KENNY Graham was a cut above the rest at Newton Anglers' Association's latest Over 60s and Disabled Sweepstake to be fished on the lower pound of the Sankey St. Helens Canal.

Seventeen other anglers braved the bitter cold conditions to fish the match but they could not live with Graham's form.

Fishing on peg 105, he caught an impressive bag of roach weighing 10lbs 15ozs 8drms using long pole tactics.

Stan Charnock secured second spot on peg 104. He had an all perch catch weighing 4-6-6 on the pole.

Third-placed Paul Connor also used pole tactics. Fishing on peg 106, he reeled in a perch and a roach weighing a combined total of 0-7-3.

Fourth place honours went to Dennis Greenalgh on peg 109. He caught a single roach weighing 0-5-9.

The match proved that fish are tightly shoaled together on the canal but if you sit on them, as Graham did, they are there to be caught.

The biting winds and cold conditions have also had a negative effect on the majority of the association's other waters as well.

However, Dave Slater still managed to hit top form on the Yew Tree Reservoir.

He caught a nice trio of mirror carp weighing 11-2-0, 14-7-0 and 16-4-0.

They were all took on ledgered flavoured meat.

The water has also been producing great sport for silver fish. Pole-fished maggot or caster have been the best baits.

The Vulcan Reservoir, where committee member Ivor Brown caught two perch weighing 2lbs this week, also looks to be worth a visit, specially if the weather turns a few degrees warmer.

Roach, roach/bream hybrids and perch should all be on the agenda.