A NUMBER of local anglers figured well during the first of two Wessex Division heats of the NFSA Champion of Champions shore competition held at Hengistbury Head.

Smoothhound provided some excellent sport with no fewer than 40 hounds being recorded. These were all measured and then returned alive.

Malcolm Stote from Lymington was the overall match winner, booking his ticket for the semi-finals after beaching six smoothhounds and a brace of pouting worth 546 points.

Apart from Stote, 14 other anglers qualified for the semi-finals to be held in a couple of weeks time which will see the top anglers heading to Minehead in early October for the finals.

The semi-finals have been changed from August 18 to August 17.

Apart from Stote, other local anglers to qualify for the semi-finals included John Brown representing Steamers AC, who also got amongst the smoothhounds along with fellow club member Tim Webling.

T Benham and D Padmore from Drayton SAC also move into the next round along with Gary Sharman from Southampton SAC and R Wall, who won his section on the night with 266 points and who will be representing Marchwood SAC.

The BHC open held around the shores of the Isle of Wight attracted a huge entry with 243 competitors lining the beaches with 73 returning a good mixed haul of smoothhound, spotted rays, small-eyed-rays, conger, pouting, silver eels and sole.

The heaviest fish was a 24lb 4oz conger caught by Alan Bravery, the manager of Scotties Newport tackle shop.

Bravery was fishing near his home of Ventnor when he apprehended the specimen.

The best specimen was a 4lb 2.50oz spotted ray bagged by Tony Cook, while Samantha Barsdell won the junior section with a 3lb 6oz smoothhound.

The junior section was won by Alex O'Brian with a brace of smoothhound weighing 11lb 5.50oz, followed by Stuart Johnson and Matthew Hallissey with 4lb 9oz and 3lb 9oz respectively.

The overall match winner was John Cavnor from Newport with seven smoothhounds weighing an impressive 42lb 14.50oz, followed by Ray Wright with five hounds for 21lb 13oz.

Dave Egerton was third with four hounds weighing 27lb 14oz closely followed by John Turner with six hounds for 27lb 4oz.

Alan Bravery was fifth overall with his 24lb 4oz conger followed by Julian Trout with 22lb 10oz.