Daithi Nevin, overall winner of the 2025 National Junior Competition (Daniel Peacock Memorial) Sea Angling competition seen here being presented with his prize by Sue Steer & Ann Taylor. Daithi had 18 fish and 160 points on the day. Daithi also received a prize for the largest Bulhuss (measuring 105 cms)
The National Junior Competition / Daniel Peacock Memorial 2025 took place in the seas around beautiful Clew Bay over the weekend of the 28th and 29th of June
This was a special occasion as it marked the 20th anniversary of the passing of a local club angler and the grandson of our former club secretary, Sue Steer.
The overall winner of the competition was Daithi Nevin with an impressive haul of 14 dogfish, two ray and two bulhuss giving him a total of 160 points on the day. Congrats to Daithi from all at the club!
Sue and her sister Ann were on hand to present the Daniel Peacock Memorial trophy & replica, and a voucher on behalf of the Peacock family
Daithi and his family are great supporters of the club and was a worthy winner as he is in his final year as a Junior Angler (after many close attempts over the years).
A group of Junior Novice Anglers who participated in the recent 2025 National Junior Competition (Daniel Peacock Memorial) on Saturday 28th of June and hosted by Newport SAC.
Other category winners included Lochlann Mulchrone who won the 8yrs to 13yrs category with 12 fish and 90 points. Dmytro Krys won the 14yrs to 18yrs category with 11 fish and 75 points.  Charlie Moran  was the winner of the Novice section with 2 fish and 30 points. The prize for the largest ray was Finn Grealis who landed a 52.5cm ray. Daithi Nevin won the largest Bulhuss prize with a 105cm long huss. Sean Óg Ó’Ruain was the winner of the 20th anniversary special prize and received a rod, reel & tackle box sponsored by Sue Steer. Jack O’Haire was the proud recipient of a left handed reel and rod sponsored by Shane Gilvarry. Boatmans prize went to Reg Roynane who skippered the Lady Helen.
Dmytro Kris was the winner of the 14 to 18 years category with 11 fish & 75 pts.
Lochlann Mulchrone was the winner of the 8 to 13 years category with 12 fish & 90 pts.
Charlie Moran was the winner of the Novice section with 2 fish & 30 pts.
The competition opened on Saturday when the anglers from the Novice category headed out to sea to battle it out in dull but calm conditions.
The fish were scarce on the day and there was very little between all anglers at the end of the day.  In fact only 0.5 of a centimeter separated the eventual Novice winner (Charlie Moran – Westport) and the runner up (Shamie Goggins – Fahy)
Junior anglers Shane Durkan, Sean Nevin, Noah McNulty and Jack O’Haire Joyce received a prize for catching the first fish on each boat.
Day 2 began at a slightly later time due to the tides. Check in began at 10am and all of the junior anglers were treated to a freshly cooked breakfast sausage (kindly sponsored by Keanes butchers) and a hot cup of tea for the parents. The 3 boats departed on schedule and headed out to sea guided by the experienced, local skippers. The designated lines down time of 12pm came and went and it took a while for the fish to pick up the scent of the bait trail from the anglers. All anglers took a well earned break at the designated lunchtime and it wasn’t until after lunch until the fishing improved for all boats. Each boat had a committee member and a club helper on board along with the skipper to assist the young anglers to take off fish, re-bait traces and help with the odd tangle or two!.
Jack O’Haire Joyce was the recipient of a fishing rod & left handed reel sponsored by Shane Gilvarry
The boats returned to the pier in the evening and were met by the eagerly awaiting parents. The numbers of fish caught by the young anglers was exchanged in groups on the quayside and in some cases even exaggerated to add to the fun.
The prize presentation began at 8pm and all anglers and their families were welcomed by the club Youth Officer Shane Gilvarry.
Sean Óg Ó’Ruain was the recipient of a fishing rod, reel and tackle box sponsored by Sue Steer to mark the 20th anniversary of the Daniel Peacock Memorial.
Shane began by thanking our 2025 sponsors without whom the club could not run the event.
The full list of sponsors include: Sue Steer & family (main sponsor), Councillor Brendan Mulroy (main sponsor), Fisheries Ireland (main sponsor), The Marine Institute Furnace, Westport Credit Union, Westport Hotel Group, Midwest Furniture,  Ann Taylor, Padraic McCormack, Westport House, Castlebar Self Storage,  Keanes butchers, Mayo Movie World, Avondale House Mulranny, Doherty’s Mulranny,  The Port Chipper  & Seosamh McNally.
Daithi Nevin with a 105cm Bullhuss – winner of the largest Bulhuss category.
The club would also like to thank Declan Nevin and family for providing the venue for the presentation and minerals and crisps for the children during the presentation. Without the help and support from each and every one of our sponsors, the event would not have taken place.
A group of Junior anglers on board the Finnaun, skippered by Joe Gibbons with club mentors Sean Fahy and David Nevin on board.
A group of Junior anglers on board Mo Chara, skippered by Darragh Magee with club mentors Shane Gilvarry and Stuart Fynnes on board.
The presentation closed on a sad note with the announcement from Sue that this was the final year of sponsoring this particular event. The club would like to take the opportunity to sincerely thank Sue for her commitment and support over the last 20 years. The Daniel Peacock Memorial cup was a much sought after prize over the years and a fitting tribute to our former club junior angler.
A group of Junior anglers on board the Lady Helen, skippered by Reg Roynane with club mentor Declan Moran on board.
Next year will open a new chapter in the 60 year history of the club and we are all looking forward to next year’s event. Please contact any member of the club if you wish to get involved in helping out at any of our events throughout the year!
We are now taking entries for our next competition scheduled for the 2nd & 3rd of August (59th Annual Sea Angling Festival). Contact any member of the committee for more details.
Finn Grealis pictured landing the largest ray of the day (52.5cms) on board the Finnaun

 

A group of happy junior anglers returning to Newport Quay following a busy days fishing on board the Lady Helen

Full list of results as follows:

Overall Category: 
Daithi Nevin  was the overall winner of the 2025 National Junior Competition (Daniel Peacock Memorial) Sea Angling competition with 18 fish and 160 points  .

Novice Category: 

1st place – Charlie Moran (2 fish – 30 pts)        2nd place – Shamie Goggins (2 fish – 30 pts)  3rd place – Oisin Martin (4 fish – 20 pts)

4th place– Darren Goggins (1 fish – 20 pts)  5th place – James O’Haire Joyce  (1 fish – 20 pts)  6th place – Poppy Goggins  (1 fish – 15 pts) 

8 years to 13 years category:

Winner: Lochlann Mulchrone (12 fish – 90 pts)    Runner up: Eoghan Collins (12 fish – 80 pts)      3rd place: Ethan Conway  (8 fish – 70 pts)

4th place: Brendan Smyth (8 fish – 60 pts)  5th place: Jacob Jones (6 fish – 60 pts)  6th place: Jack O’Haire Joyce (7 fish – 55 pts)       

14 years to 18 years category:

Winner:   Dmytro Krys (11 fish – 75 pts)     Runner up: Sean Nevin (7 fish – 65 pts)        3rd place: Holly McGee (7 fish – 55 pts)   h place: Shane Durkan (4 fish – 40 pts)     

First Fish on Boat Winners:

Mo Chara (Saturday) – Noah McNulty

The Finnaun – Shane Durkan

Lady Helen – Jack O’Haire Joyce 

Mo Chara (Sunday) – Sean Nevin

Largest Ray: Finn Grealis (52.5 cms)

Largest Huss: Daithi Nevin (105 cms)

Junior Anglers Raffle (20th anniversary special prize): Sean Og O’Ruain – winner of a fishing rod, reel and tackle box sponsored by Sue Steer

Junior Anglers special prize): Jack O’Haire Joyce – winner of a fishing rod & reel sponsored by Shane Gilvarry

Boatmans Prize: For best angler average score was Reg Royannewho skippered the The Lady Helen.

Congrats to all winners and thanks to everyone who took part on the day!

 

Go Fishing…

Sea Fishing in Clew Bay