ALAN Stephens won the 2015 Evesham Veterans Championship with a 4-0-0 net from peg 53 on Wednesday.
The Alcester rod caught some good perch on maggot feeder tactics, fishing just past the marginal weed.
With bloodworm and joker being banned in this championship, weights were lower than when the bait – which is known for triggering fish into feeding – is allowed, as it is at the August Bank Holiday Evesham Festival.
Still, competitors enjoyed a close match, with just eight ounces separating first place from fifth. Coming in second was Chris Wade with a weight of 3-15-0 from peg 8. Wade caught dumpy perch on feeder tactics.
Stan Piecha was third from end peg one, thanks to a 3-12-0 small fish net taken on groundbait and pinkie tactics.