MATCH organiser Mark Van Den Hoek was victorious in the final round of Newton Anglers' Association's four-match Disabled lift Services Ltd open sweepstake series.

He won the 23-strong event with a net of tench, bream and roach weighing 8lbs 1ozs 10drms.

The match was held on the upper pound stretch of the Sankey St Helens Canal.

That was also the venue for the latest disabled and over 60s sweepstake, which was won by Eddie Cook. He stormed to victory with a net of four nice bream and other bits weighing 17-13-0.

Meanwhile, the Vulcan Reservoir is still closed to pleasure angling due to dangerously low water levels.

However, the venue should soon be restored as the site contractors have sanctioned a further 90,000 gallons of water from United Utilities and the fish stocks do not seem to be distressed.

The Yew Tree Reservoir, on the other hand, has been providing great sport for carp and silver fish anglers.

Paul Cunliffe has reeled in a 12lbs mirror carp and Keith Mason has also reported a nice double figure mirror taken on flavoured meat.

Roach have been taking maggot or casters on the drop and they have been weighing in at more than 1lb.

The lower pound stretch of the canal has been fishing really well.

Small carp, mirror carp, common carp, tench, bream, chub, roach, perch, rudd and huge eels have all been providing top sport with caster, corn, maggot, bread, meat and worm all accounting for fish.

Sport has also been good on the upper pound stretch with silver fish, tench, bream, big carp and perch all making their presence felt.

Day tickets are available on both of these stretches. They are priced £3 for adults and £1 for juniors.

The members' only section at Penkford Bridge has been fishing well with some excellent catches of roach, tench, brownies, rudd and large perch reported.

Mirror carp, common carp, crucian carp and even the odd large koi carp have been readily taking baits.

The Moat House farm fishery at Burtonwood has been giving up plenty of chub, carp, barbel, roach, rudd and tench.

Day tickets are available on this fishery. They are priced £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.

Anyone wishing to join the association should go along to the Houghton Arms pub in Earlestown at 8pm on Mondays. New senior members should bring with them two passport-sized photographs for their identification passes.

Results: Disabled lift Services Ltd Open Sweepstake: 1, Mark Van Den Hoek, peg 39, 8-1-10; 2, Ray Bowden, peg 47, 7-3-9; 3, Anthony Andrusjack, peg 36, 6-15-0. Section winners: Pegs 33 to 44, J Ormershire, 6-11-0; pegs 45 to 55, M Jacks, 3-11-10. Disabled and Over 60s Sweepstake: 1, Eddie Cook, peg 45, 17-13-0; 2, Ray Bowden, peg 54, 9-5-0; 3, Albert Griffiths, peg 40, 4-14-4; 4, Dennis Bate, peg 37, 4-9-4.