There was excellent financial support at the Cobble Acre charity open last week, raising funds for the Cromer branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

There was excellent financial support at the Cobble Acre charity open last week, raising funds for the Cromer branch of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

At the end of the day the generosity of anglers and the support of the Jackson and Starling Funeral Services helped boost the sum raised to a splendid �1,100 to emphasis again the caring face of the sport. The event was organised by North Walsham match ace Jim Randell and his wife Barbara and among the gifts for auction the most sought-after article was a Norwich City promotion shirt supplied by Canary photographer Roger Harris that was bought for �70.

Barbara Randell said the day had been a great success and thanked all those who had donated goods, money and time to the good cause where the winner was Martham's Stephen Rouse with 46lbs 12oz.

Elsewhere on the open match circuit carp catches rose to the highest levels of the year so far, headed by a massive 175lbs 2oz winner for Paul Ashford (Barford Tackle) on the Railway Lake.

John Stevens (Oddfellows) won at Colton with 161lbs 12oz and Mike Whittaker (DAD) headed the Barford card with 131lbs 4oz.

Marsh Trail's two day festival ended in triumph for John Catchpole of Lowestoft whose unblemished score of two penalty points earned him the �200 top cash prize. Winners of the Cobble Acre Carp marathon for pairs were Norwich duo Chris and Danny Green with 109lb 4oz.

On the specimen Carp lakes anglers reported the heaviest crop of the year. A total of twenty fish over 20lb were heaved out of Taswood the heaviest a 31lb Mirror for Tom Harris of Yarmouth. Others enjoying this May day break bonanza of 20 pond plus specimens were Norwich rods Roger Johnson, Ben Germaine, Daniel Warhurst, Mark Slater and James Topley, Richard Cooper of Saxlingham, Ben Carver of Loddon, Kevin Smith of Lingwood, Ian Hastings of Long Stratton, John Dunning of Hempnall and Will Nichols of Yarmouth.

Top fish at the Lyng Kingfisher lake were 34lb mirrors for Lee Church of Kings Lynn and William Reed of Norwich who also netted commons between 30lb and 33lb. Others with fish to the high twenties were John Bryant Wroxham, Brendon Delaney Fakenham, Daniel Parr Norwich, Stu Davidson Buxton, Steve Leisi Acle and Rob Germy of Bintree.

Taverham lakes produced a personal best Common Carp of 31lb 12oz for Chris Plumb of Lowestoft while at Waveney valley Peter Charles of Blofield bagged five carp between 20lb and 27lb 15oz.