RECORDS tumbled at Cob House Fisheries during the recent Wednesday open on the Laugherne Island Pool — and it was big-weight specialist Rob Swain (Tackle Box) who set the new standard.

Already a match record-holder at Tunnel Barn Farm, Swain returned from a win two days previous at the Warwickshire complex in order to take the honours at Cob House with an excellent 134-11-0 record haul.

Established tactics of offering pellet bait at just three metres was the preferred option used by Swain to take a mainly small carp net from peg 22.

Michael Hendry claimed second prize with a similar net to the winner, taken from peg 31 and weighing 83-13-0.

Previous match-winner Mick Turberfield was third on peg 28 with 71-4-0, beating local canal ace Les Sanders, who netted 64-11-0 from fancied peg 34. More opens are planned for the coming weeks — contact Helen on 01886-888697 or 07889-364410.

Just one carp was caught when Arbo AC visited Knightshill Pool at Severn Stoke and it was taken by winner Stuart Gormley, who netted a fish of six pounds on paste bait which, along with a few silvers, was enough to take the top place with a total of 6-3-0.

Ade Wilkes ignored carp in favour of skimmers in order to secure aggregate points and found himself second overall with a maggot-caught weight of 2-14-0.

Acko Staite was once again in the frame, this time with a third-placed weight of 1-6-8, while Bill Skillbeck came fourth, weighing in 1-3-8.

The club’s next contest is at Hampton Load on the Severn in two weeks time.

With the lower Severn proving difficult this year, Tewkesbury Popular AC turned their attention to the River Avon on Breaking Stones Meadow along with the Mill Avon and it was the former which produced the top three anglers during their latest 34-competitor club event. Drawn on peg 21 was Tony Gibbs, who netted skimmers on the pole for a top weight of 18-0-0. Second with a similar catch caught at 13 metres was Gary Seadon weighing 17-12- from peg 15.

Local star Rob Danter was third with an all-skimmer net of 17-7-0 from peg 18, while weighing in the best catch from the Mill Avon was Worcester matchman Bill Biddle’s 17-2-0 net which came to the topper float on peg 34 and included a six-pound bream.

Once again the popular Nigel Harvey Memorial contest will take place on the canal on Sunday, September 7.

Anglers interested in taking part should contact Rod Guise on 01544-231426 On September 14, there will be a memorial contest held at Brockamin for former local anglers Bill Edgar and John Jefferies, details from Alans Tackle on 01905-422107.

Match organisers and club secretaries who would like their results published should call Alf Hand on 01905-821059 or e-mail alf.hand@btinternet.com Moorlands Farm, Friday evening open: 1 D Ravenhall 155-4-0; 2 R Skura 111-7-03; 3 A Jones 106-7-0.

Saturday open: 1 A Griffin 123-3-0; 2 M Watson 107-0-0; 3 M Guest 102-3-0.

Sunday open: 1 D Sheldon 140-3-0; 2 S Harris 122-6-0; 3 A Jones 92-4-0.