MEMBERS of Malvern AC turned out in force for the first contest of the season, the Spring Cup event.

On the club lake at Mathon, Richard Gilks took full advantage of end peg one near the island.

Gilks presented his sweetcorn bait into open water and close into the margins to net carp in his winning 27lbs 15oz catch.

Veteran Malvern matchman Dave Harris claimed the runner-up prize when he used his favourite macaroni bait, in conjunction with pellet feed.

Harris pole-fished close in on peg 19 and was rewarded with fish to more than 9lbs in his 24-1 total. On unfancied peg 13, third-placed man Chris Loveridge managed 13-7.

Up-and-coming Barbourne AC star Ashley Bosworth continued his excellent run in local contests.

Bosworth headed the list on his club's venture to the WDUAA-controlled Cobb House farm fishery.

On A' pool, Bosworth pole-fished corn at 10 metres and was rewarded with carp to double figures during the opening half of the contest.

But he had to endure the remaining two hours fishless although the opening burst was enough to put a winning 45-6 on the scales.

C' pool provided the runner-up in Terry Box whose 42-2 was made up of fish which found his paste bait to their liking when he pole-fished across his corner peg into the rushes.

Two anglers tied for third with past Brockamin winner Nigel Hobday and Paul Davies recording 17-12.

Hobday was next to the winner and included fish to 7lbs along with a corn and pellet-taken big bream.

Davies' weight consisted of five carp, all caught on pellet from the margins. The club's next encounter is on their own pool in a fortnight.

Moorlands Farm Wednesday Over 50s: T Guise 120-0, E Mills 108-2, D Roberts 85-10; Saturday Winter League: M Smith 77-2, M Guest 75-11, W Boden 70-12; Teams: Top Fours 15, Mossella Midlands 18, T&D Elecs 19; Final league: Top Fours 13, Mossella Black Country 19, Moorlands Gold 22; Sunday Open: J Dent 115-7, Mills 75-9, S Barnett 65-1.

Solhampton Fishery has an open match with £100 for the winner on Saturday and more details are available by calling 01299-828074.

Open Valley Pool: Keith Perrin (Tipton) 91-8, Bill Drew (Bewdley) 76-14, Burgess Homer 54-3; Open Valley Pool: John Ballion (Droitwich) 121-8, Andy Danks (Tipton) 79-12, S Millwood (Bolton) 67-12, R Walsh (Bolton) 62-0; Shrawley AC Duck Pool: C Pugsley 40-0, J Fudge 33-11, G Moseley 17-8.