The picture shows both squads with their trophies accompanied by Ken Stevenson (team coach), head teacher Paul Buck, and co-sponsor Gregg Forrestor

Two squads of young pupils from Portland Comprehensive School at Worksop in Nottinghamshire took part in the Schools National Championships that took place at Roy Marlow’s Glebe Fishery in Leicestershire where the ‘A’ squad proved that they were in a class of their own by taking the team championship title.

The squad members have been attending a series of ‘extra curriculum’ angling activities delivered by National Federation of Anglers (NFA) coach, Ken Stevenson who has been delivering the NFA Kingfisher Award Scheme to all of the team members.

Over the past four years the school squads have achieved team bronze, team silver, plus the individual champion on two occasions and this year they have now won the Team Championship Trophy.

On the day of the competition the successful eight man squad averaged over 32lb per member for a winning weight totalling 260lb 12oz and the ‘B’ squad took seventh place overall with a creditable 99lb 14oz of fish for a rod average of 12lb 7.75oz.

The squad of young anglers were sponsored by local tackle shops, Worksop Angling Supplies and Ken Ward Sports who provided all 16 anglers with the bait that proved to be so successful on the day.

The individual details are as follows:
Team A - Nathan Bierton 7lb 5oz, Lee Temperall 21lb9oz, Patrick Goulding 51lb 14oz (over 14’s 3rd place), Nathan Parry 25lb 6oz, Nathan price 67lb 8oz (under 14’s overall winner), Drew Raynor 21lb 8oz (section winner), Robert Stocks 7lb 12oz, Jason Goulding 57lb 14oz (under 14’s runner-up).

Team B - Chris Watkinson 12lb 7oz, Adam Watkinson 19lb 3oz, Paul Dickson 23lb 9oz, James Holliday 7lb 5oz, Matthew Morley 2lb 12oz, James Stockdale 6lb 12oz, Thomas Davenport 22lb 10oz, Nigel Lee 5lb 4oz.
The picture shows both squads with their trophies, team coach Ken Stevenson (representing sponsor Ken Ward Sports) and Greg Forrester of Worksop Angling Supplies (sponsor).
Overall team placings were: Portland A 64 points, Milnsthorpe 58pts, Valley 52pts, Portland B took 7th place with 43pts.

Quotes:
Portland head teacher Paul Buck states, “Angling has played a very important role in bringing the school and the community together. This success in the Schools National Championship is a wonderful achievement for the team and their coach Ken Stevenson.

“It was in the year 2000 when Glyn Williams, in his then capacity as the Senior Coach of the NFA East Midland Region approached me with a view of getting angling on the school curriculum as a ‘pilot’ project to deliver their Kingfisher Award Scheme throughout the Bassetlaw region. Having listened to what was involved in this magnificent project I was more than delighted to give my support to the scheme as an extra curriculum activity.

“For the following two years Glyn and Ken Stevenson attended the school on a weekly basis delivering their coaching skills, with Ken delivering on his own during the current academic year.

“The Kingfisher scheme involves Water Craft, Environment Awareness and Fish Biology and the attitudes that the scheme generates has led to this year’s success.

“I can see angling getting stronger and stronger at the school and I would hope that other schools will take the opportunity to develop similar projects giving more power to the NFA and it’s willingness to engage positively with young people from all backgrounds of the community.”

Co-sponsors
A delighted Greg Forrester (Worksop Angling Supplies) states “The success of both the squad and the individuals are testament to the input, time and effort put in through the NFA coaching scheme with special mention to Ken Stevenson who has been delivering the NFA Kingfisher Award Scheme during the past year. “I am proud to have had the opportunity to offer my support for the 2004 championship and will continue to do so on future occasions”.

Fellow sponsor Ken Ward (Ken Ward Sports) says, “I am proud of Portland’s achievement in the Schools National Championship, this will give greater encouragement to other youngsters in the area to take up angling. “I am also delighted to have had the opportunity to contribute to the team’s success by giving encouragement and provision of part of their bait”.

The final quote is left to an elated team coach, Ken Stevenson, “In my capacity as an NFA Licensed Coach I have worked very closely with these youngsters for the last four years on different techniques in angling and it made me emotionally proud when they were announced as winners of the Schools National Championships for 2004.

“The squad members are passionate about angling in all its forms and they became completely dedicated to the team plan when I announced it. “They fished collectively as a team, sharing ideas and even some of their tackle which gave their morale a tremendous boost.

“New talent is emerging at the school within the angling ranks; this now needs to be nurtured to generate continued success on future occasions.

“I would like to express my thanks to Carr Vale Angling Club for their magnificent support in allowing us the use of their facilities for practicing, to Gregg Forrester and Ken Ward for their sponsorship, to the head teacher Paul Buck, and to the school governors for allowing the two teams to have had the opportunity to enjoy the experience of competing.

“If more schools throughout the country took the same lead as Portland Comprehensive social barriers would be broken down and relationships would be bonded at an early age”.