NINETY-seven rods took part in the North West Association of Sea Angling Clubs' Permit Holders' Fur & Feather match in the Mersey Estuary.

While many of the established matchmen fished their favourite hotspots at Seaforth, Ged Vann, a relative newcomer to sea angling, headed upriver with his cousin, Steve Cannell, to Otterspool Promenade.

Their instincts proved well founded as they finished this best of two species five hour event with first and second in the roundfish pool with codling of 4-0-0 and 3-14-8 (to black lug tipped with squid), as well as in the overall standings.

Ged will be presented with the Fur & Feather trophy at the Association's 2003 presentation evening at the Parkview Social Club, Wallasey.

John Waugh, Wirral's acknowledged Mersey shore angling expert, was runner-up in the roundfish cash pool (jointly with Steve Cannell) for the second year running - he is determined to win it eventually! His codling came from the rocks at Seaforth.

Bob Murphy managed to locate a flounder of exactly a pound to skittle the myriad dab hopefuls and take the flatfish pool.

RESULTS - 1, Ged Vann (Litherland), 4-11-0, codling and whiting; 2, Steve Cannell (Liverpool), 4-10-0, codling and whiting; 3, Billy van Geffen (Wallasey), 4-0, codling and whiting; 4, John Waugh (Wallasey), 4-7-0; 5, David Irvine, 4-2-0; 6, Dave Morell (Colwyn Bay), 4-1-0.

Roundfish Pool: 1, G. Vann, codling, 4-0-0; 2=, S. Cannell and J. Waugh (Wallasey), both codling, 3-14-8. Flatfish Pool : 1, Bob Murphy (Woodchurch), flounder, 1-0-0; 2, Joe Burns, dab, 0-13-8; 3, Peter James, dab, 0-11-0.