‘What do they have to do to get recognition’
Last
week I had the pleasure of reporting on the magnificent sporting success
of Philip Green from Whitwell who, as you are all aware, won the 2001
Bassetlaw Senior Sportsman of the Year Award.
This week, and without detracting from Philip’s individual success
story, I wish to ask the question: “What does a squad of young sports
girls and boys have to do to get recognised by their own local Sports
Awards Group?”
For the life of me, I cannot understand why the Junior Angling Section
of Worksop and District did not win the Junior Team Award.
However, on the night, one got the impression in the early stages of the
presentation evening that the sport we are proud to be associated with
would not be recognised for the team award, as angling was not even included
in the opening video action shots.
Just for the record let us look at all of the facts, coupled with this
is a challenge to anyone involved with the award ceremonies to prove to
me that any other junior sporting group in the whole COUNTRY has achieved
what Worksop’s junior anglers achieved during 2001.
The three teams (of varying ages) within the Worksop Junior Angling Section
are the current TRIPLE champions of England after taking part in the only
National angling event that is organised by the sports governing body,
the National Federation of Anglers who were formed in 1903.
As an added bonus, the junior squad have won their category for three
consecutive years - this 'feat' will probably never ever be achieved again!
They
are the current Intermediate English National Team Champions (16 to 19
years of age)
They are the current Junior English National Team Champions (13 to 16
years of age)
They are the current Cadet English National Team Champions (10 to 13 years
of age)
They ALSO have the current Intermediate English National Individual Champion
(Philip Green - Whitwell) with a new national record weight of 43lb 14oz
They ALSO have the current Junior English National Individual Champion
(Steven Forster - Dinnington) with a new national record weight of 31lb
15oz
They ALSO have the current Cadet English National - Individual Bronze
Medallist (Matthew Godfrey - Wales)
They are ALSO the current Junior - East Midland Regional Team Champions
They are ALSO the current Cadet - East Midland Regional Team Champions
They took the Individual gold, silver and bronze medals in the Junior
section of the East Midland Regional Championship
They took the Individual gold medal in the Cadet section of the East Midland
Regional Championship
They took the top two individual prizes in the prestigious (and televised)
Junior Fish O' Mania final through Steven Forster (Dinnington - 32lb13.5oz),
followed by Craig Locke (Anston - 27lb 9oz.)
The 2001 Cadet Team captain Patrick Goulding (Langold) is the current
Individual Schools National Angling Champion with a new championship record
weight of 65lb 13oz
They also have a current England Youth International squad member in Andrew
Pickersgill (Worksop) who represented his country in this year's World
Youth Championships that were held in Hungary.
For the
benefit and clarification of the pessimists, the word SPORT is classified
as an activity for pleasure and competition, exercise and enjoyment. We
fit that criteria!
These young anglers have had to travel all around the country to compete
against as many as 50 teams to earn their glory.
On arrival at the venue, they have to physically carry, push or pull their
expensive gear, sometimes over rough terrain to get to their pegs.
They then have to spend in excess of a one hour period of preparation
of their equipment before they actually start competing against the opposition
for periods of between three to five hours none stop, sometimes in very
severe weather conditions.
Once the competition is over, they then have to reverse all of the above
drawn out procedures before they congregate to hear the results.
The whole process of travelling to a venue, getting to their peg, setting
up, competing, dismantling their equipment, getting back to their pick
up points and travelling back home can take anywhere between 10 to 16
hours of a day, and sometimes necessitates overnight stays in hotels etc.
Such is the success of the Worksop Junior Angling section that the National
Federation of Anglers themselves actually nominated them as the Team of
the Year at Sport England’s NATIONAL Sports Award Ceremony.
This public statement is not sour grapes on my part. Indeed, I would like
to congratulate all of the worthy winners of this year’s Bassetlaw
Sports Awards who received recognition for their achievements during 2001,
especially to Clarborough Football Club who took the Junior Team Award
under very stressful circumstances.
However, I must empathise with the large group of youngsters who collectively
have secured top places in numerous regional and national events that
were contested by hundreds of other youngsters from around the country.
They have certainly played their part in putting WORKSOP in the sporting
record books forever.
If they can get nominated for a national award by an outside organisation,
WHY is it that they do not get the recognition from their own local council’s
Sports Development Group? I rest my case.
Gateford Angling Supplies/Angling Star
The latest
event took place at Church Lane, Retford where 28 anglers lined the banks
to try and gain more valuable points towards the aggregate league table.
Top rod on the day was Roy Butterfield (Ashima Worksop) who had a mixed
bag for 8lb 7oz from peg 22.
Runner-up was Richard Turner (Ashima Worksop) 6lb 13.5oz (p23), other
leading weights were Steve Shepherd (Ashima Worksop) 6lb 6oz (p27), Richard
Wilson (Browning Leegem) 5lb 7oz (p41), Gary Nugent 5lb 6oz (p28), Shaun
Batty (Rhodesia) 5lb 5oz (p26). Section winners were (10 to 21) Phil Gregory
(Killamarsh) 5lb 1.5oz), (22 to 31) Gary Nugent 5lb 6oz, (32 to 42) Neal
Swannack (Worksop) 3lb 8oz.
Cromwell Lake is currently yielding pike to 26lb with half a mackerel
as the favoured bait, and carp running into double figures being caught
on mulberry flavoured boilies.
Go Baits Open Matches
Stuart
Goulding, the proprietor of the Go Baits tackle at Langold will be organising
a 22 match series of Open Events at Langold Lake on Sunday 3rd February.
The entry fee is £12, the draw will take place at 9am and fishing
will be from 10am until 3pm. There are no bait bans. For further details
contact Stuart on 01909 540105.
Worksop United’s Winter League match results are as follows: (Wednesday
at Bracebridge) – sponsored by Gateford Angling Supplies, –
Pete Nunn 4lb 11oz, Geoff Mawby 2lb 8oz. (Saturday at Ranby) – sponsored
by Angling Supplies of Retford Road – Keith Foster 6lb 1, Malcolm
Rushton 5lb 3oz, Mick Allen 5lb 1oz.
The permit holders match tomorrow will take place at Ranby (£4 entry,
draw at 9am) with fishing from 10am until 3pm.
Club members should note that the 2002 fees are due to be paid on or before
the 28th February. Failure to pay by this date will result in your membership
being forfeited. No exceptions to be made.
 |
Yours in Sport Glyn |