MAIDSTONE match angler Mark Rogers lifted the British Sea Angling Championship staged at Deal. His reward was the top prize of £1,180 and 20 Penn points in the National League for a catch of 19 pouting weighing 3.280K.

Pegged at Harold Road in zone two, Rogers found the fish feeding close in to the groyne and fished at 20 yards all day to build his winning bag. Runner-up was Andrew Stone, of Sidcup, with a similar catch, also from zone two, for 2.770Kg and third was Fawley matchman, Wayne Edgington with 2.740Kg from zone two.

The groynes between the Royal Hotel and Sandown provided 16 of the top 20 places which came as a pleasant surprise for many competitors, including Rogers, who thought their draw was a bad one. But an overcast day and continual rain prompted an inshore invasion of pouting through zone two and many found the fish casting short. Conditions proved difficult in the other two zones, with a total of 131 out of the 262 competitors taking fish to the scales.

Biggest fish was an 800gram bass worth £1500 to Cardiff visitor, Robert Ellis, fishing at Walmer.

The ladies' championship winner was Emma Davies of Deal, who finished 37th overall with 940 grams. Deal's Thomas Williamson won the Junior title with 1.125Kgs.

The team event was won by Marsh Tackle Relum, made up of Mark Rogers, Saul Page, Brian Davies and Mick Davies with 6.435Kg.

A mystery scad like fish was caught by Peter Godden of Deal, weighing 6oz. It is being investigated as a possible British record rare species.