ENGLAND YOUNG GUNS LEAD THE WAY IN HOME NATIONS CLASH

The 2024 Sea Angling Liaison Committee (SALC) Home Nations Shore Angling Championships produced a real mixed bag of results for the competing Angling Trust England teams, after two days of action on tough beaches around the Scottish town of Arbroath and city of Dundee.

There was joy for the Under 16s as they took the gold medals, silvers for the Under 23s and bronze for the Women’s side, but unfortunately, no joy for the Men as they ended up fourth.

Fishing the Elliott Beach and Riverside Drive areas over two days, the Under 16s team of Archie Sweetland, Braydon Aldous, Mark Banham, Sophie Cossey, Chris Stokes and Lexie Groves, under the management ofPaul Driver and Chris Sweetland recorded 33 points to make it a hat-trick of gold medals in this event.

Winning day one with 16 points, the young guns went on to turn in a repeat performance on day two for victory by seven points from Ireland, Wales taking the bronze medals.

And while there are no individual medals in this event, England’s Mark Banham was best on show with eight points thanks to two section wins, teammate Sophie Cossey finishing in second on seven points.

At Under 23 level, England had to settle for silver as hosts Scotland took gold on 23 points, England’s 10 points on each day securing second by three points from Ireland, Wales unable to fish the event.

Managed by Paul Strange and Malcolm Stote, England fielded a squad consisting of Danny Parker, Owen Strange, Tom Ryder, Samuel James, Curtis Driver, and Chelsie Bale.

Dan was England’s best performer with a section win and second for five points, Owen, Samuel and Curtis all recording four points apiece.

In the women’s event, again only three teams competed as Wales sat the match out. That meant a guaranteed medal for England, hopefully gold, but it wasn’t to be as their 18 total put them third to earn bronze, a point behind Scotland with Ireland taking the golds on 21.

It started well with overall victory on day one, the second match proving to be a bit of a struggle, especially as England only had five anglers to pick from. They were Donna Bayford, Nicola Davies, Michelle Spragg, Sally Tucker and England’s top scorer with a section first and second, Maralyn Wicks; Stewart Wicks and Kevin Warner taking care of the management duties.

Perhaps the most disappointing result of all was the men’s. With a strong squad of Nathan Elliott, Philip A Lee, Joe Plumstead, George Smith, Joe Wales and Steve Rathbone, led by management duo Ian Bowell and Simon Knight, hopes were high, but ultimately dashed on two tough venues that saw them finish in fourth place.

Ireland got gold but only on fish numbers caught after tying with hosts Scotland on 27 points, Wales helping themselves to bronze on 24.

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SALC Under 16’s Home Nations Shore Angling Championships result:

1 Angling Trust England, 33pts

2 Ireland, 26

3 Wales, 23

4 Scotland, 18

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SALC Under 23’s Home Nations Shore Angling Championship result:

1 Scotland, 23pts

2 Angling Trust England, 20

3 Ireland, 17

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SALC Women’s Home Nations Shore Angling Championship result:

1 Ireland, 21pts

2 Scotland, 19

3 Angling Trust England, 18

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SALC Men’s Home Nations Shore Angling Championships result:

1 Ireland, 27pts (fish numbers countback)

2 Scotland, 27

3 Wales, 24

4 Angling Trust England, 21