Junior Canal Championships

This entry was posted on 29th October, 2018

Sunday October 21st was the date set for this year's Junior Canal Championships, organised by Peter Henery from The Canal & River Trust, and this year sponsored by Angling Direct. The Grand Union Canal at Church Eaton was the scene for the match, with over 80 juniors fishing the competition in three sections. The total numbers made it the largest junior national canal match in over a decade.



The draw took place in the Royal Oak pub where juniors also received an AD goody bag full of canal related fishing items for taking part. With smiling faces they headed off to find their peg and get themselves ready for the 12pm start.



The juniors split into two categories, Junior and Youth. Both would fish on separate sections of the canal but the competition would be just as heated. The match started promptly at 12pm and from the off the juniors caught steadily especially on the inside line. Plenty of small roach, perch and gudgeon were being caught. With a large field it was hard to establish who was leading but by the half way point none of the juniors had an empty keep net.



The youth match was even more frantic, with an even smaller stamp of fish succumbing with frightening regularity. It was great to see such a skilled field and as the match progressed in the youth section it was clear to see that a larger fish could prove to be the deciding factor, which kept things incredibly exciting to the end.



Into the last hour of the match, and with a couple of specimen perch and larger roach landed in the junior section, it was going to be a close run weigh in. With the all out called the team of volunteers and Canal and River Trust helpers went about weighing in. The junior match was won by Billy Kirk with 3.300kg. whilst close behind in second was Michael Wallwork with 3.100kg and third was Molly Davies with 2.550kg. It was great to see not only a healthy competition and canal but a great presence from both boys and girls all fishing together in good spirits.



The youth section was won by former Fosters Of Birmingham worker Kieran Woodward, followed in second by Jack Taylor with 1.400kg and in third Joshua Derry with 1.300kg. With no big fish showing this was a hard fought win with over 120 fish banked in the four hour match by the winner.



After the weigh in the juniors headed back to the Royal Oak pub to be presented with Angling Direct prizes and celebrate a fantastic day's fishing. The day was an incredible success, proving that, with correct resources and backing, junior angling is on the up and the future of the sport we love so much is healthy.