The practice match for the first round of the Oxford Winter League saw 41 anglers on a very patchy and windy River Thames at Abingdon and Culham.

These stretches have been good all season but the fish are now showing signs of shoaling up .

First place went to Drennan Oxford’s Carl Eland with 15lb 11oz. He drew a deep swim downstream from Swift Ditch and had all roach and perch at 13m on caster over groundbait.

Mark Bowerman (Sensas A4) was just behind with 15lb 8oz. He drew opposite Wisham Road in Abingdon and had roach and skimmers on 13m pole and maggot over caster.

Third place was Alan Brown (ISIS Oxford) with 11lb 12oz including a near-7lb bream on feeder and worm from one of the rush swims at Culham. Fourth was Pete Bowles (Sensas A4) with a level 10lb of roach from the end peg at Abingdon.