Paul McLoughlin, Irish Angling Development Alliance, reports on the Irish Open Junior Canal Championships 2015, fished at Newry…
On a glorious morning young anglers from around the country, some making a 2 hour drive, descended on the Newry Canal opposite the Quays Shopping Centre.
After the dipping of nets they waited for a fun run to pass and headed for their pegs on the old coalyard stretch. The weather looked promising and a few fish were breaking the otherwise mirror like water.
The anglers divided into 2 sections, one for juniors and the other for novices that had never fished an organised match like this before.
At the 11.30 ALL IN, the apprehension of the supporting club members and families was relieved when floats started dipping and fish were being landed on every peg.
It was always going to be a dogfight with Eoin Rogers (Carrickmacross AC) drawing well on the end peg and NADA rivals Michael Kelly and Austin Conway drawing next to each other in the middle. The rivalry of these 2 young anglers was one to watch with Michael coming out on top at their recent encounter at the Junior Irish Open by only 200 grams. Aussie was ready for revenge.
In the novice section the biggest smile of the day was definitely young Caoalin Donnelly add he landed fish after fish clapping his hands and smiling from ear to ear. Also in the novice section Jack Howard on the top end peg fished a great match but his 4 kg 600g wasn’t enough top young Donnelly with 4kg 890g with Steven Ward taking 3rd in this section with a credible 4kg 390g. Steven is the nephew of legendary prosperous angler Seanie and certainly showed pedegree today.
At the weigh in the rivals Aussie and Michael recounted their last day of the 200gm difference and history was to repeat itself again with Michael again pipping his buddy with 4 kg 890g to 4kg 670g.
With several 4kg + along the way the best of the mid section was Liam Hubbock (NADA) with 6kg 010g when he weighed in a net of roach perch and quality hybrids.
It was suspected that this could be beaten by Eoin Rogers, who was seen landing some skimmers and hybrids. When Eoin tipped his net the “ooohhs” from the onlookers knew it would be close. But 5kg 500g wasn’t enough to take top spot.
After the presentation by Geoff Quinn and Peter Walsh, twice world pairs champion Philip Jackson yet again showed his character with an impromptu group coaching talk and his observations from the day. Information like this is invaluable and coming from such a respected angler the young men absorbed every word.
Many thanks to The Loughs Agency for their kind support of the event, to Geoff and Peter for the work, to all the clubs and families for the support of the anglers and to Maver for their support. Along with the wonderful medals £600 worth of tackle vouchers were presented to the winners and a Maver goodie bag for every entrant.
Events like this are so important in our sport and we are delighted to see the support given to them financially and otherwise by all the above. It is very difficult for young anglers to break into the sport without help in today’s world of technical angling and credit to everyone that gives their support in any way.
Irish Angling Development Alliance
IADA is an alliance of anglers, formed to address the many issues confronting the sport of Angling in Ireland today.
Web: http://irishangling.ie/
