Pevensey Bay Aqua beat their guests Hastings and St Leonards in a challenge match on the beach to close their year on a high.

The visitors arrived with 18 anglers so Aqua's match organiser, Ian Hopper, put the names of all 38 of his attending members in a hat and drew 18 out to even up the numbers.

Match result: Aqua 37lb 4 1/2oz; Hastings and St Leonards 27lb 1oz.

Hastings produced the top man overall in Ralph Crosby, who had 4lb 13,oz, but the next five were all Aqua: Terry Taylor 4lb 1 1/2oz, Paul Parsons 3lb 14 3/4oz, Dave Dawson 3lb 10 1/2oz, Ian Hopper 3lb 9 3/4oz and Barry McWilton 2lb 15 1/2oz. Second for Hastings was Fred Monk with 2lb 1/2oz.

Hopper's 15 3/4oz whiting was the best round fish and Crosby's 8oz flounder the best flattie. Top junior was Wesley Sargeant with 1lb.

In a photo-finish for the Aqua club championship, Neil Pamment took the title for the first time on 590 points, just one ahead of Keith Erridge and the defending champion Hopper back in third place on 566.

John Woolford clinched the Casablanca Cup awarded over the year for attendance and most specimens. Woolford's specimens were a 14lb bass, 1lb 15oz dogfish and 1lb 5oz whiting.

Gerald Sargeant, Glyn Morgan and Paul King became the Aqua team champions on 1,547 points with Pamment, Barry Hurd and Dave Hilder second on 1,518. Aqua's 2001 competitions from the beach start on January 9 at 7pm.

The Brenda Strudwick Memorial Open organised by Fernhurst on the River Lod at Lickfold was won by Cliff Fox who had 6lb 2,oz of roach. Sixteen anglers raised £70 for the McMillan Unit. Martin Holloway had 3lb 14oz (roach), Glyn Jones 3lb and Kevin Freeman 2lb 4oz.

Rother's 20 anglers beat Stedham, who had half that number, at New Pond. Rother's top three were Martin Clarke with 6lb 8oz of skimmers and roach, Dave Clarke with one carp and skimmers for 4lb 4,oz and Nick Merritt with 4lb 4oz. Top for Stedham was John Anscombe who had a carp dominate his 3lb 10oz.

- Ray Potten