Junior Xmas Herald Comp. 2001

Results     Date 22-12-01

Match report:

Dover Sea Angling Club held a Junior match on the 22nd Dec 2001, on the Prince of Wales Pier in Dover.  This Pier is great for the kids as it can be fished in relative safety and it does not matter about the tides being too big or small, and yours truly was asked by the organiser Mick Davies if I would like to go along.  Little did I know it was going to be the coldest day this year, -5 degrees, yes -5! and I would be the only helper.  I arrived late as the start time was 9am, I arrived at 9:15am to be greeted by 15 very keen young anglers, aged between 7 years old and 16 years old, all raring to go with their lines already in the water, but with no fish to be seen, to be honest I felt a little sorry for them and could not help thinking it would have been nice to have had a warm day and not a wind swept Saturday with a temperature more like the inside of a freezer.  

The there was a shout! 'Come take a photo of this'.  It was Mick Davies standing next to a young man, whom I found out later was the grand old age of 7, holding a nice plump Flounder.  Dad was really proud, I can tell you.  As the event was catch and release, and the end result would be the greatest length of fish, these Flounder were worth catching.  One young man said "Oh no, I will have to catch a Conger to beat that!"  After a few minutes the fish started to show, only a few and they were mostly undersized Whiting, but the kids were catching and keeping busy.  I was glad as the temperature was really bitter and the wind had increased to make things worse.

Up went a second shout and another flattie was hoisted in my general direction (these kids were proud of their fish).  Again a shout of delight and this time three fish were hoisted in the air, one good sized Pouting, a good Dab and a small Whiting.  At least there was a variety of species now being caught.

My feet were now numb as was my face.  I decided to get the gas stove out and boil the kettle.  It took 30 minutes to boil one kettle, it was sold cold we had to put it inside Mick's car boot.  I used his car as it was only a new Mondeo and if it caught fire it would not have been much of a loss (ha ha!).  With a hot(?) coffee downed, we walked and viewed the range of fishing tackle the kids were using, some of which was very good gear indeed and would not have looked out of place in a senior kit.  The baits they were using were as varied as the tackle being used.  I saw Sandeel, Blow Lug, Yellowtail Lug, Mackerel and Sardines, you could tell these lads and lassie were serious anglers, with a will to win.

It was 12 o'clock and Mick decided to count undersize fish on a point basis.  Oh no, more running, I feel old and not as fit as I used to be.  More and more fish were now being caught, Flounder, Dab and Whiting being the main species, some of which were a good size.  With less than an hour to go, some of the kids really started to get a spurt on, this was going to be a close run competition.

I then noticed a figure walking toward me, it was Emma Davies the England International Ladies team member to lend a hand at the prize giving.  The prizes were great and I was sure that everyone of the competitors would get a prize, they all deserved it.  Emma walked down the line of competitors, giving advice and explaining techniques, she was really good with the kids and an example to the famous anglers and the not so famous, who cannot be bothered with kids.  We should be more tolerant towards them, they are our future anglers. 

Up went a shout and it was all over.  Everybody reeled in and a buzz of excitement went  around the kids, all asking what the other had caught, some trying to count the point but most went straight to the prize table to see the goods to be won, some picking what they thought was best and some reserving theirs.  The Catch Cards were collected and Mick sat and started to add the point together, while some of the competitors were sent to pick up the rubbish.  Good for them!!

Report supplied courtesy of of Dave Marsh of Marsh Tackle, Dungeness