LAST weekend saw the River Kennet Teams of Four Championship held on Beats 4 & 5, writes Alan Hughes.

Nine teams, making a total of 36 anglers, plus two individuals were booked in for the match.

The weather was dry, overcast, and warm, and with a strong and gusty wind blowing.

The Kennet had a good colour and was flowing moderately. Heavy overnight rain on the Saturday preceding the match had significantly lowered the water temperature by a few degrees.

Total match weight on the day was 120lbs 2ozs at an average weight of 3lbs 2ozs per angler.

The winning team was Reading Fishing Club’s Boshers Boys – Dave Bosher, Joe Baker, Richard Rosinski and Mick Stanley – with 24 points. Second place was shared between Courage A, Yotac/21 Club and Tilehurst Royal British Legion – who each had 21 points – but Courage took it on superior weight.

Individually the match was won by Rosinski. Fishing on the second peg below the "white bridge" on Beat 5A section, he banked mainly roach with a few perch and dace fishing pole tactics with single caster on the hook, over hemp and caster feed to record a weight of 17lbs 7ozs.

John Jackson fishing as an individual was second. Fishing on the "straight" at the back of the houses on Beat 5A section, Jackson banked mainly roach with a few perch and bleak fishing a combination of stick float and waggler tactics, with single and double red maggot on the hook, over hemp, caster and maggot feed to record a weight of 10lbs 8ozs.

Paul Wilding of Adventure & Prestcold A was third. Fishing the first peg below "Rosekiln Lane" road bridge on Beat 4B section, he banked mainly roach with a few perch and gudgeon, fishing stick float tactics with single caster on the hook, over hemp and caster feed, to record a weight of 8lbs 5ozs.

Nine anglers turned out for Bracknell Avocets' match on Sonning River, hoping it would fish better than our last visit, and it did.

The heavy rainfall overnight gave the river colour and reasonable flow down the middle.

Unfortunately this was the same day all the boats came out of the marina, sailed upstream turn round and sailed back in one continuous line.

The winner was Robin Reynolds with 8lbs 7ozs. In second place was Terry Smith with 6lbs 3ozs and just an ounce behind was Dave Brooks with 3lbs 9ozs.