PHOENIX matchman Alan Baldwin travelled to Gloucester and plundered southern gold when he won the sell-out GUAA Xmas Open on the Gloucester - Sharpness canal.

Heading a strong contingent of Worcester anglers, Baldwin did well to beat the locals on venue badly affected by overnight frosts, which saw thirty percent of the field fishless!

Drawn near Rea Bridge on permanent 117, the canal star opted to use a blockend feeder set-up which, along with bronze maggot on a size 20 hook was cast tight to the far bank.

After netting a small roach early on Baldwin then took two huge chub, both over two pounds, in the first two hours, while the addition of a solitary eel late in the match gave him a narrow victory with a weight of 5-7-0.

Runner-up was Hereford tackle dealer Paul Woodward (Wood-y's) who took 5-3-0 from a peg near the bend at Hempstead.

Third with the top weight for the locals was Jason Buick (Daiwa Gordon League) with 4-3-8 and fourth Steve Talbot (Gloucs) 3-13-0.

Heenan and Froude AC visited the popular Barbourne pool for their fur and feather, and while remaining very coloured and obviously frost-affected the venue did provide reasonable sport for members.

First place went to Dave Warren who, after taking a dozen small carp on the pole and meat, added another eleven fish using a swimfeeder and maggot combination, giving him a winning total of 16-14-0.

Some way back in second was Terry Suthard whose all-carp catch of 11-4-0 fell to pole fished maggot at six metres.

Third, just one ounce behind, was club veteran Howard Chance with Dave Yapp fourth and Jeff Green fifth with another small carp net.