Roy WebsterA top North Norfolk beach angling organiser has proved he has the skill to compete with the best in the country by carrying off top honours in the National Penn Tackle League for club anglers run by Sea Angler magazine.Roy Webster

A top North Norfolk beach angling organiser has proved he has the skill to compete with the best in the country by carrying off top honours in the National Penn Tackle League for club anglers run by Sea Angler magazine.

Tony Thomas from Sheringham lifted the top prize of sea fishing tackle worth �1,000 with a season's points score of 69 while runner-up Michael Warne of The Southern Club Fountain sea anglers scored 49.5 points. The champion's club Holt AC came second in the team challenge with 120.5 points, beaten by Sefton AC with 139.

The 63-year-old retired IT resource director and current secretary of the North Norfolk Division of the National Sea League and his local evening league, said he was delighted to win the competition while fishing under the Holt club banner.

"I have been a member of Holt for more then 10 years, love my beach fishing and I am proud to win this tournament, not only for myself but for Holt too," he declared,

"The competition is run for grass roots beach anglers and for me it comprised about 20 events all over the country. I look forward to receiving my tackle voucher and it will be a problem deciding which items of tackle to chose, although this will not be a burden!"

Another success story from the match circuit comes from the West Norfolk Cross Drove Fishery where, against all the odds, Martin Woods of Emneth came from nowhere to pocket the �1,000 top cash prize from the two day final staged on the Hockwold Fishery.

Amazingly the 50-year-old retired British gas engineer did not qualify for the final until last Wednesday when he seized his only chance to make the grade with a third place 36lb 5oz. On day one of the final he struggled to find fish and ended his five hour stint with just one solitary carp of 8lb 4 oz.

"I did not draw well on Saturday and the swim seemed barren of fish until I had that one bite, And to be honest I did not believe I had a chance on day two," he admitted.

But in match angling hope constantly springs eternal and on his second shift the ultimate champion scored a runaway victory with a great catch of 82lb 1oz that boosted his two day aggregate to an all conquering 90lb 5oz to take the rostrum to receive the top cash prize, won by a margin of more then 7lb.

"Everything went right on the second day. I drew a decent peg, never missed a single bite and landed every carp I hooked. I nearly gave up after the first day but fortunately I stayed in the match to overtake all the favourites," he said.

Elsewhere on the match lakes returns rose to three figures. Father and son Colin and Nathan Reynolds headed the Cotessey Crown card at Barford respectively with 116lb 4oz and 105 lb 2oz.

Long Stratton's winner at the Railway was N Seaman with 95lb 12oz and M Wiles was the Attleborough match group winner at Hinderclay with 90lb 5oz.

Of the open events the Mill Farm winner was Ray Kent (Jolly Boys) with 95lb 8oz while at Hill Farm Banham D Chadwick (Wymondham) netted the year's best winner of 75lb 12oz and Kevin Ford won on his Barford home water with 76lb 5oz.

Big fish waters impressed with massive carp, of which the best was a 34lb 8oz Taswood mirror bagged by Long Stratton's James Dawson.

Other mirrors and commons in the twenties from this venue fell to Chris Bonner and Steven Best of Stowmarket, Andrew Leeks, Tharston, Carlo Rossini, Poringland, Geoff Greenaway, Hempnall and Lee Ridland, Suffolk.

Fish of the week at the Lyng Kingfisher lake was a 33lb 6oz mirror of Mark Playford of Foulsham. Dave Mutton, Lingwood, bagged one of 30lb 4oz while a crop of twenties were caught by Lee Church and Dave Gidney of King's Lynn, Ian Cook of Watton, Stu Davison of Buxton and Luke Prest of Norwich.

Len Constance of Hethersett had Swangey's best, a 32lb mirror and other fish around the mid twenties were netted by Rick Grimmer of Acle, Sam Shaw of Filby and Attleborough's Rob Carter and Danny England. Dozens of fish came out of Taverham lake, the top specimen a 25lb common carp for Mark Gray of Norwich while at Waveney Valley more then a score of twenties fell to visiting anglers.

The Bailiff of the fishery at Chapel Road, Roughton - Terry Wood - has asked for the contact number for season permits be changed to his mobile 07821 724 810.