A WEEK of frosts and low daytime temperatures left every stillwater covered in at least an inch of ice, so ice breakers were the order of the day before fishing for Braintree and Bocking Angling Society matches.

The Braintree club had a Sweep on Hobbs Croft at the Fennes and although all nine competitors caught fish, they were mainly small roach and perch.

The winner was Bill Walker, who used mainly bloodworm to catch 112 fish for a total weight of 2-5-0.

Sections (excluding winner): 1 J Loosley 1-10-8, 2 A Luetchford 0-10-12.

The ice on the lake at Notley on Friday was around one and a half inches thick, but there were four keen entrants, who helped each other clear their swims.

When the lake is frozen there is a £1 bet on the first fish and incredibly three of the four had a small perch first cast.

Walker claimed the money as he was the first to unhook his fish.

Jim Loosley was just behind, but he continued to catch roach and perch, plus one F1 to go on to win his third match on the trot with 5-10-0.

Walker also had spells of catching fish and finished with 3-2-0.

The Braintree club are back on Hobbs Croft for the third round of the Huit Cup on Sunday and hope the ice will be gone by the weekend.