OUR Disabled and Over 60s match was moved to Tuesday because all the regulars wanted to attend and pay their respects to WAA member Billy Pickles.

His funeral was on Monday. I went along myself and Walton Crematorium was packed to the rafters.

The eulogy was one of the best I have ever heard and summed Billy up to a tee, promoting lots of knowing nods and smiles from those present. Our sympathies go to his wife and family at this sad time.

Tuesday's match was definitely down to the luck of the draw, as anglers needed to draw to the right of the motorway bridge where the top four weights came from pegs 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Jeff Clare on peg 3 caught on both bread and pellet from two swims and was the clear winner with 7lbs. He was snapped by two decent fish.

Alan Brown on the next peg was the runner-up with 4-13-8. The other two sections were won with 1-3-0 and 2-2, the latter being the only fish caught.

Our Mersey Saturday Sweepstake was won by match-organiser Ray Boden with a catch of two skimmers and small roach for 2-5-0. Jim Gannon and Derek Bibby tied for the runner-up spot with 15-4, needless to say bites were few and far between.

Ed Frangleton raised the bar on the Sunday Series Mersey Match with a catch of four skimmers and a few roach for 3-1-0, followed closely by Derek Bibby in second place again with 2-9-0.

The Pairs Match was fished on Saturday on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Wincham marina. The fish had retreated into the marina and the person to benefit from a marina mouth draw was Mike Dench.

He caught consistently from the off, putting a nice mixed bag of mainly roach with a few skimmers on the scales for a weight of 7-5-0.

George Barber on the next peg was second with 4-5-5 and Jeff Stoll made the most of an end peg to snatch a few perch late on to add to some stocky roach for third place with 2-8-0.

All three were in ‘B’ section, giving Martin Griffiths a triple-default section win with 2-5-6. ‘A’ section was a different affair completely, Lenny Dutton making the most of the conditions to win the section with 1-13-1, edging both Jeff Shaw and Jon Andrews into joint second with 1-10-4 apiece.

Mike Dench and Jon Andrews were the top pair on the day with their 3 point score but still leading the series at the half way stage are Graham Belton and George Barber on 22 points. Please note there will be a working party at Grey Mist Mere on Saturday, so if you fancy helping out your fellow members with general maintenance the guys will be on site from 8am.

Please email me your catch reports to frank@warrington-anglers.org.uk or call 01928 716238. Our headquarters at 52, Parker Street is open Friday, 7pm to 9pm for subscriptions, new memberships/night permits, and any queries.

Results: Mersey Sat Sweepstake: 1, Ray Bowden 2-5-0; 2, Derek Bibby/ Jim Gannon 15-4; 3, Ade Green 11-8. Mersey Sunday Series: 1, Ed Frangleton 3-1-0; 2, Derek Bibby 2-9-0; 3, Jim Gannon 1-5-8; 4, Alan Morris 1-4-0. Disabled & Over 60s: 1, Jeff Clare 7-0-0; 2, Alan Brown 4-13-8; 3, Lennie Dutton 4-1-4; 4, Ron Durr 3-14-0.

Forthcoming events: Saturday: Mersey Sweepstake, draw 9am, Victoria Park Allotments:. Sunday: Mersey Series, draw 9am, through iron gates at Mersey Walk. Monday: Disabled & Over 60s, draw 10am at Walton Church. Contact John Dagnall at Cheshire Angling, 01925 635486.