LOCAL teams struck gold and bronze at the Embassy National Angling Championships. Some 888 fishermen representing 74 clubs took part in the event on the Boston Drains in Lincolnshire.

And a surprise gold went to Wigan's 26th Lancs Home Guard AS (pictured left) on 660 points.

Back on 611 were Van Den Eynde Crown, who have made rapid progress in recent seasons.

They were second in Division Five in 1997 and promoted from Division Four last year.

Skipper Kenny Baxter, 38, a local government officer from Whiteside Avenue, Hindley, was delighted with the bronze medal. He said: "We have had a great run in the Nationals and our tactics this time were to go for small fish right from the start to build up our points.

"We didn't have any section winners, but the tactics paid off as the whole team chipped in with vital points."

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