A COLD start to Sunday morning meant meagre catches at Cannop Ponds for the match between Yorkley and Forest of Dean angling clubs.

Elsewhere, the Review was proud to sponsor the cup and medals for the recent Forest of Dean Carp Angling Championships.

Eleven anglers from the Yorkley club were joined by eight visitors from Cinderford with the home team winning by a margin of less than a pound.

The total weights were 21lb 9oz for Yorkley against 20lb 12oz for Forest – although it was one of the visiting team who got the biggest catch of the day.

Terry Brain caught 5lb 9oz of mainly bream which put him ahead of Yorkley brothers Steve and Brian Harding, with Steve getting 4lb 6oz of bream, two ounces ahead of Brian.

Dave Norris of Yorkley AC said: “It was hard going, which you can see by the amount of fish.

“We had quite a hard frost first thing which affected the fishing.”

Eight competitors had each battled through two rounds to make it to the final of the Forest of Dean Carp Angling Championships at Lydney Lake.

After a slow start to the contest, Jonny Pritchard netted early to put himself in the lead, but John and Andrew Dasent made captures going into the night.

But just before midnight, Jason Matthews put himself into contention with his first fish which allowed him to claim third place by eight ounces.

His confidence was well placed, as another catch shortly after took him into top spot.

While the rest of the lake was quiet through the night, there was action at Jason’s peg and he secured the win with a stunning common carp weighing in at 13lbs 6oz to secure the win.

Organiser Shaun Bick said: “Massive Congratulations to Jason and a huge thank you to everyone who was involved with the event or helped contribute in some way to help make it possible.

“I also want to thank the Forest Review for its huge support by sponsoring the cup and medals as well as Hale and Co, Samurai Signs and Lucozade Ribena Suntory for supplying essentials.

“I want to also say a huge thanks to all the local businesses who supplied donations for prizes and also those within the angling community.”

The event raised £1,000 for the Help for Harry fund for Harry Childs of Berry Hill who is to have life-changing surgery that could help him walk.