Division 1 National Championship 2021 Report

Angling Trust Division 1 National Championships 2021

Grand Union Canal, Northampton

Saturday 14^th August 2021

418 fished

The Angling Trusts blue riband event was fished this year on the Grand Union Canal around Northampton with 42 teams competing.  In the run up to this match the canal hadn’t been fishing too well but a 2 week break for practice gave the fish a rest and it showed.  The canal fished reasonably well with some very good weights recorded, only 31 anglers failed to make 450gms (1lb) and there were no blanks which is all that can be asked for a small canal.

The Team result will surprise a few, with Sensas Devizes MG being crowned Division 1 National Champions 2021 and received the winners cheque of £1500.  But when you consider that the Devizes team live on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire which is a very similar canal then really it should be no surprise at all.  Their total of 301pts was 15pts clear of the mighty Barnsley & District whom were runners up and will receive £500 for their 286pts and Starlets AS took the bronze medal position with 284pts.

Nigel Franks from Sensas Devizes added

On the Individual front Dave Brown (Preston Innovations Black Horse) needed 19.170Kgs to win the prestigious Division 1 Individual title.  Fishing at peg 30 on B Section at Weedon, Dave caught skimmers on bread punch from the off and added some better samples to 3lb mid-way through the match before his peg started to fade but he had done enough to win.  Stu Bird (LTB Matrix Bait Tech) must have thought he had a good chance of winning when he put 16.700Kg on the scales from end peg 1 on D Section at Furnace Lane but in the end he had to settle for the runner up spot.  3^rd place went to Dale Malpas (Daiwa Gordon League) with 14.890Kg from peg 32 close to the winner at Weedon.

The full results breakdown can be found at www.match-angling.com.

Next year’s Division 1 National will see us move back to the R. Trent (Non-tidal) around Nottingham.

The Angling Trust would like to thank Chris Howard and his team for their help and assistance in running this match and Northampton Nene for use of their waters.

Team Result;

1^st          Sensas Devizes MG                                  301pts

2^nd         Barnsley & District                                    286pts

3^rd         Starlets AS                                                   284pts

4^th         Tricast Rochdale                                       283pts (25.610Kg)

5^th         Cadence Superteam Bait Tech              283pts (23.440Kg)

6^th         Team Daiwa Dorking                               281pts

Individual Result;

1^st          Dave Brown                    Preston Innovations Black Horse                                      19.170Kg

2^nd         Stu Bird                            LTB Matrix Bait Tech                                                             16.700Kg

3^rd         Dale Malpas                   Daiwa Gordon League                                                          14.890Kg

4^th         Colin Mayor                   Preston Innovations Sonu Baits North West                   12.590Kg

5^th         Barry Smith                    Colmic Northants                                                                   8.980Kg

6^th         Richard Whitmarsh      Sensas Devizes MG                                                                8.400Kg

Full results & information for 2022 will be available on the Division 1 National webpage.