2019 Junior Night Match
Broadwater Lake
July 6/7^th

Another year in the annual junior night match saw a good improvement in numbers from previous years with just 2 age groups attending, yet no young adults! Even so a turnout of 13 was excellent. Learning how to pull a flyer normally doesn’t start till you’re much older, but we seem to have someone who’s breaking that mould with Ben Gregoriades pulling out the same winning peg as last year! Ben netted 16 assorted mirrors and commons to 14lb 10ozs for a superb weight of 138lb 13ozs, which was nearly double the second place weight.

On his first visit to this annual match was 10 year old Liam Fitzgerald, who was next to the winner and had 6 fish to 17lb 2ozs for a total weight of 77lb 12ozs. Liam easily won his age group and I’ve no doubt he’ll be back next year! Ollie Sheehan was in 3^rd place, but second in his age group, with 6 fish to 16lb for a total 70lb 4ozs weight from peg 14, which was just ahead of Matt Devasagayam on peg 6 who had 67lb 5ozs, topped by a superb 18lb 13oz mirror, which won the biggest fish prize. 

Unfortunately in fishing there are always winners and non-winners, but it’s important to remember that this is the nature of our sport and things always turn out different as we go through life. So to all those who didn’t catch, or those who didn’t catch enough to win prizes, just remember that your time will come, so keep learning, trying and never give up! Well done to you all.

My thanks go to Dave Kill and his team of bailiffs/helpers for their continued help and support, for without them this event would definitely not be staged. Further thanks go to Gardner Tackle who, as always, continue to support the juniors with prizes and goodie bags. Also Apollo Angling for their generous support. Last but not least is GAS itself, who continue to dig deep for the fish and chip expenses, which is much appreciated by all the competitors and supporting helpers.

Age Groups:
Up to 11:
Liam Fitzgerald 77-12-0
Archie Wilding 50-15-0
12-15: 
Ben Gregoriades 138-13-0
Oliver Sheehan 70-4-0
Matt Devasagayam 67-5-0
Alfie McVay 44-10-0
Josh Chapman 33-11-0
Tom Shepherd 25-8-0

Junior Match
June 15th 2019
Harris Lake

With only 5 attending there was plenty of space for them, but it didn't do any good as fish where conspicuous by their absence, something not entirely unknown on this lake! Only one caught and that was Michael Ewing, who managed a 2lb crucian from peg 31. Very disappointing for the youngsters and something that is beginning to characterise a potentially beautiful lake!
At the moment, our next Junior match is under threat due to the current fish mortality issues on Broadwater. I hope to confirm later this week whether the night match will go ahead this year, in order to give plenty of time for the lakes issues to be re-assessed and passed fit for purpose. 

Apollo Junior Points League (AJPL) after 4 rounds:
Monty Martin 13pts
Ben Gregoriades 10pts
George Evans 7pts 
Jessica Carter 6pts
Michael Ewing 5pts
Tom Rollings 2pts

Junior Match
June 1st 2019
Richardson Lake

The small turnout all managed double figures with Ben Gregoriades leading the way with over 14lb of bream, skimmers, tench and a solitary crucian off peg 9. Close behind was last match winner Monty Martin, who despite coping with annoying willow fluff had a creditable 12lb plus of bream, skimmers and tench to caster over gb from peg 11. George Evans kept in touch with over 10lb of similar off peg 13.
Next match is on Harris Lake on June 15th.

Apollo Junior Points League (AJPL) after 3 rounds:
Monty Martin 13pts
Ben Gregoriades 10pts
George Evans 7pts 
Jessica Carter 6pts
Tom Rollings 2pts