ANGLING: Nene gives Gary a big birthday gift

Thought by some to have come from the Elton syndicate section, the big whiskers fell to county man Gary Johnson on opening day, which co-incided with his birthday.

He told the ‘Fish on Friday’ website he had always dreamed of catching a special fish on June 16 and said: “It finally happened, a pure 
gold 18lb barbel from the Nene.”

Moulton man Jim Martin, fishing the Oundle Nene, Wednesday, had an amazing three hours despite pouring rain – bagging 21 bream for just over 100lb.

Then, next day, pal Jan Cebula had eight slabs to 6-2 for 40lb.

And at Islip Graham Clipston had 11 bream to a huge (for a river fish) 9-4...plus three tench for 83-10.

THE Ouse has been producing barbel, too. Richard Clipston had one circa 14lb from a Newport section while Gary Teer came close to the double mark.

And MKAA’s Adams Mill produced a 12-6 plus a ‘junior’ of a pound – a really welcome sight – to Alan Lambert’s double 10mm boilie.

DRAYTON carpers have been on a roll with Ben Foster taking 48 fish (including three 20s) in 24 hours.

Ashley Bennett had 37 off the top in a daylight session on the dam wall.

Brian Cotterell had a 26 pounder from Stanwick and Mick Williamson a 24 in a week which saw a clutch of low 20s caught.

SPORTS & Social, Decoy: Tony Glanfield 142-6, Steve Potter 134-12, Gary Millward 131lb.

GLEBE, Stockton: Dave Haddon 118-12, Marcus Annable 20-4, Dave Jones 10-8.

WHITE Hart Flore, Barby Banks: Mick Wheeler 94-6, Trevor Griffiths 85-15, Tom Griffiths 78-9.

CASTLE Ashby, Brickyard: Wed., Courtney Hewlett 77-4, Bob Reed 39-12, Frank Pizamenti 37-14; Sat., Chris Garrett 92lb, Keith Garrett 88lb, Pizamenti 54lb.

FINEDON, Shearsby: Dave Roberts 73-8, Pete Schniederite 63-7, Barry Lawrence 35-4.

COUNTY Vets, Rectory Farm: Ian Hutton 63-9, Dave Keech 61-15, Pat Neal 56-14.

NENE, Barby Banks: John Broughton 42-8, Chris Howard 41lb, John Balhatchett 30-6.

FLORE & Brockhall, Barby Marshes: Bob Prowse 37lb, Steve Smith 15lb, Rob Rawlins 14lb

TOWCESTER Vets, Stockton: Graham Martin 16-4, George Cooke 15-4, Kevin Nightingale 13lb.

SADLY, well-known local matchman Fred Prior has passed away. Big with Oundle in days when they were a river winter-league power, he had spent the past decade with town’s Castle AA.

A family man and retired bricklayer, his funeral is at Kettering Crematorium, at noon, on Tuesday (July 5). All who knew Fred are welcome to attend.