TEENAGER Jack Caple reeled in a third-placed finish at the junior Fish-o-Mania event to underline his status as one of Britain’s best young anglers.

The 15-year-old, of Acomb, York, has been fishing since he was seven and lists his third-place finish in the Sky Sports-televised competition at Cudmore Fisheries in Stoke as his proudest moment in angling.

Caple started slowly but built up to a strong finish to leave himself in the bronze medal position.

“I got two barbel in the first hour, one skimmer in the second weigh and then one skimmer, one tench and one barbel,” he said.

“We finished off with a six kilogramme mix of barbel and carp and I did enough to finish third.”

The Millthorpe School pupil admitted that initially he wasn’t too confident, based on the peg he had been given.

“The peg that I drew (peg one), I didn’t want,” he said. “I thought it would be harder to be on the end, I didn’t want to fish near the men and it was harder at the start, but then it got better.”

It was a dream day for Caple, who has been a big fan of the Fish-o-Mania event since it started.

“We’ve always watched it, either live or on television, so it’s very nice to perform well,” he said.

“I won a Leeds individual knockout tournament and I’ve won a few open tournaments, but this is my best moment in angling.”

Caple, who fishes for the Smartbait Leeds team, the Black Horse and Acomb Tackle, was proud of his achievement.

“It felt quite good (to finish third), just to have caught up in the last hour and to have climbed up the leaderboard was a nice feeling.

“I’d like to thank Nick and Linda from Acomb Tackle, because they sponsored me.”

Caple’s haul of 9.22kg was some way behind winner Sam Hughes’ 23.82kg. Fellow York angler James Thirkill, of Rawcliffe, netted 6.63kg.

Caple and Thirkill, 15, qualified for Fish-o-Mania after finishing in the top six at the Angling Trust Junior Nationals. Thirkill won the contest, with Caple runner-up.

Meanwhile, on the River Ouse, other young anglers were getting a taste of competition.

The inaugural Festival of the Rivers Junior Angling Match, held at New Walk Terrace, attracted an entry of 15 anglers and every competitor left with something to put on the scales.

The overall, and intermediate (12 to 16-year-old), winner was Briony Harrison, whose 5lb 1oz weight contained a mixed bag of fish including perch, roach and bream.

Second in the intermediate category was Luke Bond (2lb 7oz), with Darren Thompson (1lb 14oz) completing the top three.

George Surgenor, 11, won the junior (under-12s) prize with a mixed catch of 3lb 6oz, having also being troubled by a pike during the evening.

Youngest competitor Charlie Darling (1lb 14oz) was second and Archie Bond (1lb 6oz) third.

The match, which it is hoped can become a regular event on the Festival calendar, was sponsored by the City of York Council and organised by York and District Amalgamation of Anglers.

Chub class haul wins tough event

THE fish were refusing to play ball during Shepherd Angling Club’s match at Stamford Bridge.

Ten members took part in a difficult contest and the majority were reduced to fishing for bits.

Winner P Dawson did manage to contact a few better specimens fishing caster feeder and alternating worm and double caster on the hook.

Dawson caught a chub weighing 2lb 12oz and a few good perch in his winning net of 5lb 4oz.

Match bookings

Saturday, July 23

Laybourne (Marley, pegs one to ten, 37 to 52): York CIU Angling Section.

Sunday, July 24

Howsham (opposite Hall): Cygnet AC.

Howsham Paradise Farm (including field below bridge R H Bank): Sea Horse AC.

Poppleton (Moatfield and Sellars’): New Earswick AC.

Saturday, July 30

No bookings.

Sunday, July 31

Acaster: Bishopthorpe & Acaster AC.

Fulford/Palace Ings: New Earswick AC.

Laybourne (Marley, pegs one to 26): White Rose AC.

Laybourne (Marley, pegs 28 to 52): Burton Stone Lane WMC AC.

Red House (Middle/Bottom): Acomb WMC AC.