ON THE open match scene, 20-year-old Lee Cullen from Netley has once again been on fine form, winning his section during the 150-peg Fountain Open held at Seabrook.

Cullen, an England youth team member, used a combination of whites, lug and harbour ragworm to take a number of small flounders, dabs and pouting to win his section and come ninth in the overall.

Not to be outdone, Chris Clark from Lymington was in winning form when he travelled to Hove for the John Browning Memorial pegged catch and release open shore competition.

Clark used whites and harbour ragworm to tempt five good flounders and a nice plaice to win his section and the match by a clear margin.

The Waterside based Ashlett SAC held an extremely successful presentation evening, which attracted a large number of junior members.

Rob Brinsdon is the club's new senior shore champion, while Ernie Cuthbertson took the evening league title. Robert Jones took the junior boat championship trophy, while Gary Yeates becomes the junior beach champion.

The latest Wessex junior fish of the month award has been won by 11-year-old William Peckham, who is a member of the Lymington club, with a 1-14 flounder caught from a dinghy when fishing in the confines of Poole Harbour.

Competitors struggled during the second round of the Wessex Spring Series held at Branksome, where just a few small pollack, pout, rockling, whiting and flounders were recorded.

Brian Dawkins from New Milton, who was pegged in B section, was the night's top performer landing four fish worth 99 points. Included in his catch was a 30cm whiting which won the pools for the longest roundfish in his section.

The runner-up in B section was Chris Clark from Lymington with 77 points followed by Phil Bowering 39 and then Paul Johnson with a 29cm flounder, which won the flatfish pool in the section.

Andy Robins from Poole Sea Angling Centre came out on top in A section with just 55 points to get the better of Neil Saxby 43, Alan McGuiness 40 and Ashley Painter with 35 points. The round fish pool was collected by Alan Jones with a 23cm pollack while Wayne Pidgely and Alan McGuiness shared the flatfish pool - they both landed founders measuring 25cm.

The next match in the five-peg series will be held tomorrow evening at Durley with fishing from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

The action was far from good during the ALS Tackle mini pegged open held at Lee-on-the-Solent where just a few small pouting and a solitary flounder were landed. Simon Reed was the top performer with six fish worth 128 points.

All eyes will be set on Southsea Beach on Sunday when there will be a £1,000 top prize up for grabs during the Allan's Maine Open beach festival, which will be restricted to 200 competitors.

Fishing times for the big event have been set for 10am to 3pm, with registration getting under way from 8am at the Southsea Caravan Park.

Apart from the huge top prize the runner-up will collect £500 while £200 is on offer for coming third.

Plaice up to 4lb will be the main target species on ragworm or peeler crab, although a smattering of flounders will also figure at close range to maddies and white rag.

Full details and pre book facilities from the crew at Allan's Marine Tel 023 9267 1833.

The popular Go Fishing Show, which is staged at the NEC, will be held from the 1st to 3rd of April this year and as usual it will cater for game coarse and sea anglers.

Tickets on the door will cost £12 for adults, senior citizens £7.50 and £5 for juniors. A good saving can be made by booking in advance on the ticket hotline 0870 730 0062.