THE biggest junior fishing contest in 15 years is set to take place this September, when more than 300 budding anglers are expected to enter the National Celebration of Young People and Fishing.
The event, run by the Canal and River Trust (CRT), is a two-day contest on the Shropshire Union Canal, where there’ll be three separate matches for cadets (7-10 years old), juniors (11-15), and youths (16-20).
In last season’s match just over 200 anglers took part – with 25 per cent of participants being female. Tickets have just gone on sale for this year, and John Ellis, National Fisheries and Angling Manager at the CRT, hopes to break a participation record that’s stood since 2006.
“The NFA Junior National of that year had 300 competitors, but judging by ticket sales so far, I believe we can beat that total!” he told us. “After the first week of sales last year, 30 tickets were gone. This time around, 60 were bought after just a few days!”
John expects ticket sales to receive an added boost from participants in the new Commonwealth Communities Celebration angling events taking place this summer. There will be 22 of these across the nation, part of the community brand of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“To have fishing alongside a name like the Commonwealth Games is a huge step, and we hope these smaller events, which are free to attend, will push fishing further into the limelight,” John added.
Go online and get involved!
For National Celebration tickets, visit the Angling Trust website. For more information on the Commonwealth events, visit: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/fishing/lets-fish/find-a-free-fishing-event
