Seventy anglers lined the banks of the River Severn at Bridgnorth for the Bridgnorth AS Fur & Feather match at the weekend when the locals were put in the shade.

The top four had all made long distance journeys to the event, but the treks were made worthwhile as their vehicles were loaded with Christmas hampers and cash prizes on the way back.

Top prize was taken by Essex rod Barry Hatch who tried several methods unsuccessfully before finally finding the fish at peg 78, in the chestnut coppice, with straight lead and hair rigged meat.

Seven barbel and two chub responded to the bait to give Barry a final tally of 39-8-0.

Sussex visitor Dave Dean (Billinghurst) had to wait until late on in the match before contacting five barbel with pellet feeder at High rock peg 184.

But his late burst put him in second place when his fish added up to 23-13-0.

And Aidie Paddock (Chester Tackle Locker) also netted five barbel with an early stint of action at peg 12 in the bay above Linley bridge.

His bites dried up but he was left on 22-3-0 to finish in third place.

Andy Ison (Cambridge) was unlucky to lose several good barbel on a snag at his peg above the island, and instead of first place he had to settle for fourth with his 21-11-0.

Just behind fourth, on 21-4-0 was Nigel Causer (Albrighton) and Wayne Rolson (Bridgnorth) took the final main prize with his 19-11-0.

Still on the Severn, but further north at Ironbridge, Dawley AS man Steve Tinsley scored a one ounce victory in Sunday’s open.

He took 4-5-0 of silvers to pip Jeremy Thomas (Ironbridge Tackle & Bait) who, despite catching a decent chub late on, finished up with 4-4-0.

Round one winner Roger Yeomans was third this time with 1-6-0.

Round three of the Ironmaster Open winter series is on the Severn at Ironbridge on Sunday, draw 8.30am at Ironbridge Tackle, fish 10 to 3pm.

* A carp landed in the dying minutes of the Thomas Telford match at Leegomery pools made up for one lost earlier in the match and secured victory for Gerry Powell by pushing his weight to 10-0-0.

Roy Biddulph was the man who had victory snatched from his grasp by that late fish, as he scaled 9-9-0. Third went to Tony Stringer on 3-3-0.