up in the water at 14-metres and down the margins of peg 19 on the Moors pool he put together a 156-11-0 catch. Andy Newton (Shimano Tipton VDE) had 103-11-0 from close by peg 17, while third was Lee Nutland's (Mosella SW) 89-13-0. Daiwa Dorking lead with seven points; Mosella SW 12; Top 4's 13.

Sunday's Moorlands Farm open again produced some good catches, headed by Paul Filmore (Mosella Welsh Wizards) with a pole and pellet catch of 182-10-0 from Meadow pool peg 57. Second was Lee Richards' (Fosters) 134-0-0; third, Neville Groves (Fosters), 125-8-0.

The return challenge between the 100 AC and Birmingham Civil Service at the Civil Service pool, Elmdon, saw Steve Lile (Birmingham Civil Service) take the top individual honours by pole fishing pellets at peg three for 9-5-8 of mixed fish. Steve Marke (100 AC) was a close second with 8-13-0 and third, Colin Steele (Birmingham Civil Service), taking 6-13-0.

On the day Birmingham Civil Service won with 118 points to 100 AC's 92 but the trophy winners were 100 AC with a two-match tally of 173 to Birmingham Civil Service's 156.

Carrs Paint AC held its first bye contest on the Worcester and District AA Cobbhouse pool. In first place was Stoke Prior top rod Jeff Rush who pole fished maggots at peg six for a mixed catch of 31-15-0. Second was Ray Ravenhall's 28-0-0 and third, Don Round's 23-7-0.

Peter Bailey (Droitwich Angling Centre) was clear winner at Astwood Fisheries by pole fishing worms at Smokey Joes pool peg 41 f or 43-1-0. Second, Trevor Hodges (Astwood), had 28-5-0; third, Cliff Richards (Cottage Inn), 17-0-0.

Furnace Mills afternoon open was held on the Furnace and Muck Meadow pools. Worcester matchman Richard Brewer (Greenman) nudged the fishery record of 147-14-0 when he put 146-8-0 on the scales by pole fishing large cubes of luncheon meat at Mucky peg 36. Terry Edwards (Swan AC) was second with 82-3-0; third, Andy Newton (Shimano Tipton VDE), 77-5-0.

The Abbey Sports Stadium, Redditch, hosts the National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair on Sunday, May 30. Visitors will be able to buy, sell or swap fishing tackle, books, cased fish and angling trophies at any of the 56 stalls.

Have you ever wondered what that cane fishing rod was worth? Is all that old fishing tackle taking up space in the loft?

Then the answers to your questions can be found at the National Vintage Fishing Tackle Fair.

The event is open between 9.30am and 4pm and costs £1 for adults. Accompanied children are free. For information contact organiser Bob Turner on 01934 416492 or 07989 219180.