IT had to happen didn't it? Rain, rain and even more rain, just as the rivers had come into perfect trim before the closed season this Friday. Now, with bank high water for the last full weekend, many clubs had to change to still waters to fish their contests.

Earlier in the week the Starlets Veterans' Winter League contest was held on Tuesday at Moorlands Farm. First place went to Roy Dugmore (Northfield) who alternated waggler and feeder with maggots at Meadow pool peg 51 to take eight Carp for 21-0-0. Second was Clive Humphries (Bewdley) with 19-10-0 and third went to Stan James (Bewdley), taking 15-11-0.

On Wednesday, the Astwood Fisheries Bluebell pool open was won by John Halfpenny (Astwood) who waggler fished corn at peg five for 26-6-0. Ivan Leight (Nation Standard) was second with 19-4-0; third, Derek Clarke, (Astwood) 11-5-0.

Telfish AC was the first casualty of the floods, having to transfer from Wood Norton on the River Avon to Willows pools in Chadbury, near Evesham, on Thursday for their pairs event.

Top individual was club secretary Ian Gilmore who pole fished corn at match pool peg 25 to take three Carp for 9-8-0. Ron Allen took 5-10-0 for second and yours truly Tony Brunn was third with 4-15-0. Pairs winners were Gilmore together with Jim Pedley with a total weight of 11-3-0. Runner-up prize went to myself and pairs partner Fred Green with 6-13-0.

The KH Veterans held their latest event on Woodlands View's Barley and Hay pools. Leading the field was Alvechurch top rod Ken Giles who fished a small maggot feeder to the far bank at Hay peg ten to take 23-11-0 of small Carp. Second, Mike Millinchip, (Kidderminster) took 18-6-0 while third went to Ken Hall (Northfield) with 16-7-0.

On Saturday, Lucas College Road AC moved their event from the River Avon to Astwood Fisheries Buddleia pool. Bromsgrove's John Miller took a modest winning catch of 7-9-0, comprising of eight Carp plus Gudgeon taken with pole fished worm, caster and maggots from peg 53. Second was Pedley with 6-10-0 and third, Terry Tombs' 6-0-0.

At Woodlands View, the Deans pool open was headed by Lee Pesticcio (Pill Angling) with a pole, corn and maggot mixed catch of 28-12-0 from peg 39. Danny Baker (Tredgar Angling Centre) followed with 13-6-0 and third went to Steve Ford (DGL) with 11-12-0.

Woodlands View's Sunday Deans pool open saw Les Thompson (Shakespeare) take a close verdict by pole fishing maggots at peg 51 for a 28-11-0 catch, including an unexpected six pound specimen Eel. Rob Gandley (Map Starlets) was second with 28-3-0; third, Derek Hammond (Oxford Drennan), 25-9-0.

The 100 AC moved its end of river season contest from the River Avon at Fladbury to the Birmingham-Worcester Canal at Alvechurch.

Best weekend catches

Redditch matchman Martin Tremlett showed the way by pole fishing Bloodworm and Joker at peg four, close to bridge 64 to take a mixed 3-13-8 catch. Runner-up Adrian Close had 1-8-0 and Neil Ferriday was third with 1-3-0.

The Moorlands Farm open gave the best weekend catches, headed by Gary Pickin (Lifestyle) who pole fished corn at Meadow pool peg 13 for 54-5-0. Clive Payne (Midland Leisure) followed with 37-8-0 with Dave Grainger (Tacklebox) in third with 37-7-0.

Droitwich Spa top rod John Baillon came good after a long layoff to top the Astwood Fisheries Buddleia pool open by pole fishing corn at peg 68 for 54-7-0 of Carp. Clive Duggan (Droitwich Angling Centre) took 26-3-0 for second with third going to Mac Taylor's (Astwood) 24-8-0.