Raiders put in a superb performance on the Lower Stour to win the fourth round of The Hants, Wilts and Dorset Winter League.

But it was not such a good day for canal and still water specialists, league leaders Thatchers, who only managed fourth on the day.

Over the last decade river fishing in this country has declined to an all-time low with people switching to high density still waters, but most of the Dorset Raiders squad were brought up on the rivers and they are very difficult to beat on running water.

With two section winners and a good all-round performance Raiders scored 44 section points out of 60 with TVAC and Eastleigh in joint second with 36 points with TVAC getting the verdict on weight difference. Thatcher's finished fourth with 34 points. Others: Todber 31, Andover 29.

With two canal matches remaining in the league Thatcher's lead with nine penalty points from Eastleigh on ten. Others TVAC 13, Todber 14, Dorset Raiders 15 and Andover 23.

Individually Andy West (TVAC) was the only angler to find chub in any numbers and took a superb 30lb 1oz of fish to 3lb from above New Road on waggler and maggot.

l In The Avon Valley Winter League on The Kennet and Avon Canal at Little and Great Bedwin, Starfix Farnborough scored another superb victory and now look certain to retain their title.

They scored 64 section points on the day to shade Hansfords Match Group who finished second with 62 points.

Others: Farnborough Juniors 57, Bracknell Herons 50, Godalming 49, Allans Marine and Thatcher's 48.

League to date with one match remaining: Starfix Farnborough ninepenalty points, Hansfords Match Group 16, Farnham AC 21, Allans Marine 22.

Individual winner Dave Docherty (Bracknell Herons) drew the same peg that won the previous winter league on this canal and took one big tench of 5lb plus a brace of big perch and smaller perch for a total of 14lb 9oz on chopped worm and caster.

Dean Rowden (Hansfords) finished second with 9lb 2oz of skimmers on the punch and pinkie on the pole over ground bait from above Little Bedwin with Andre Granjean (Farnham) third with 6lb.

l The latest Greenridge Open went to Mark Brown who found some better carp to 12lb in his 73lb 15oz winning haul taken on pole and maggot from peg 18 Canal 2.

Dave Parvin finished second with 49lb 14oz from peg 16 on Canal 2 with Dave Beaumont third with 40lb from peg 20 on Canal Two with Phil Jacobs fourth with 28lb 14oz.

The Cormorants Club match on Longbridge saw the canal continue to dominate with Dave Sharpe taking three carp plus tench and bits on pole and worm for 26lb 4oz from peg 42 for victory.

Steve Rochester (Cormorants Team Sillybait) finished second with four carp on pole and pellet for 24lb 7oz from the ditch with Pete Ashton third with three carp on the method feeder from peg 24 for 22lb 6oz.

Others: D Nightingale 16lb 14oz, G Wright 16lb 6oz, R Kajko 12lb 15oz.

Island common record

The Isle of Wight common carp record has been smashed by a fabulous 33lb 9oz specimen from Monks Pool by syndicate boss Tim Oatley.

The fish known as Big Scale was last out at 22lb 14oz just over 30 months ago and is yet another new 30 for the incredible venue.

Oately also bagged another new 30 from the same pool in the shape of Dan at 31lb 4oz. Andy Liptrot continued his good run on Merstone taking a brace of 19lb 4oz and 25lb 7oz in a super brace.