VETERAN matchman Nigel Harvey returned to winning form when he took top honours at the WDUAA open.

On a boat-affected match course Harvey did well from peg 169, an area unfancied by local experts, when took the top weight of 6-14-14.

Opening with bread punch Harvey, more known for his small fish catches, took a good sized skimmer on his first cast, a change to pinkie offered over groundbait saw him add three more bream to his net which, along with a rare 'goldfish' of around a pound and a few small perch and rudd was enough to secure victory for the Phoenix star.

Runner up was canal expert Mick Samson (Greenman) who landed bream and perch from peg 177 by presenting caster across to the far bank reed bed to finish with a total catch of 4-5-5.

In third place was Bridgnorth Match Group member Phil Hoare whose 3-13-12 consisted of one big bream and a few bits, all falling to caster on peg 165 whilst in fourth spot was Dick Blight (Grey Squirrel) with a huge roach and a few eels caught on white maggot bait and weighing 2-6-10.

n Jubilee celebrations affected attendances on the Alans Tackle open when competitors tackled the top pool at Brockamin.

Greenman star Richard Brewer once again showed his class by taking an excellent winning weight of 64-8-0.

Using his favoured pole fished luncheon meat approach Brewer continued his run of good weights when he landed six carp along with a few tench and silver fish from corner peg eight.

Further along the same bank on peg five was owner of his own fishery Trevor Smith (Hawford Bridge) who, whilst making a rare appearance on the open match circuit, proved that he has not lost his touch when he landed two carp, the biggest being an superb fish of 15 pounds on corn presented across to the point of the island.

In third place came local carp expert Terry King (Greenman) who took six of his favourite species from peg 17 to finish just behind Smith with 29-0-0.

n WDUAA inter club knock out competition saw Phoenix dominate their round against Bromsgrove outfit Greyhound AC to take their place in the semi final.

Individually Gary Summers made the most of inform peg 125 on the canal when he netted hybrids and big perch for a total weight of 9-13-4, all Summers fish falling to chopped worm presented tight to the reeds.

Second once again was Mick Samson, also representing Phoenix, with a weight of 3-14-15, consisting of one caster caught bream and a few smaller fish all taken from peg 128.

Third position went to Doug Smith on 121 with 2-10-4 while with the top weight for the Greyhound team was fourth placed Rob Smith with 2-7-8 from the adjacent 122.

n Last weekend's big Ultimate League final at Moorlands Farm produced a four way tie when all the top anglers scored four points each.

The match took place with two contests on Saturday and one on Sunday with the event being decided on a weight count.

First overall and taking the £10,000 top prize was Shakespeare star Neil McKinnon with a three match total of 230-15-0, second came Lee Richards with 166-3-0, third Paul Cahill weighing 149-14-0 and fourth Neil Shipman 135-1-0.

n Friday Open; 1 N. McKinnon 106-7-0, 2 P. Morgan 88-0-0. Monday Open 1 N. Russell 81-13-0, 2 B. Marklew 79-15-0.

n WDUAA juniors have started their Monday evening contests when any interested youngsters will be made welcome. Draw time is 5.15pm at the Cavalier with fishing from 5.45 until 8pm.

n Prospects: While summer boat traffic can be a problem on the canals, lakes and stillwaters have started to turn on.

Birmingham's Earlswood Yachting lake is now producing good bream weights with catches in the high thirties coming from pegs near the dam.