LOCAL lady angler Marian Wharmby's talents have been recognised in the best circles when she was asked to partner England team member and current Kamasan match man of the year, Dave Vincent, in a prestigious mixed pairs event.

Marian, who lives in Walkden, was equal to the task in the Jack Purchase Mixed Pair event which was fished at Hallcroft Fisheries over two days.

The pair came fifth out of 34 pairs and picked up £500 after finishing only two points off the main prize of £5,000.

Marian is no stranger to success, she recently won a summer league and along the way broke the ladies weight record with 18lbs of bream and skimmers.

TONGE anglers' dreams came to fruition this week.

After a lot of hard work, another section of the Bolton to Bury Canal was re-opened for match fishing.

They have worked tirelessly clearing weed, making pegs and stocking the water with around 12,000 fish.

These include 60 carp up to 12lb and 3,000 cruscians.

The matches to be held on Thursday evenings, have a 5.30pm draw with fishing from 6.15pm until 9.15pm, the pools are £6 all inclusive.

The route to the canal is through Little Lever, turn down Heywood Avenue then onto Ladyshore Road to the car park. Bloodworm and joker are barred.

SATURDAY sees the Bolton Junior Open match on the Bolton Canal at Little Lever.

All juniors who were 16 and under on January 1, 1997 are eligible to fish the match.

The entry fee is £1 and there are lots of prizes on offer, all of them having been donated by local tackle shops.

The draw will take place at 12 noon and the match is fished between 1pm and 5pm. There are no bait bans in force.

All juniors should note that a meeting is being held at the Angling Club on Rishton Lane on Tuesday, June 10.

It gets underway at 7.30pm and interested juniors should attend.

LLOYD Burgess made it a hat-trick of wins in the Mark Rogers Challenge Shield at Bradshaw Fisheries. The competition aimed specifically at juniors and organised by Bolton Anglers Association attracted a lot of interest from the youngsters, some of whom, no doubt will go on to be top names on the match circuit.

Lloyd who comes from Farnworth fished the pole and caught carp for 16lb 4oz. In second place was Jemma Sharples who fished similar methods for a weight of 5lb 4oz. Neil Davies was third with pole caught carp for 4lb 12oz.

Final aggregate league: 1. Lloyd Burgess 3 pts, 2. Steven Ratcliffe 17 pts, 3. Daniel Merga 23 pts, 4. Michael Brooks 25 pts.

Bolton Anglers wish to thank Jack Rogers for his kind donation of the prizes and also Bradshaw Fisheries for the use of their water.

BOB Fearnhead was back in winning ways in last Wednesday's Dixon Green Open. He left it late however with most of his fish coming in the last hour. His seven bream pushed the scales round to 9lb 15oz and were caught on red maggot using the quiver tip.

Second was Tony Birchall who caught three bream and a few skimmers for 8lb 11oz using the tip. Bob Beckett fished the pole with red maggot and finished third with two bream and skimmers for 5lb 3oz, and B Ford was fourth with 5lb 2oz.

BRADSHAW Fishery matches: - Saturday May 30 - Manley AC number three lodge: 1. Terry Heaton 16-13-0 pole/waggler; 2. Paul Webbers 15-9-7; 15-9-7; 3. John Webbers 9-7-6; 4. Derek Bibby 8-13-0.

Sunday June 1 - Crown Tackle and Bait Bonanza number four lodge: 1. Ray Davies (MAP Elton) 43-6-0 pole/waggler/tip; 2. Simon Roberts (Octoplus Saints) 37.11.0; 3. M Mulligan (MABs Cross) 31-14-0; 4. P Bottomley (unattached) 17-14-0; 5. G Bailey (unattached) 26-13-0; 6. John Priors (MAP Elton) 26-12-0.

BOOTHSTOWN Anglers Annual Open Senior Fishing match took place on the Bridgewater Canal at Marsland Green, Astley. Results: 1. M Wylde 15oz; 2. N Patterson 8oz; 3. R Beckett 7oz.

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