Red Hill Fishery in Monmouth again hosted a Welsh national angling championship, this time for competitors aged 50 and over.

On a pleasant sunny day, competitors found the going tougher than anticipated, but fair, as the fish seemed more evenly spread throughout the lake.

Venue regular, Tony Summers who is grouped with the strong Sirhowy match club, won in 2011 and repeated the feat this year – but only just.

The Brockweir man recorded a winning weight of 45lbs 10ozs to just pip second placed Phil Rawlings, also of Sirhowy, by eight ounces. In fact a mere five pounds in weight separated the top five.

Pegged on the opposite bank to last year, Tony fished long pole virtually throughout the five-hour contest taking some big carp on maggot hook bait.

"I was last but one to draw, but when I pulled out peg 2 I couldn't believe my luck as it was the peg I was hoping to get," he said.

Phil Rawlings used similar tactics, but with sweet corn hook bait.

On the day, most of the top men lost fish, as the influx of cold water and bright conditions made the prolific head of carp finicky. In fact an encouraging number of silver fish – mainly small bream and roach – were caught to supplement the resident carp.

The main prize list contained five Sirhowy members with just David Couzens of Merthyr breaking the Sirhowy dominance with third spot overall.

Organiser Anthony Rees MBE was delighted with the day.

"The close fishing gave us a nail-biting finish with the result not being clear until the last man was weighed in," he said.

"Colin Miles and his team have again put on an excellent show at this superb angling venue."