ANGLING: MANY local teams were among the 30 fishing in the Heronbrook Fishery Spring League opener on Sunday.

Leading them was Fisherman's Tackle who were sixth, fronted by Winston Duck-ers who won his section with 19lbs 12oz of carp and roach. Steve Boyd also topped his section with 18-8-0 of carp and Phil Henry took 6-10-0.

Top of the three Chester Tackle Locker teams was the Side Kicks squad who were 13th, led by Adrian Paddock's 15-4-0 of carp.

Their 1664 team was 18th, through section winner Mark Mealing with 13-8-0 of roach, while the Ellesmere Port-based Rod 'N' Reel team was 22nd, thanks to Geoff Grantham's 13-12-0 of carp and John Woodrow's 8-8-0 of carp.

Malcolm Lightfoot won the Helsby Sports and Social Club AS match on the BICC factory pools with 3lbs of roach and skimmers, ahead of Geoff McCalmont's 2-6-0 of roach and Chris Hargadon's 2-4-0 of roach and rudd.

Birkenhead's Peter Price led the field in the Hampton Springs Fishery open match with 86lbs of carp up to the 7lbs mark. Keith Bean was third with 22-8-0 of carp and tench.

Price drew the same peg the following day and was second with 25-2-0 of carp.

Willaston improved their position to 11th in the Seacat Super League after finishing sixth in the match on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Maghull.

Phil Cross was their leader with a 1lb roach in his 3-7-0, backed up by Brian Woods with 2-8-0 of roach and Keith Wilson with 2lbs of roach and perch.

Keith Williamson was up front in the Rivacre AC match on the mallard pool at the Brookside Fishery with 17-12-0 of carp, well ahead of Ric Keeley's 14-10-0 and Ian Lloyd's 10lbs.

Mark Greasley won the Wirral Borough Council AC's match on the Red Lion length of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Gale-force winds tested the competitors and he came up with 4-12-0 of roach and skim-mers to beat Graham Aveyard, who had 3-2-0 of roach and gudgeon, and Jamie Stewart with 1-1-0 of small fish.

Anton Duredon was top rod in the Cheshire Police flyfishers' match on Llyn Brenig. In a six-fish contest, he landed 13-4-0 using a humunger. Paul Sutton was runner-up with 12lbs and Gary Fowles third with 11-12-0. Peter Hindle landed a 7lbs pike to a black and green lure.

Les Picken landed 32-4-0 of carp and tench to take the honours in the Tarvin Sands AC match, well ahead of Ray Iball's 27-2-0 and Brian Nolan's 20-2-0 of carp.

Sam Kennedy was the leader in the Milton Green Fishery midweek open match with 26-2-0 of carp, ahead of Paul Collins who had 22-10-0 and Andy Amos with 20-6-0.

FISHERIES NEWS Meadow: Bert Walsh, of Spital, lured a 7-12-0 rainbow to a montana and Chester's Peter Martin fished a black buzzer to take a 4-7-0 rainbow.

Four Oaks: The fishery has reopened. Lake Hill: Ten-year-old Gary Duffy, of Ellesmere Port, lured a brace of rainbows to weigh in 3-8-0 using ledgered worm. Eddie Grayson, of Ellesmere Port, tempted a brace of rainbows weighing 4-8-0 using worm.

Lloyd's Meadow: There will be open matches each Friday starting on April 2. Bookings should be made with Andy Amos on 01244 821390.

Dearnford Hall: John Carr, of Ellesmere Port, lifted a 4-2-0 brownie to a gold-headed damsel-fly nymph.