National Junior Angling Association Knockout 2007

Langwith Lakes York

Saturday 12th May saw the four best junior teams in the North East battling for a place in the finals of the NJAA knockout 2007.

As some of the best juniors in the country took each other on this promised to be a hard match and the young anglers settled down well under the pressure. As I walk the bank and get word of who is catching what I usually get a feel for how the match is going. However, on Saturday the competition was intense and it was difficult to see who was in front.

When I stopped to see how Joel Whitley was getting on he responded in his usual cool, calm and confident manner that he was “getting a few bits’. When I asked how May Potter was getting on she said “OK, bites are a bit slow” even though I had just watched her catch two fish in as many minutes. Josh Reynolds was battling on and catching fish but not at the rate he would have liked. Luke Wrezeck said he thought the angler from Worksop would win the section as he had been catching steadily. Nathan Murphy was fishing well but under pressure from one of the Leeds team. As usual Nathan countered by quietly concentrating his energy on fishing his swim. I didn’t see Matty Mee catch but he was quietly confident saying little as I asked him how he was doing. His dad said he thought that the Barnsley angler was in front.

The match was a five hour match and it was non stop pressure for everyone. The anglers knew the high standard of competitors they were taking on and of course, this just increased the commitment to win. No-one could afford to waste any effort and knew they had to pull out all the stops to come out on top. They all wanted a chance to win the prestigious NJAA Knockout on the 2nd June 2007, and only the first and second get though to the final on Larford Lakes, Stourport.

Happily, the sustained efforts paid off and Wakefield Juniors won the day. Paul Stead, Leeds manager, presented the trophies and prizes which were kindly donated by United Baits.

PEG TEAM WEIGHT POSITION
30 Barnsley 20 lb - 8oz 3rd
1 Wakefield 45 lb - 14oz 1st Sec Win May Potter
2 Leeds 27 lb - 10oz 2nd
3 Worksop 19 lb - 2oz 4th

5 Barnsley 27 lb - 14oz 2nd
6 Wakefield 20 lb - 2oz 3 rd Josh Reynolds
7 Leeds 14 lb - 8oz 4th
8 Worksop 33 lb - 10oz 1st Sec Win

10 Barnsley 17 lb - 7oz 2nd
11 Wakefield 11 lb - 4 oz 3rd Luke Wrezeck
12 Leeds 10 lb - 4oz 4th
13 Worksop 40 lb - 8oz 1 st Sec Win

15 Barnsley 24 lb - 2oz 2nd
16 Wakefield 32 lb - 14oz 1 st Sec Win Matty Mee
17 Leeds 13 lb - 4 oz 4th
18 Worksop 18 lb - 8oz 3rd

20 Barnsley 12 lb - 2oz 4th
21 Wakefield 15 lb - 2oz 3rd Nathan Murphy
22 Leeds 25 lb - 1oz 1st Sec Win
23 Worksop 23 lb 10oz 2nd

25 Barnsley 18 lb - 12oz 4th
26 Wakefield 49 lb - 12oz 1st Sec Win Joe Whitley
27 Leeds 33 lb - 4oz 2nd
28 Worksop 20 lb - 4oz 3rd

1st Wakefield 12 points
2nd Worksop 14 points
3rd Leeds and Barnsley 17 points

Report By David Speight