The Schools National Championships

The Schools National Championships is one of the longest running junior events within schools - having been in operation since 1972.

Tackle manufacturers, Shakespeare have sponsored this event since its inauguration event.

Former angling buddy of the late Ivan Marks – Roy Marlow who formed part of the famous ‘Leicester Likely Lads’ squad has kindly supported the championships for the past few years by allowing his fishery “The Glebe” near Mallory Park in Leicestershire to host the event, which has proven to be such a valuable experience for those youngsters who have had the opportunity to fish this first class venue.

The 2006 Championships hosted 12 teams of 8 anglers with some schools travelling from as far North as Minsthorpe in South Yorkshire right down to Gloucestershire in the South.

Glyn Williams, who is the NFA Coach Development Manager and also the Team Manager and Coach for the two Worksop based Portland School squads has expressed his delight at the success of the teams, stating that the youngsters have done their school proud.

He goes on to say “Along with my fellow NFA Coach Ken Stevenson, we have been delivering angling coaching sessions at Portland since the year 2000.

In 2001 we entered two teams in the school national championships to help them gain some match experience and since then they have won the Team Gold on two occasions, they have won the individual champion title twice - coupled with individual silver and bronze places, as well as team silver and team bronze.

“Obviously the squad members are changing on a regular basis and of the 16 youngsters who took part in this year’s competition only four or five of them will be available for next year - so we will be using these individuals as the nucleus for the 2007 championships and bringing new youngsters through the ranks”

Summary of results for the Portland teams who took part in the 2006 Schools National Championships, held at the Glebe Fishery, Mallory Park, Leicestershire on Tuesday 19th September 2006.

Team Red

Jason Goulding (Captain)

Jake Craven

Thomas Davenport

Thomas Hunt Schools National Champions 2006

Nile Lilley

Kyle Moore

Luke Pickering

Drew Raynor

Team Blue

Robert Stocks (Captain)

Nathan Bierton

Daniel Fox

Joshua Hurst Schools National (Third Place) 2006

Nathan Parry

Nathan Price

Rickie Sambells

Troy Watkinson

Highest Weights Caught

Thomas Hunt 62lb 10oz (Section Winner)

Jason Goulding 48lb 11oz (Section Winner)

Thomas Davenport 40lb 15 oz (Third in Section)

Ricky Sambells 36lb 8oz

Nile Lilley 31lb 9oz (Section Winner)

Luke Pickering 27lb 9oz (Section Winner) 4 Section Winners

Kyle Moore 26lb 10oz (2nd in Section)

Troy Watkinson 26lb 3oz

Robert Stocks 24lb 10oz

Jake Craven 24lb 8oz (Third in Section)

Nathan Parry 18lb 10oz

Nathan Bierton 17lb 9oz

Joshua Hurst 15lb 6oz

Drew Raynor 12lb 2oz

Nathan Price 11lb 6oz

Chris Gibson 9lb 12oz

A total of 434lb of fish was caught between the 16 anglers for a rod average of 27lb 2oz

Individual Results

1st Matthew Gibbs (Toothill School) 87lb 11oz

2nd Thomas Hunt (Portland Red) 62lb10oz Three out of the top five individual places

3rd Jason Goulding (Portland Red) 48lb 11oz

4th Johnathan Binns (Minsthorpe) 45lb 4oz Ten out of the top fifteen individual places

5th Thomas Davenport (Portland Red) 40lb 15oz

Team Results

Winners - Portland Red with 86pts (for an average of 10.7pts per angler out of a possible max’m of 12pts)

Runners Up - Minsthorpe A (80pts)

Third Place – Portland Blue 72pts (for an average of 9pts per angler out of a possible 12)

Fouth Place – Valley Comprehensive 69pts

Fifth Place – Minsthorpe B 54pts

Glyn Williams – Portland Team Manager - NFA Coach Development Manager and WDAA Vice President