THE recent hot weather and low water conditions did not prevent the shoals of bream returning to Malvern Anglers’ stretch of the River Severn at Holdfast.

Top rod Paul Lane heaved out a record weight for the water to win the John Perks Memorial Cup.

Pegged at the top of the stretch, Lane landed bream up to 4lb, with maggot ground bait feeder tactics being prevalent.

He had a hectic first two hours where he took fish after fish, eventually weighing in a net-breaking 41lb 0oz.

Ian Goddard claimed the runners-up spot with 13-0.

Pegged on the lower stretch, he fished a long-line feeder midstream, finding quality skimmers.

Chris Loveridge was third with 6-7, using the rarely-seen large waggler float fished down the middle to get a mixed bag of bream.

The top five was completed by Rich Webster (5-7) and Dennis Flanagan (4-13).