WINTER has set in with a vengeance, high winds and torrential rain have both hit sport pretty hard and if things go to form the next few months look likely to be quite dismal for us anglers.

A slight lull in the weather on Tuesday, October 21 was a welcome sight for the Northfield Starlets Veterans event at Elmbridge Fishery near Droitwich Spa.

Leading the field was Brian Hill (Stourport) who pole fished macaroni cheese over chopped worms and casters at Heron pool peg 30 for 47-2-0. Derek Buckle (Bewdley) was second with 44-0-0 and third was John Allington (Hereford) with 36-4-0.

On Wednesday, the Astwood Fisheries Bluebell pool open went to Bromsgrove's Gary Kirkham (Astwood) who feeder fished maggots with corn on the hook at peg 17 for 33-13-0. Paul Webley (Kateshill AC) followed with 29-11-0; third, Ron Fowler (Weoley Castle), took 11-14-0.

At Moorlands Farm, the Meadow pool open was topped by Droitwich Spa top rod John Roberts (Moorlands) by short pole fishing corn at peg ten for 47-0-0. Bob Jones (Moorlands) was a close second with 45-13-0 while David James (Trabucco) took 42-6-0 for third.

On Thursday, the Moorlands Farm Special costcutter open was headed by Mark Tooze (Lifestyle) when he drew fancied Meadow peg 11. He made no mistakes to take a 57-12-0 catch with pole and corn. Second, Ian Whitehouse (Wesson), had 52-0-0 and third was Alan Bartlam (Barford) with 46-2-0.

The Midland Bears AA event was held on Woodlands View's Ghost pool, which saw Terry Shipley (Sheldon) take a close verdict by pole fishing corn at peg 17 for 50-13-0. Second placed Mick Hands (Northfield) had 49-6-0; third, Al Lees (Charford), took 38-8-0.

The KH Veterans were at Hawford Mill Claines, near Worcester, for their latest encounter and it was Brian Hill (Stourport) who made it a double by pole fishing meat and casters at top pool peg 13 for a modest 13-12-0 catch. Second, Ken Hall (Northfield), took 13-3-0 and third was Harry Morris' (Redditch) 11-0-0.

Moorlands Farm's Friday costcutterr open was won by Ian Whitehouse (Wesson) by pole fishing corn at Meadow pool peg 41 for 87-14-0. Close on his heels was Mike Tomkinson (Moorlands) with 87-1-0 and place went to third Sam Brown (Worcester) with 64-2-0.

On Saturday, Lucas College Road AC fished its Fur and Feather contest at Cleeve Prior on the River Avon. Bromsgrove matchman John Miller put together a winning Bream and Skimmer catch of 8-2-0 on this Cormorant-ravaged stretch of water.

John fished a groundbait feeder laced with chopped worms and casters at peg 111, with worm and maggot hookbait. Second place went to Mal Gittus (Rubery) with 6-1-0; third, Paul Amos (Erdington), taking 2-14-0.

The Woodlands View Arles pool open was topped by Danny Baker (Greens Tackle) by pole fishing worms to the island at peg 34 for 48-5-0 of mixed fish. Alan Jones (DGL) took 44-9-0 or second and third went to Andy Grealey's (Woodlands) 38-7-0.

Lee Richards (Lifestyle) bucked the trend and the cold spell at the Moorlands Farm open by putting 122-4-0 of Carp on the scales by pole fishing corn at peg 57 on the Meadow pool. Neville Groves (Walsall) took the only other ton-up catch of 120-9-0 for second place. Third was Brian Cawley (Moorlands) with 64-1-0.

Sunday's Moorlands Farm open managed to find enough pegs to put the majority of anglers to the leeward side of the gale force winds and most anglers put a few fish on the scales.

Young 17-year-old Brown (Worcester) did a brilliant job by pole fishing corn at Meadow pool peg 42 to take an all-Carp catch of 95-0-0 for victory. Second place went to Steve Lawrence (Moorlands) with 75-9-0 while third was Neil McKinnon's (Shakespeare) 64-3-0.

Birmingham Civil Service AC held its Harold Ensor Memorial Cup on Elmdon Main pool and it was only silver fish to count. Making it a weekend double was Miller (Bromsgrove) who waggler fished red maggots at peg eight for 12-0-0 of Skimmers. Gary Booth (Catshill) followed with 6-11-8; third, Jeff Foxworth (Birmingham), with 6-2-0.

At Woodlands View, the Deans pool open was topped by Steve Mortlock (Woodlands) who picked bonus peg four, which was worth an extra £250 to his winnings, for his catch of 52-3-0, taken with pole fished worms. Steve Zakaiy (Drakes Drum) took 37-0-0 for second and third place belonged to Kevin Slade (AOK), taking 27-0-0.

Astwood Fisheries' Smokey Joe's pool open went to Roger Orgee (Worcester) for his pole and caster mixed catch of 28-2-0 from peg 37. Runner-up Dave Thompson (Worcester) had 19-1-0 and Paul Sabvings (Sheldon Heath) took 18-4-0 for third.