Hope wins Ure festival on weight

Local knowledge proves the key to victory

Ripon Piscatorials Three Day Festival (Tues – Thurs)
River Ure, Streams (36 pegs)

Martin Hope ran out overall winner in this popular three-day River Ure festival with a superior weight of 22-2-0, against  Steve Newns’ 13-8-0, after the pair tied on three points.
Cold nights, clear water and bright sun made this a bit of a test for most and local knowledge was always going to be an advantage because,  after Day 1, the chub didn’t show in numbers.
Top weight on Day 1 went to Brian Sowerby on noted peg 7, where he banked 10 quality chub for 45-8-0.
The Day 2 honours went to the in-form Rob Pickles, who had won the Ure Champs the previous Sunday and drew the same peg on Wednesday to record 18-12-0 of chub.
Going into the final day Martin Hope and Steve Newns were tied at the top on two points.
RSPS river maestro Jim Taylor recorded the best barbel match weight of the season from the river to win Day 3 with 29-3-0.
Overall: 1 M Hope, Northern Angling Ripon, 3pts (22-2-0); 2 S Newns, KL Tackle, 3 (13-8-0); 3 N Proctor, Northern Angling Ripon, 4 (24-4-0); 4 K Weighell, DH Angling, 4 (10-6-0); 5 B Sowerby, Darlington, 6.