Cotterill victorious in Long Eaton Victoria AS championship

THERE is a new name on the Long Eaton Victoria AS championship trophy, after second place in the club's final match helped Dave Cotterill take the title.

Cotterill, who had a slender lead going into the final match at Longford Fishery, caught 25lb from peg 14 on the Carr Wood Pool.

He fished long pole with maggot into open water to catch fish up to 7lb.

He was quite a way behind winner Keith White, who caught 41lb 4oz from peg 7 fishing tight to the island with pellet and maggot.

Ivan Carrier was third (19lb 8oz) and Dave Kent fourth with a 16lb 14oz net.

Tom Potter's 11lb 14oz earned him fifth place on the day and lifted him to third in the championship with Neil Stevenson, who had led the league for most of the season, having to settle for the runners-up spot.

It was also the final week of the Rycroft Fishery Winter League, which was won by Jamie Bonsill.

Bonsill was third in the final match, which was held on the Old Canal and Moat.

He caught 27lb 2oz to finish behind winner Matt Davenport, who managed 37lb 2oz on the Old Canal, and runner-up Ady Lindsay (36lb 9oz).

Matt Skelton topped the weights on the Moat with 49lb 5oz using corn and pellet.

Steve Conway was second (35lb 3oz) and Ian Utting third with a 33lb 4oz effort.

Rycroft also held a couple of open matches on the Carp and Clover lakes.

The match on the Carp, which was for silver fish only, was won by Dean Guest.

He used caster and chopped worm for 17lb 3oz.

Andy Taft (15lb 12oz) was second and Tony Scott (7lb 5oz) third.

Chris Pavlou opted for corn on the long pole from lucky peg 7 to win the open match on the Clover.

Charlie Shaw was second with 45lb 3oz and Barry Walters took third place with 43lb 12oz.

Long Eaton Federation almost pulled off a surprise team victory in the final match of the Erewash Valley Winter League.

With favourites Shakespeare slipping to fourth on the day and Federation claiming a hard-earned win on the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston, there was almost an upset as overall standings were finally settled.

But a superb individual performance from Shakespeare's Jason Cunningham, who took top weight with 11lb 9oz from a peg just below Gallows Lock, helped his side secure the title. Long Eaton Feds finished second.

Cunningham had four perch on lobworm to add to a good net of dumpy roach, which were taken on bloodworm.

Lee Wright (Mill Tackle) was second with an 8lb 1oz quality net of roach taken on bloodworm.

Ilkeston youngster Tom Potter was third with 5lb 13oz.

Martin Eckersley's method of pellet on the pole proved a winning combination as he won the Thursday Open match for Bridge Inn AC on Marston's Pool.

Eckersley caught 20lb, edging out Keith Hart's 15lb net and Neil Stevenson's 4lb 9oz effort. Ian Harlows was fourth with 2lb 12oz.

Roy Boyle took first place in the second round of the club's Spring League, which was held on the Moira Canal.

Boyle managed 13lb 8oz, beating Paul Davis' 8lb net and Mick Thompson's 7lb 9oz bag.