THE upper stretches of The Dorset Stour at Sturminster Newton produced excellent results in The Hants, Wilts and Dorset Winter League despite the coldest night this winter so far which saw a heavy overnight frost.

A big stocking of large skimmer bream by Sturminster AC this spring were to the fore in the returns, along with plenty of roach and some quality perch.

League champions Thatcher's won on the day, despite only one section winner after a good all-round performance which yielded 40 section points.

Eastleigh Mosella finished second on the day with 37 points. Todber Manor were third with 36 points.

Others: Dorset Raiders 34, TVAC 32, Andover 28. League to date Thatcher's 5 penalty points, Eastleigh 7, Todber 9, TVAC 11, Raiders 16, Andover 17.

Individually, Eastleigh Mosella's John Clark took 19lb 8oz of skimmers on the long pole and worm and maggot to win comfortably from Dave Hydes of Andover, who finished second, pegged next to the winner with 13lb 2oz of pole-caught skimmers with Mike Bernstein (Andover) third with 12lb 8oz of skimmers.

Others: J Randall (Todber) 11lb 13oz, M Harper (Thatcher's) 10lb 13oz, D George (Dorset Raiders) 10lb 8oz. Section winners A D George (Dorset Raiders) 10lb 8oz, B J Clark (Eastleigh Mosella) 19lb 8oz, C M Bernstein (Andover) 12lb 8oz, D N Jones (TVAC) 10lb 2oz, E B Dukes (Todber) 5lb 7oz, F J Pole (Dorset Raiders) 7lb 8oz, G N Tinklin (Thatcher's) 7lb 7oz, H R Chave (Todber) 8lb 7oz, J B Hanson (Dorset Raiders) 8lb, K J Randall (Todber) 11lb 13oz.

The Avon Valley's Winter League on Gold Valley Lakes saw joint leaders Farnham have a nightmare and crash to sixth place on the day, effectively ending their challenge to reigning champions Starfix Farnborough.

Starfix Farnborough finished with 68 points from Godalming with 59 and Allans Marine with 58.

Others: Farnborough and District 56, Hansfords MG 51, Farnham 49. League to date Starfix Farnborough 8 penalty points, Farnham 13, Hansfords MG 14, Allans Marine 16, Farnborugh and District 20.

Farnborough and District's 15-year-old Anthony Flint fished ground bait feeder and maggot to land eight carp for 45lb 5oz. Dominic Allen (Starfix Farnborough) finished second with 43lb 5oz of carp to 8lb with Luke Bredwood (Farnborough and District) third with 40lb 12oz.

Others: P Chudyk (Godlaming) 34lb 13oz, S Sharpe (Godalming) 32lb 14oz, D Johnson (Thames Megabait) 28lb 6oz. Section winners A D Green (Sarfix Farnborough) 11lb 14oz, B I Bloomfield (Starfix Farnborough) 13lb 4oz, C S Pomery (Hansfords) 15lb 12oz, D M Codd (Bracknell) 15lb 9oz, E D Allen (Starfix Farnborough) 43lb 5oz, F D Johnson (Thatcher's) 28lb 6oz, G S Sharpe (Godalming) 37lb 4oz, H A Flint (Farnborough and District) 45lb 5oz, J L Bredwood (Farnborough and District) 40lb 12 oz, K B Commons (Allens Marine) 19lb.

The Saturday Series match at Greenridge Farm saw victory go to Winchester angler Dave Beaumont, who took 37lb 8oz of carp to 4lb on long pole and maggot from peg 12 on Canal 2.

Eastleigh Mosella's Mick Marsh continued a good run on the venue, finishing second with 32lb 10oz of carp to 5lb on the long pole and maggot from peg 15 on Canal 2. Colin Stark finished third with the top weight from Canal 1 with 29lb 15oz with Phil Jacobs fourth with 20lb 11oz.

The new match lake at Orchards Lakes at Bashley in the New Forest has been in good form with some excellent all round results. Dave Hambidge (Dynamite Baits) won the latest cormorants match on the venue with 57lb 12oz of carp, tench, crucians and goldfish to 2lb on whip and maggot. Reelcare's Willie Skipp finished second with 43lb 11oz of carp on the waggler. Dave Rickwood finished third with 34lb 10oz of carp on the pole.

Others: S Rochester 31lb 14oz, D Sharp 30lb 4oz, T Bremble 27lb 4oz.

Kennet Ospreys hosted Salisbury on Longbridge Lake with the canal once again producing the top weights.

Ray Shepherd (Ospreys) took 38lb 1oz of carp and tench on pole and corn from peg 37. Salisbury's Paul Barnard finished second from peg 36 on the canal with 34lb 4oz of carp and tench on the pole and pellet.

Dave Moody (Salisbury) finished third with tench and silver fish for 17lb 12oz on pole and worm from peg six with Ian Jones (Ospreys) fourth with 16lb 4oz of tench and silver fish from peg 39.

Adventure AC fished the Lower Lake at Broadlands with Graham Shadwell taking a superb 49lb 9oz of bream on pole and pellet from peg 24 to score an easy victory. Steve Mitchell finished second with 21lb 9oz of bream and roach on pole and caster from peg two, with Barney Barrington third with 16lb 2oz of quality roach on the waggler from peg 29.

AROUND THE LAKES

Longbridge continues to produce good multiple catches of carp, Dave Vivler (Totton) fishing pellet over pva bags of pellet to land 15 carp, including three doubles to 13lb 4oz, from peg 24.

Mark Williams (Romsey) also caught well, using halibut pellet over pva bags of trout pellet to land 13 carp topped by an 18lb ghost. Andy Steel (Waterlooville) fished peg 13 on the waggler and corn to land 70lb of silver fish, including bream to 4lb and roach to 1lb 8oz.

Carp sport seems to have slowed nationwide on the big fish waters but the Isle of Wight venues continue to produce with John Day taking a 26lb mirror from The Haven, while John Lobb took the best fish of the week from Rookley with a 20lb 4oz.

Plenty of pike continue to be taken at Broadlands with Mark Toddington (Gosport) landing 12 to 20lb 4oz from the Blackwater Corner on float-fished trout live bait to record the best bag and biggest fish of the week.

Pete Brown also had a good day landing five doubles in a nine-fish haul from the steps in the Inlet Bay.

The match lake continue to produce some good bags of roach between pegs seven to 12 with Brian Vaughan fishing pole and caster to land 60lb of quality fish to 1lb 4oz.

On the Lower Lake, Keith Roberts fished method feeder and worm from peg eight to land 17 bream to 5lb, six tench to 5lb 8oz and four carp to 9lb in an 85lb mixed haul.