SHAKESPEARE still-water expert Grant Albutt showed why he is regarded by many as the top match angler in the country at the moment when he won last weekend's inaugural Ultimate Doubles Final at the Moorlands Farm complex.

The event, which guaranteed a £400 top prize for the winners of both carp and silver fish pools, attracted an all star turnout of more than 80 matchmen, but it was Albutt who mastered the icy conditions best when he took 63-12-0 of carp to the scales, all caught on the pole from peg 21 on the Meadow pool.

A close contest followed for the remaining places with second placed man Paul Williams (Woodland View) taking 49-8-0 to the scales, third was Henry Maybury (West Mids) with 48-12-0 and fourth Roy Richardson (Storey's) 42-3-0.

The £400 winner of the silver fish match was Ian Whitehouse (Wessons) with an all roach catch of just 6-9-0 taken from peg 50.

Silver fish also featured strongly during the Boxing Day open where Fosters star Neville Groves took a mixed catch of roach, perch and small carp from peg 12 on the Bank pool for a winning 18-8-0 total. Runner up was venue regular Mick Henshall (Fosters) with 11-10-0 from Moors 16, while completing a Fosters hat-trick was Chris Hill with a weight of 10-12-0.

Saturday Open: D. Clewley 31-10-0, M. Henshall 23-7-0, D. Hill 21-5-0.

Following the success of last weekend's Ultimate Double, there will be a similar contest held on Sunday, January 20 where both carp and silver fish winners will get a £400 first prize. Entry costs £20, details from John Talbot on 01299 250427.

The annual Phoenix 'Knock Up' over Christmas was held on the Severn at Pitchcroft where competitors recorded some reasonable weights despite strong winds and a rising river.

First place went to Droitwich ace Bob McAulay who drew the fancied 'boards' peg. Using a heavy waggler to beat the conditions, McAulay landed an excellent bag of roach and small chub together weighing 14-12-0.

Runner up from his peg on the middle of the bend was Kempsey's Alf Hand who used feeder and float tactics to record 8-14-0, a catch which included a superb two-pound roach.

In third place was Dick Blight (Rexel) weighing in a float caught 8-6-0 while canal ace Alan Baldwin (Phoenix) secured fourth spot with a level six pounds.

Pleasure anglers should note that WDUAA's Pitchcroft water is booked for contest on both Saturday and Sunday this coming weekend.

Prospects: Sunday sees the final round of the WDUAA winter league take place on the canal from the Cavalier to the Commandery. Conditions will be extremely difficult with any team not recording dry nets finishing among the leaders.

Chopped worm presented in the deepest water will be the best tactics for avoiding the dreaded 'dry' with caster bait providing the winner.

While the Avon is running very clear making things difficult, the Severn has returned to normal winter level where venues like Paynes Meadow should provide reasonable roach sport.