Match fishings’ premier team event took place this weekend on a revolutionary split venue format, across both the Aire and Calder and New Junction canals. In the run up to the Division One National weights across both venues had been a little inconsistent, however with an average weight of over two kilos per man, there was some phenomenal fishing on show.
Taking the match and retaining their crown from last year on the Trent, Drennan Barnsley Blacks stormed the match with a superb 392 points. Stand out performances in the team were Tom Barlow who won F section with a stunning 10kg 150g of roach on the pole. Frankie Gianoncelli in E section was third and James Dent and Lee Kerry were both fifth. Tactics across the team focused on a short feeder chuck and long pole for bream and then short pole fishing for roach and perch, with a lot of the anglers spraying squats and fishing pinkie.
Second place on the day were local side Hull and District Angling Association who carded an impressive 382 points, averaging tenth in section per man. Barry Howgate took the honours on K section with 7kg 520grams of roach, skimmers, and bream. Another stand out performance was Scott Risplin in H Section, Scott amassed 22kg 980g and was both second in the section and the match, with a good net of bream on the tip.
Rounding out the top three was another Drennan team in Drennan Oxford, Dan Varney was their stand out angler on the New Junction canal, netting 6kg 680g of roach on the pole for second in section. This was backed by a series of solid top ten placings from the rest of the team.
On an individual front it was Rob Jones from Preston Innovations Thatchers that put together an impressive 28kg 850g that took the honours. Rob was end peg on H section of the Aire and Calder and put together quality bream and skimmers on the tip.
RESULTS – Teams
1 Barnsley Blacks 392 points 56kgs 630grams
2 Hull & District AA 382 points 66kgs 330grams
3 Drennan Oxford 369 points 49kgs 400grams
4 Team Daiwa Dorking 349 points 52kgs 520grams
5 Waynes Tackle Matrix Southport 347 points 51kgs 870grams
6 Daiwa Doncaster D.A.A 343 points 56kgs 810grams
7 Preston Innovations Thatchers 336 points 65kgs 110grams
8 Preston Innovations Sonu Baits North West 321 points 44kgs 830grams
9 Scunthorpe Tackle 315 points 60kgs 170grams
10 Browning Ossett 315 points 40kgs 830grams
RESULTS – individuals
1 Rob Jones – Preston Innovations Thatchers 28kgs 850grams
2 Scott Rispin – Hull & District AA 22kgs 980grams
3 Steve Winter – Scunthorpe Tackle 20kgs 620grams
4 Sean Wright – Daiwa Doncaster D.A.A 18kgs 220grams
5 Peter Kitwood – Sensas North 17kgs 360grams
6 Craig Singleton – Sensas North 15kgs 950grams
7 Steve Cable – Preston Innovations Black Horse 13kgs 300grams
8 Carl Yeowell – Maver Milton Keynes AA 13kgs 200grams
9 Pete Duffy – Preston Innovations Sonu Baits North West 11kgs 910grams
10 Nigel Baker – Devizes AA 11kgs 600grams
Our thanks must go to local organisers Paul Caygill and Ian Hirst from the hosting clubs across the canals, to Mike Storey and the Angling Trust volunteer team for running the event. We believe this national is the best on record for average weight since the competitions inception and are thrilled by the support we’ve received from teams. Next year’s Division One National will be on the Grand Union Canal in Northampton.
A full set of results is available online HERE: https://www.match-angling.co.uk/viewresults_public.aspx?rid=5233&dm_i=3XSU,QS6J,4E305U,2SI5U,1
