The Schools National Championships held at Glebe Fishery, Leicestershire on Tuesday 19th September 2006, was won by Portland School from Nottinghamshire who have been coached by the NFA Coaching Development Manager Glyn Williams.

The 2006 Championships hosted 12 teams of 8 anglers with some schools travelling from as far North as Minsthorpe in South Yorkshire right down to Gloucestershire in the South. Portland School put in two teams for the competition with Portland Red finishing first and Portland Blue claiming third spot.

Paul Buck, Head Teacher of Portland School stated,

“The school and Worksop area has a history of success with angling which is highlighted with this achievement at the National Schools Championships. I am very proud of their achievement for the school and themselves. One day I hope they will go on to represent their country like previous anglers from the area.

Match angling is a very useful tool for youngsters as it gives them experience of pressured situations. They learn how to cope well with pressure which is something that we are all faced with in later life. Angling gives students a sense of the countryside and helps them gain an understanding of nature, the environment, ecology, water safety, the river system and the wildlife that surrounds you when you go fishing. Students gain a real positive engagement with angling which helps then learn so much.”

The Schools National Championship sponsored by Tackle Manufacturers, Shakespeare is one of the longest running junior events within schools having been in operation since 1972.  Roy Marlow who formed part of the famous ‘Leicester Likely Lads’ squad has kindly supported the championships for the past few years by allowing his fishery “The Glebe” near Mallory Park in Leicestershire to host the event, which has proven to be such a valuable experience for the youngsters who have had the opportunity to fish this first class venue.

Glyn Williams, who is the NFA Coaching Development Manager and also the Team Manager and Coach for the two Worksop based Portland School squads has expressed his delight at the success of the teams stating that,

“The youngsters have done their school proud. Along with my fellow NFA Coach Ken Stevenson, we have been delivering angling coaching sessions at Portland since the year 2000. In 2001 we entered the school in the championships to help them gain some match experience and since then they have won the Team Gold on two occasions, they have also held the individual championship twice – coupled with individual silver and bronze places, as well as team silver and team bronze.

Obviously the squad members are changing on a regular basis and of the 16 youngsters who took part in this year’s competition only four or five of them will be available for next year – so we will be using these individuals as the nucleus for the 2007 championships and bringing new youngsters through the ranks.

I would also like to thank Carr Vale Angling Club in Bolsover, Derbyshire for allowing us the use of their first class facilities at Carr Vale Pond for the team trials so as to enable us to make the appropriate team selection. Their support during the past six years has proven to be a very important ‘link’ in the ‘chain of success’ that Portland School have accrued in the Schools National Championships over this period of time.”

Summary of results for the Portland teams who took part in the 2006 Schools National Championships, held at the Glebe Fishery, Mallory Park, Leicestershire on Tuesday 19th September 2006.

Team Red- Champions

Jason Goulding (Captain)

Jake Craven

Thomas Davenport

Thomas Hunt                                                                

Nile Lilley

Kyle Moore

Luke Pickering

Drew Raynor

Team Blue- Third Place

Robert Stocks (Captain)

Nathan Bierton

Daniel Fox

Joshua Hurst                                                                

Nathan Parry

Nathan Price

Rickie Sambells

Troy Watkinson

Highest Weights Caught

Thomas Hunt 62lb 10oz (Section Winner)

Jason Goulding 48lb 11oz (Section Winner)

Thomas Davenport 40lb 15 oz (Third in Section)

Ricky Sambells 36lb 8oz

Nile Lilley 31lb 9oz (Section Winner)

Luke Pickering 27lb 9oz (Section Winner)                                   

Kyle Moore 26lb 10oz (2nd in Section)

Troy Watkinson 26lb 3oz

Robert Stocks 24lb 10oz

Jake Craven 24lb 8oz (Third in Section)

Nathan Parry 18lb 10oz

Nathan Bierton 17lb 9oz

Joshua Hurst 15lb 6oz

Drew Raynor 12lb 2oz

Nathan Price 11lb 6oz

Chris Gibson 9lb 12oz

A total of 434lb of fish was caught between the 16 anglers for a rod average of 27lb 2oz

Individual Results

1^st Matthew Gibbs (Toothill School) 87lb 11oz

2^nd Thomas Hunt (Portland Red) 62lb10oz                                  

3^rd Jason Goulding (Portland Red) 48lb 11oz

4^th Johnathan Binns (Minsthorpe) 45lb 4oz                                 

5^th Thomas Davenport (Portland Red) 40lb 15oz

Team Results

Winners – Portland Red with 86pts (for an average of 10.7pts per angler out of a possible maximum of 12pts)

Runners Up – Minsthorpe A (80pts)

Third Place – Portland Blue 72pts (for an average of 9pts per angler out of a possible 12)

Fourth Place – Valley Comprehensive 69pts

Fifth Place – Minsthorpe B 54pts