Canvey matchman Richard Martin weighed in a cracking 16lb 4oz 8dr mixed catch to collect the first prize at Sunday's Ridley Angling Products-sponsored Gloucester Park Open.

Richard fished a peg on the canal stretch just past the Eastern end of the island, where he targeted the big roach.

Long pole tactics and caster baits saw him take a procession of quality roach, interrupted only by a bream and a single tench. Richard collected £80.

Second place went to Peter Jerrum who weighed in 15lb 8oz 8dr.

Peter fished the big bay where his quivertip tactics produced a near double-figure carp, four bream, and a roach. He also lost a big carp which cost him dearly. Peter won £60.

Third place and £40 went to lake regular Dave Hemmings with 13lb 4oz 8dr from the cockle bank.

Dave fished a pole using maggot and caster baits to include a single bream amongst his otherwise all roach haul.

After the elimination of the main winners, section prizes were won by Steve Lloyd with a carp of 6lb 3oz 8dr, Bob Cheeseman with 9lb 11oz of roach, and Alan Milsom with 11lb 15oz 8dr of roach.

Published Thursday, February 6, 2003