LOCAL anglers carried off all the major awards during the Poingdestre's 14th Intern-ational beach festival at Weston shore.

Steve Paulley from Woolston carried off the £1,000 top prize after landing a trio of flounders from the Rolling mills section which nudged the scales down to 3lb 5oz.

Pulley, 31, a steel worker, used ragworm presented on a size 2 hook fished at close range to tempt his match winning haul and notch his first open victory.

The event which was organised by the Shirley club attracted 279 competitors with 63 returning 82 flounders, three bass and a solitary ballan wrasse to the scales together totalling 86lb 15.50oz.

The ladies' section was won by England international Denise Warner from Alton with a brace of flounders weighing 1lb 2.50oz followed by Daphne Harding from Henfield with one flattie for 12.50oz. The junior section was won by Lee Cullen, who is a member of the host club, with two flounders for 1lb 7.50oz followed by Andrew North with 12.5oz.

Gary Sharman, a member of Southampton SAC, carried off the runner-up's prize worth £500 after beaching a trio of flounders weighing 3lb 1oz followed by Nick O'Hara, also from Southampton, with 2lb 15oz. Mark Fowler, 26, a carpet fitter from Southampton came fourth overall with a 2lb 12oz bass which also scooped the pools for the heaviest fish. The valuable specimen fell to his very first cast of the day from the Hamble section.

Kevin Painter was fifth with a brace of flounders weighing 2lb 9oz, followed by James Martin, also from Southampton, who landed three flounders from the rolling mills section weighing 2lb 8.5oz.

Others: 7th John Shrimpton 2lb 8oz,8th Richard Patterson 2lb 6oz, 9th Ben Lacker 2lb 2.50oz.

The first round of the Wessex senior flounder league held at Rockley saw 69 members in action with 25 returning 35 flounders to the scales.

Kevin Poole won the event with a four-fish haul weighing 3lb 2.25oz followed by Ron Trimmer with 3lb 0.25oz. Included in his catch was a 2lb 4.25oz specimen, which was the heaviest fish. Steve Bishop came third with 2lb 0.50, followed by Ron Dartnall with 1lb 14.5oz.

There are two major open competitions on Sunday which are both within striking range with the Dennings open along the Weymouth section of Chesil having a £400 top prize up for grabs along with £150 for the best specimen and a £100 for the runner-up. The top junior will also collect £50.

Fishing times have been set from 12 noon to 6pm with booking-in getting under way from 10am at the main Ferry Bridge car park.

Senior tickets have been set at £5 plus pools while junior tickets will cost just £2.

Also on Sunday the Hamworthy branch of the Royal British Legion stage their poppy appeal open in two zones at Baiter, Hamworthy and Rockley, with fishing from 8am to 3pm.

Tickets for the event, which will be held in two zones, have been set at £7 plus pools for adults and £2 for juniors.