JOHN BROWN from Southampton was laughing all the way to the bank after he carried off the £500 top prize at the Ford Sports Charity open at Weston Shore - plus £252 in pools for landing the heaviest fish.

Brown, pitted against 275 other anglers, drew the Netley section where he beached five flounders weighing 7lb 2,5oz - including the hefty 2lb 0.5oz fish - to win at a canter from D Haynes from Botley. He had four flatties weighing 5lb 8oz. Ant Buik from Dorchester was third with 4lb 11.5oz.

Generally action was poor with only 56 competitors weighing in 102 flounders and a solitary bass.

The event was held in conjunction with Meon Valley Lions and sponsored by the Ford Branch of the Transport and General Workers' Union, £2,200 being raised for local children's charities.

The junior section was won by Dominic Crowley from Gosport with a solitary 1lb 4oz flattie to nudge out Mark Gillmark and Thomas Siwagoga, both with 14oz, and Aiden Taylor, with 11.5oz.

Fourth overall was E Worris from Alton with 4lb.

Others: Steve Harder (Millbrook) 3lb 11oz, Bob Ayres (Fordingbridge) 3lb 15oz, David Boyling (Lancing) 3lb 6.5oz, Mark Fowler (Weston) 3lb 3.5oz, Colin Pankhurst (Totton) 3lb 3oz, Barry Mapson (Droxford) 3lb 1.5oz.

The BHC Open, held around the shores of the Isle of Wight, attracted 123 competitors although only 48 returned fish to the scales.

Overall winner was Mick Young Ward, with five fish weighing 7lb 12.5oz, followed by Eric Ward (7lb 8oz) and Russell Ball, who landed a 6lb 3oz small-eyed ray, the heaviest fish.

The pairs section was won by George Berowicz and Cliff Williams while Lee Thompson carried off the pools for the best specimen with a 2lb 11oz flounder.

The junior section was won by S Means with 10oz, while Judy Croft carried off the ladies' prize with 5lb 1oz.

Codling, dogfish, pollack, poor cod and rockling supplied the action during the first round of the pegged Gale Force League along the Masonic section of Chesil Beach.

Overall match winner, from A section, was Ian Dancey from Waterlooville, who finished with 17lb 14oz, including a 3lb 3oz codling, the night's heaviest fish. Runner-up in the section was Pete Hegg, with 11lb 13oz, followed by John Van Crugten, with 9lb 13.75oz.

The second section was won by Dave Lane, with 12lb 5.5oz, ahead of Malcolm Stote from Lymington (9lb 10.25oz) and Ant Buik (9lb 10oz). Next round of the pegged open league will on February 11, again along the Masonic section of Chesil, with fishing from 8pm to midnight.Pete Hegg will have ticket details (01305 822833).

The Wessex Spring series, which is restricted to 50 pegs, gets under way on February 9, with fishing from 7.30pm and 10.30pm at either Durley or Branksome. The event will be fished to a catch and release system, early registration being advised. For details contact the crew at Wessex Angling Centre (01202 668244).

Clubs interested in entering teams into the four-a-side Neptune inter-club event, which starts on the second Monday of April, should send at least one delegate to the league annual meeting on February 28.

The Mariner club at Poole will be the setting for the event which gets under way at 7.30pm. Venues for all-night matches will be chosen during the evening.

The Castaways Tackle Open Boat Competition, held within the confines of Poole Harbour, judged to the heaviest single fish system, attracted 133 competitors who weighed in some cracking flounders.

Poole Sea Angling Association chairman Chris Holloway won with a 4lb 1oz flounder, followed by Andy Perry with a 3lb 15oz flattie, and Pete Young with a fish of 3lb 10oz. Local junior ace Joe Poole was fourth with a 3lb 7.5oz flounder. He collected £50 and two new reels.

There was a tie for fifth spot, Graham Bealing and Colin Johnson both recording 3lb 4oz flounders.The Isac Pegged Open League second round will be held on Saturday evening for the first time at West Worthing, with fishing from 5.30pm to 10.30pm.

Flounders and rockling are expected to supply most action during an event which is strictly pre-book. Tickets have been set at £15. Full details and pre-book facilities from Trevor Sutch (023 9220 1696).