Tony Hobbs won the first round of the Oxford Summer League on the River Thames with an excellent 52lb 12oz of bream on the pole.

The event saw eight teams of six at Abingdon and Culham. With the river still having good summer flow the roach were expected to show as they had all week for those practicing. Strong winds made presentation difficult, however, and it was bream that dominated the frame.

Tony, fishing for Drennan Oxford Yellow, drew in the rushes at Culham and had a brilliant first two hours catching 14 good bream and some smaller skimmers. All of his fish were taken on the pole at 11 metres over groundbait with a 3g float and worm on a size 14 hook. The sun came out after two hours and this coincided with the bream disappearing, but Tony had already done more than enough to take the victory.

In second place was Ian Young with 33lb 12oz. Ian drew in the wood at Culham and christened his 11ft Acolyte Ultra Feeder with eight bream on the open end feeder cast two-thirds across with worm and dead maggot on the hook, helping his Drennan Oxford Blue squad to a team win.

Result

• 1st Tony Hobbs (Drennan Oxford Yellow) 52lb 12oz
• 2nd Ian Young (Drennan Oxford Blue) 33b 12oz
• 3rd John Hassler (Isis) 17lb 7oz
• 4th Mark Lyndsey (Isis) 14lb 2oz
• 5th Gary Williamson (Devizes) 13lb 8oz

Teams

• 1st Drennan Oxford Blue, 39 points
• 2nd Drennan Oxford Yellow, 35 points
• 3rd Sensas A4, 32 points