07 August 2009
Winner of match and day out with Bob Nudd on 1st August Joel Whiteley (pictured front row, second from the right)
David Speight reports on the Junior Police Match
96 young anglers braved the downpour to take part in the 16th West Yorkshire Police annual fishing match ‘Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs or Crime’. As I walked the bank chatting to the anglers and parents from all over the country, as far away as Carlisle, it was clear that even with the torrential rain, they were enjoying the day. When it eventually cleared, one young girl said “can we have the rain back” as she was catching more fish whilst it was raining. Each year I have been pleased to see more girls entering the event and this year we were very pleased to welcome two anglers who had disabilities and who were able to fully participate in the competition. Some youngsters from a youth offending scheme also took part and enjoyed their day. Overall, these examples demonstrate the inclusiveness of this competition and the way in which active participation in organised sport can have a positive influence on young people.
16 years ago when I started the ‘Get Hooked on Fishing Not Drugs or Crime', I was influenced by my son Adam who at that time was himself a young angler. Adam complained that many of the larger fishing matches for young anglers were badly run and poorly organised so I took this on as a challenge. My first match had been planned as a one-off but I received such positive feedback from families of some anglers that I decided to repeat the event. These were Yorkshire mining families and the competition helped them to see the police in a completely different light and they have returned to the competition year after year.
My rules for the match are extended to cover behaviour such as anglers leaving pegs tidy and taking home their own litter, and our no-tolerance policy for bad language. In previous years, Denis White, an English International angler and member of the famous Barnsley Blacks, has commented publicly that “Get Hooked” is ‘the best run junior match in the country’. Whilst I manage the sponsorship and planning myself, I could not deliver the entire competition without the invaluable administration support from Anne Shaw in Police Administration (previously Police Community Support), and also my team of volunteer helpers on the day.
As I reach retirement age, I was concerned that this event may end but I have been delighted and gratified that my son PC Adam Speight, who is a police officer in Killingbeck, Leeds, has volunteered to lead this event in future on behalf of West Yorkshire Police. It seems fitting that he should be handed the baton since he was the initial inspiration for the match. One strength of this competition has arisen from the fact that some young competitors who grew up and became too old to compete, continued to take part as volunteer stewards and some of them are now employed as police officers or Police Community Support Officers. This suggests to me that these youngsters have developed a very strong sense of public service and community support.
Yesterday, most of the anglers caught fish and considering the conditions of the day, there were some impressive weights. Once again, I must thank Wakefield Angling Club for donating the water for the day and helping out on the bank. Harry Lodge, President of Wakefield Angling Club, was our Chief Adjudicator for the match.
The trophies and prizes were excellent, and I have to thank all our sponsors, both large and small. It is significant that this includes most of our West Yorkshire tackle shops, at a time when many of them are struggling in the face of the world recession, yet they still gave what they could to the competition. To encourage the less experienced young anglers I run a “lucky peg draw” after the main prize giving. This means that even the anglers who do not catch fish still have a chance of winning a prize. This year I was able to send every competitor home with a prize.
All competitors are asked to donate £3.00 to a children’s charity. This year a cheque for £300.00 was presented to Stuart Andrew, fundraising manager of Martin House Hospice for Children.
Results
Under 9s
There were five youngsters under 9 years of age who fished the match and all of these weighed in.
Under 9s Winner
Superintendent Dean Henson presented the Bradford and District Installed Master Association trophy and a Browning pole with spare top kit to McKenna Cowling, aged 6 years from Middleton, Leeds. McKenna fished peg 48 and weighed in 4lb.
Under 18 Winner
Cllr. Judith Elliot, Lord Mayor of Leeds, presented the South Leeds and Hunslet Cars Ltd. Trophy and a Browning Carp Man pole with spare top kit, to Joel Whiteley of Tingley, Wakefield. Joel fished peg 147 and weighed in 6lb. 5oz.
Under 15s Winner
Cllr. Tony Wallis, Deputy Mayor of Wakefield, presented the Wakefield Metropolitan Council trophy and a Browning Carp Man pole with spare top kit to Luke Wrzosek, of Normanton, Wakefield. Luke fished peg 100 and weighed in 4lb.
Under 18s runner up
Superintendent Tony Henson, West Yorkshire Police, presented the British Waterways trophy and a Browning Xitan carp pole with spare top kit to Kyle Wainwright, of Normanton, Wakefield. Karl fished peg 161 and weighed in 5lb. 9oz.
Under 15s runner up
Cllr. Judith Elliot presented the IOT Plc./Eurocopy trophy and a Browning Xitan carp pole with spare top kit to Wayne Eastwood, of Outwood, Wakefield. Wayne fished peg 111 and weighed in 3lb. 7oz.
Under 18s Section Winners
Harry Lodge, president of Wakefield Angling Club, presented the Wakefield Angling Club trophy and a Browning Border Marauder margin pole to the section winners.
Peg 133. Mike Chung of Lymm, Cheshire. Weighed in 2lb. 6oz.
Peg 139. Corey Hawksworth, Pontefract, Wakefield. Weighed in 5lb. 5oz.
Peg 152. Jonathan Andrews of Warrington Cheshire. Weighed in 4lb. 6oz.
Peg 165. Reech Nicholson of Worksop Nottingham. Weighed in 2lb. 14oz.
Peg 167. Matty Mee of Featherstone Wakefield. Weighed in 1lb. 0.5oz.
Under 15s Section Winners
Jean Morgan presented the Pontefract Lionesses Club trophy and a Browning Border Marauder pole to the section winners.
Peg 45. Caitlyn Rose of Castleford Wakefield. Weighed in 2lb. (under 9’s section)
Peg 51. Mac Stancliffeof Seaham, Co. Durham. Weighed in 2lb. 13oz.
Peg 59. James Wilson of Newcastle upon Tyne. Weighed in 2lb. 4oz.
Peg 72. Jake Dowd of Whitkirk, Leeds. Weighed in 1lb. 1oz.
Peg 80. Philip Robertshaw of Houghton-Le-Springs, Co. Durham. Weighed in 2lb.
Peg 88. James Walker of Netherton, Wakefield. Weighed in 1lb. 10oz.
Peg 98. Danny Raper of Outwood, Wakefield. Weighed in 7oz.
Peg 109. Aiden Donald of Methley, Leeds. Weighed in 14oz.
Peg 117. Joseph Hayton of Garforth, Leeds. Weighed in 1lb. 2oz.
Peg 122. Kieran Green of Wortley, Leeds. Weighed in 1lb. 4oz.
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