Portobello stillwater ace Nic Hill paralysed the opposition when he won last weeks big Alan's Tackle Fur and Feather contest, held on both pools at Evesbatch.

Heavy rain followed by overnight frost threatened to ruin the event but Hill, a former commercial fishery manager, used all his experience to record a very creditable weight of 42-2-0.

Drawn on peg 10, to the right of the dam wall on the top pool, Hill was able to benefit from the quiet corner and by pole fishing maggot and corn along the edge as well as out in front he was able to land nine carp, the biggest weighing 12-12-0, to not only secure first prize in the match but take the biggest fish trophy also.

Some way behind was St. Johns angler Anthony Orgee who could have finished a lot closer to the winner but for two lost carp on his peg 17 on the bottom pool. Orgee did however successfully land two specimens on pole fished maggot together weighing 12-14-0 for second place.

Third prize was taken by 'Deckchair Sam' Glyde who preferred corn and maggot to his normal bread flake, which he ledgered on peg five on the big pool to take three carp for 9-12-0, and fourth Greenman star Bob Patrick who weighed in one carp of 5-13-0, the fish falling to sweetcorn presented close in on the pole.

* Greenman canal maestro Colin Davis ended a long lean spell when he won the latest Swan AC contest held on a frost affected canal at Sixways.

After taking four good perch on chopped worm, Davis topped up his catch with small fish by presenting his maggot bait close to the far bank reeds to finish with a 4-15-7 total.

Second was well known local matchman Mark Newman who played a waiting game with double white maggot pole fished in the deeper water, and was rewarded with a brace of two pound chub along with a good perch together weighing 4-10-5, and in third place with 4-0-8 was ex Driotwich Lion star Chris Ballard netting an excellent crucian carp of 1lbs 8oz along with skimmers and roach taken on caster and punch. Ballard being unfortunate to loose at least three good bream, any one of which would have secured victory.

Section winners were: 'A' section, Gary Rowberry 2-3-5 and 'B' section, Phil Holland 1-4-0.

* Former Worcester matchman, now turned specialist angler Chris Ponsford, has taken the biggest authenticated barbel from the river Severn for three years.

While most big fish come from the exclusive Barbel Society waters at the top of Beachaump Court, Ponsford targeted the WDUAA day ticket section above Pixham Ferry, where a short afternoon session on the famous 'Green Door' peg saw him take a fine 15lbs 5oz specimen, to set a new Association record.

Feeding the low, clear river heavily with maggot, Ponsford hooked the fish on a hair rigged fishpaste flavoured boilie presented on a size six hook tied direct to 10 pounds line.

A short 10-minute battle ensued before the fish was landed providing Ponsford who, in recent years has acquired an enviable reputation for the capture of big barbel, with his personal best catch.

* Worcester juniors continue their coaching sessions on Monday evenings at the Barbourne Ex Serviceman's club, where any interested youngsters should go along at 7pm. Organisers of these evenings were recently commended by representatives from the local swan sanctuary who gave a talk to the juniors on the effects of angling on the swan population.

Prospects: The recent changeable conditions will make things difficult on rivers and stillwaters alike, but the deeper sections of the canal at Diglis usually provide reasonable sport at this time of year, caster and worm being the best baits. If the Severn is still high, the tiny river Salwarpe at Hawford Bridge could also be in top form.