The city centre venue has produced some amazing results since the event was switched from the River Trent onto our local venue some years ago.

But this one proved to be a real grueller with only one angler, match winner Tony Marti making contact with the bream.

He was drawn on the North Bank section in the 70s close to the noted wire pegs and took five bream on a bloodworm and joker approach finishing with 24lb 13oz.

Runner-up Ian Didcot did not have the best of starts as match organisers had to hastily move a long boat that was moored on his peg. The disturbance certainly did not upset the fish though as he went on to bag 9lb 5oz of small roach on the long pole line.

So although many anglers, and indeed spectators, were disappointed not to find the river in good form there was still a team match to be won and what a battle that turned out to be.

At the halfway stage it was anybody's guess who would be crowned champions but by the final whistle there was a clear winner with Daiwa Dorking scooping the £4,000 prize money.

The Surrey team recorded an excellent team card, scoring only 30 points with only two anglers failing to make the top three in their sections.

They should also give a pat on the back to England star Steve Gardner. He went from zero to hero in his section on the North Bank thanks to a last gasp eel which saw him shoot from last to third place.

Runners-up Maver Barnsley Blacks put in a fine performance but could not stop the Southeners, finishing on 43 points. Third went to Daiwa Trentmen, who unfortunately had a last in the section at Railworld to finish on 56 points.

The event on the City embankment was this year sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, Intercounty Trucks and Vans, Yaxley. Thanks to them and Peterborough City Council.

Peterborough DAA, and in particular John Means and Eddie Mulvana, worked tirelessly throughout the weeks leading up to the big day ensuring we had the best match possible given the difficult conditions.

Result: 1 T. Marti, Image Van den Eynde, 24lb 13oz; 2 I. Didcot, Daiwa Dorking, 9lb 5oz; 3 W. Raison, Daiwa Dorking, 8lb 10oz; 4 A. Scotthorne, Maver Barnsley Blacks, 6lb 9oz; 5 I. Bowman, Maver Barnsley Blacks, 6lb 6oz; 6 A .Chisholm, Shakespeare Superteam, 5lb 15oz.

Teams: 1 Daiwa Dorking 30pts; 2 Maver Barnsley Blacks 43; 3 Daiwa Trentmen 56; 4 Image Van den Eynde 62; 5 Shakespeare Superteam 66; 6 Saints 70.




SPORT was also hard on the upper reaches of the Nene for The Evening Telegraph/Frank Thomas Ltd team event which saw 24 teams of six compete.

The river was rising and gin clear with pike in abundance. The most consistent section was Ashton.