TWO ANGLERS from Southampton based clubs have reached the national Suzuki National Boat Angling Championship finals.

When ten finalists head out from Poole on Friday to contest the title Bill Baynes (Southampton SAC) and Mick Winstanley (Shirley) will be among them.

The competitor with the highest number of points at the end of the championships will be champion and collect a Suzuki 70hp four-stoke outboard motor worth £5,800 plus the exclusive use of a Suzuki Grand Vitara 2 litre five-door diesel 4x4 for a year. The winner's club will also benefit with a £750 cheque.

The five-strong England casting team, included Garry Dickerson, from Corfe Mullen, are on top of the world after returning from the South of France with the gold medal from a hotly contested World Casting Championships.

They have followed our shore anglers, who scooped the gold medal during their event at Weymouth.

Dickerson, a 35-year-old window fitter, has been a squad member for three years. He put in a personal best performance to finish fifth overall. England were the top team, followed by Belgium and Italy.

Chris Holloway, Poole Sea Angling association chairman, is looking for help from club secretaries throughout the Wessex region.

The association needs to provide data about the lack of fish from our shores and Holloway in looking for open match results spanning the last 20 years to put forward the case of dwindling fish stocks found by shore anglers.

Anyone who can help should contact Chris Holloway (01202 381168).

Action was fair during the Wessex Senior Flounder League second round at Hamworthy and Rockley. Cliff Brown topped the 70-strong field with four flatties weighing 4lb 13.25oz. Chris Albiston, a local freshwater ace, was runner-up with two flatties (2lb 12.25oz) and collected the pools for the heaviest fish with a flounder of 1lb 15.50oz. Nick Bainton was third with 2lb 0.75oz followed by Brian Dartnall 1lb 14.50oz, Richard Pardy 1lb 10.5oz. Alan Rogerson had 1lb 15.50oz.

All eyes will be on the stretch of shoreline from the Rolling Mills and Hamble along Southampton Water on Sunday when the Shirley club host Poingdestre's 18th International Open Beach Festival with a £1,000 top prize. The event doubles up as a Penn Point fixture. Pre-book facilities are available at Poingdestres Angling Centre. Fishing is from 9.30am to 2.30pm with registration under way at Weston Shore from 7.30am. Fish will only be accepted at the weigh-in if they are in a bucket of water. There will be a large tub of water at the weigh-in so that fish can be returned alive. For full details call 023 8077 2958.

AROUND THE CLUBS:

GOSPORT & DISTRICT AC: A senior roving shore competition saw all 16 members catch. Dave Ellis won with three pouting, two red mullet, a sole and two bass totalling 7lb 4.5oz. His 2lb 9.5oz bass was the night's heaviest fish. Mark Dew caught pouting and sole of 3lb 15.75oz. Iain Gay had 3lb 5.25oz.

WEST WIGHT AC: The club's latest shore competition attracted 36 members, 23 weighing in 128lb 3.5oz. Pete Bennett won with 21lb 8oz. He fished the Atherfield section. So did George Bernowicz who tempted 33 pouting (16lb 6.5oz). Sam Kimber included a 5lb 9.5oz bass in a 9lb 15oz catch. Ladies' section was won by Liz Cunningham (3lb 15.5oz of pouting). Best specimen was Gareth Croft's 2lb 2oz dogfish.

BOURNEMOUTH & DISTRICT SAA: Avon Beach and Friars Cliff section were the setting for a shore competition won by Kevin Lake (pouting of 1lb 15oz). Steve Bishops was runner-up with 1lb 10oz. Brian Fisk had 1lb 6oz and Steve Roberts 1lb 2oz.

LYMINGTON & DISTRICT SFC: Bass, dogfish, whiting and pouting supplied most action during a large boat contest on Sundance II off the Needles. Chris Tsoulli won on 89 points, Derek Smith had 63, Richard Banner 44, Alec Harmer 37 and Andrew White 19.

ELMORE SAC: A boat competition was won by Gary Mills with a mixed bag of 24lb 15oz, including a 7lb 12oz cod. Harold Woodage included quality whiting in his 19lb 11oz runners-up catch. Alan Isaac and J Harrowven both had 14lb 9oz.

HOP INN SAC: Norman Mason won the latest shore event with two red mullet (1lb 2oz). Top junior was D Nutbeam with 9oz.

FORD SPORTS SAC: A senior roving shore competition saw Alan Hickman win with 4lb 9.5oz. Chris Petrou had 3lb 10oz, Paul Barclay 2lb 4.5oz and Steve Wicks-Eales exactly 2lb.