SOUTHAMPTON Piscatorial Society, one of the country's oldest angling clubs, have decided they can no longer go it alone.

After membership dropped to below 100, the society announced they will merge with Test Valley Angling Club.

The Piscatorials was formed 109 years ago but has struggled recently, with little still water fishing for members.

The two merged clubs will go under the name of Test Valley AC and Southampton Piscatorial Society.

The Piscatorials will be putting their club funds and valuable trophies, steeped in angling history, into the joint coffers.

The new club will control the River Blackwater from Nutsey right through to above Ower.

Piscatorials will also make available three and a half miles of prime Dorset Stour and a small section of the River Itchen.

Fish-eating cormorants have wiped out hundreds of venues nationwide with many clubs calling it a day. With commercial high-stock day-ticket venues now freely accessible, angling clubs nationwide are falling on tough times.

The Wessex Angling Open midweek at Witherington Farm saw 56 anglers and bumper weights. Homestores Select's Ray Hayward took a huge 104lb of carp to 9lb on waggler and pellet up in the water from Barnmore Lake.

Bristol angler Steve Mayo finished second with 100lb 8oz of carp to 4lb on peg six on Cottage on pole and pellet. James Knight (Salisbury) finished third with 98lb 8oz of small carp from peg 74 on Topmoor, with Kings Toyota's Garry Naylor continuing his excellent run with 77lb 8oz of carp on the pole and corn from Topmoor.

Others: A. Hutchings 65lb 8oz, L. Woodhouse (Carbotech) 62lb.

The Pewsey and District Open on the wharf of the Kennet and Avon Canal saw match secretary Steve Trevitt win comfortably.

Trevitt caught 25lb 11oz of bream to 3lb on pole and caster over worm. Julian Heaven finished second with four skimmers and roach on bloodworm and joker for 9lb 6oz. Pewseys' Dave Roper finished third with skimmers and roach for 4lb 7oz, with Shaun Glover (Carbotech) fourth with 3lb 13oz of roach on the pole and punch.

Others: A. Ankers (Thatcher's) 3lb 8oz, M. Griffifths (Daiwa Gordon League) 3lb 4oz.

Salmon Leap Angling Club had their second annual presentation evening at The Salmon Leap where the annual trophies were awarded. Mark Baker won the club championship for the second year in a row, with 21 penalty points from Tony Hayward, with 24 points. Ian Elcock finished third with 29 points and Roger Mills fourth with 30.

Best specimen in the match went to Roger Mills - a 22lb 14oz carp from Manor Farm.

Best match weight went to Garry Wright, with 71lb 15oz from Lower Lake at Broadlands, while the challenge shield was won by Steve Baker at Whinwhistle.

Round results - Hordle: A West 26lb 6oz, Manor Farm: I. Elcock 38lb 11oz, Broadlands match lake: S. Hibbs 16lb 3oz, Greenridge: T Betteridge 44lb 2oz, Broadlands lower lake: G Wright 71lb 15oz, Witherington Farm: G Wright 37lb, Orchard Farm A: Dawkins 31lb 9oz, Waldens Farm: S Hibbs 27lb 10oz.