The Windmill Juniors Match 2025

A triumphant winner, Harley Sebes, with his brother, Oscar

The Windmill Angling Club Juniors match took place this year on Sunday 7th September 2025, and what a day it turned out to be!

The morning began breezy, with a strong wind rattling across Hunters Pool, though thankfully it stayed dry in time for the all-important set-up. First on site were Mark and Emily Bowden, who quickly got the van and awning pitched up – a base that later proved invaluable for shelter, food, and the prize giving.

The draw went ahead right on time, with nine young anglers (plus their parents and helpers) finding their way to pegs around the pool. To keep the action flowing, feeding was allowed in the hour before the start. At exactly 9:30am, the “all-in” was called, and the match began.

Fishing Conditions & Effort

The juniors fished for three and a half hours until 2pm, and it was fantastic to see such determination and concentration across a wide range of ages and abilities – some taking part in their very first match, and some who had never even fished Hunters before.

The weather didn’t make things easy, but the great news was that, quite early on in the match it was clear that everyone had caught. The blustery wind tested everyone’s patience and rigs, and by midday the forecast thunderstorms rolled in, bringing a heavy downpour. But the juniors were undeterred, and spirits remained high. Fortunately, the skies cleared for the all-important weigh-in and presentation.

This year, the club added an exciting twist with a trial “species hunt”, alongside the normal weight-based results. As expected, plenty of Roach and Perch showed, but it was especially pleasing to see a few of Hunters’ less common species – Bream, Ide, and even Gudgeon – making appearances.

Results

The weigh-in gathered quite a crowd of parents, grandparents and supporters, and the excitement was justified – the results couldn’t have been closer:

It truly was a nail-biting finish, with just one ounce separating first, second and third place!

Harley not only claimed first place overall but also took the honours in the new species hunt, with five species landed. For this, he was awarded a fishing reel kindly donated by Mike Harding.

Harley, Rowan and Rex each received certificates, trophies and tackle vouchers, very generously donated by Allan Kaye. All other juniors received their certificates, medals (from the Angling Trust), and prizes to recognise their efforts and achievements.

Thanks & Reflections

After the match, everyone gathered around the awning for food, refreshments, and a well-earned chat about the day.

A huge thank you goes to everyone who helped organise, run, and support the event, and to those who donated prizes. Most importantly, thanks to all the juniors who fished with such enthusiasm and sportsmanship – you made the day truly special.

Here’s to another fantastic juniors match in 2026!