Competitions
CHARLIE DOES THE DOUBLE AS SENSAS FUTURE NETWORKS AND TEAM RAMMY WIN JUNIOR AND YOUTH NATIONALS
CHARLIE DOES THE DOUBLE AS SENSAS FUTURE NETWORKS AND TEAM RAMMY WIN JUNIOR AND YOUTH NATIONALS
REIGNING Youth National champion Charlie Law has completed an incredible double by winning the 2023 event with a massive 101kg catch from Tunnel Barn Farm.
The 19-year-old from Manchester – who also qualified for the Fish O Mania final in April – caught shallow down the edge and at top five section range on House pool’s peg 27 taking F1 carp steadily from the first whistle.
That made it two wins on the bounce after he scooped the 2022 contest at Westwood Lakes last summer.
Once again, the Nationals were hard-fought this year as 11 Junior teams and 14 Youth sides lined up at the Warwickshire complex for the Guru-sponsored Angling Trust competitions.
Team-wise it was Sensas Future Networks who claimed the 13- to 15-year-old age group Junior event in style with an 18 section point finish from the match ahead of Ramsbottom AA’s ‘Team Rammy’ on 21, and Worksop DAA on 23 points.
While they may have missed the top spot in the Junior match, Team Rammy made sure of victory in the Youth National with a 25-point score, just one point ahead of Moathouse Angling Blue, and Browning Youth Maroon on 29.
Youth winner Charlie Law’s prior Fish O qualification means that Junior winner Oliver Robinson, who took over 72kg from Canal Pool peg 24 – the second d best weight on the day – will be invited to the Fish O final later this month.
Charlie, fishing for winning side Team Rammy, said: “My peg has been consistent throughout the day rotating both shallow down the edges and shallow at five sections catching some big F1s going into the last hour where both lines went silly with one every drop.”
Along with their 2023 National medals, both sides and the top three individual anglers collect prizes from National sponsors Tackle Guru while every competitor received a commemorative medallion for fishing this year.
This year’s Nationals were split into three matches for the first time in many seasons following the increase in demand for places from young anglers. The Saturday event for Juniors and Youths saw 150 anglers between 13 and 20 compete on Tunnel’s High, New, Canal, House, Club, Top, Extension, Jenny’s, and Bottom pools.
On the bank keeping an eye on proceedings were all three of the Angling Trust England Youth team managers – U15s boss Joe Roberts, U20’s Jason Kirk, and U25 gaffer Mark Downes – who were not only checking in on the anglers selected for the World Champs in Portugal next month but also assessing the other youngsters.
Mark told us: “The standard of young anglers in this country just keeps getting stronger which bodes well for the future of our England teams.”
* A huge thanks to Sarah, Mike, Annette, and the team at Tunnel Barn Farm for hosting a superb event once again.
FULL RESULTS HERE…