Patrick Sammon is National Junior/Daniel Peacock Memorial winner in Newport SAC hosted competition

NEWPORT SAC hosted the 2023 National Junior Competition / Daniel Peacock Memorial junior competition. Now in its 31st year, this year also marked the 18th anniversary of the Daniel Peacock Memorial competition.

The club's very first competition dedicated to junior members began in 1992 and it is worth expressing gratitude to the pioneers of the club committee back then on their foresight in laying the foundations of this hugely successful event. It is also an opportunity to thank the various committee members, anglers, parents and sponsors over the years.

The competition was fished over two days on Clew Bay, with weather conditions fresh, with occasional strong westerly gusts. The poor weather conditions restricted the skippers to the more sheltered fishing grounds and limited the options available to them.

All in all, there was very little between the boats on their return to the quay.

A large crowd gathered for the prize presentation held in Nevin’s Bar, Newport - a big thank you to Declan Nevin and family who provided hot food and drinks for all.

As always, a fantastic display of prizes were on offer, thanks to a combination of the Peacock and Steer families generosity, the club's hard working trophy officers and generous sponsors.

The full list of prize categories included a novice category, 8-13 years category, 14-18 years category, teams of six winners and runners-up, individual boat winners, largest ray, largest huss, boatman's prize, overall winner, rod and reel winner selected at random from each category as well as participant prizes for every junior angler.

Local angler Patrick Sammon was announced National Junior Champion with a total of nine fish and 100 points and was presented with the Daniel Peacock Memorial Trophy.

Patrick was one of 36 junior anglers, all aged between eight and 18, who took part in this year’s event.

Local sponsor Charles Reilly from Chambers Agri, Newport, sponsored all participants with a plaque and tackle box to honour their participation.

Every single junior angler caught fish on the day and no one went home empty handed, with a large number of raffle prizes for every junior followed by a parents raffle.

The club extends thanks to the sponsors, skippers and crew, stewards, committee, parents and anyone who helped make the day special.

Prizes were presented by Sean Nevin (representing main sponsor Nevin's Bar), Darragh Magee (on behalf of the late Peter Magee), Shane Gilvarry and Jason Moran (committee), David Nevin (Westport Credit Union), Sue Steer and Ann Taylor (representing the Peacock family). Unavailable on the day was Councillor Brendan Mulroy (who gives great support to the club and is a main club sponsor over the last number of years) and Rory Smyth from Mid West Furniture (main sponsor).

The club would like to thank all sponsors for their generosity, as without their support the competition would not have taken place. In particular, thanks to Sue Steer and Matthew Peacock (main trophy sponsors), Councillor Brendan Mulroy (main club sponsor), Chambers Agri (main competition sponsor), Nevin's Bar (main competition sponsor), Inland Fisheries Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Midwest Furniture, Westport Credit Union, Westport Hotel Group, Marine Institute, Frank Chambers Auctioneers & Estate Agents, Castlebar Self Storage, Oliver Kelleher Trophies, Keane’s Butchers, O'Malley Transport, Ann Taylor, Burrishoole GAA, Eamonn Kennedy, Mayo Movie World, Tracks & Treasures, Padraic McCormack and Personalise it.

Please contact any member of the club if you wish to get involved in helping out at any events throughout the year.

COMING UP

Entries are being taken for the next competition scheduled for August 5 and 6 (57th annual Sea Angling Festival). Contact any committee member for details.

RESULTS

The full results of the 2023 Daniel Peacock Memorial / National Junior Competition are as follows.

Overall winner: Patrick Sammon with nine fish and 100 points.

8 years to 13 years category: 1st Seán Nevin (14 fish - 70 pts), 2nd Leah Moran (4 fish - 60 pts), 3rd Julie O'Grady and Thomas O'Brien (5 fish - 45 pts), 4th Muirrin Mulchrone (3 fish - 35 pts), 5th Alan Heanue (2 fish - 30 pts), 6th Brendan Smyth (5 fish - 25 pts), 7th Laoise Fynnes (2 fish - 10 pts).

14 years to 18 years category: 1st Holly McGee (12 fish - 80 pts), 2nd Cian Moran and Daithí Nevin (6 fish - 50 pts), 3rd Shauna Moran (4 fish - 50 pts), 4th Dara McDonnell (3 fish - 45 pts), 5th Ruby McDonnell (5 fish - 25 pts), 6th Felix Zeray (4 fish - 20 pts), 7th Shane Durcan (3 fish - 15 pts).

Novice category: 1st Jacob Jones (7 fish - 55 pts), 2nd James McNulty (9 fish - 45 pts), 3rd Paddy Kitterick (4 fish - 40 pts), 4th Aodhán Ó Ruain (3 fish - 35 pts), 5th John O'Sullivan (6 fish - 30 pts), 6th Marcus Moran (2 fish - 30 pts), 7th Ruairí Ginnelly (2 fish - 30 pts).

Teams event winners were Holly McGee, Patrick Sammon, Leah Moran, James Heanue, John O'Sullivan and Ruari Ginnelly with 295 points and 34 fish. Runnersup were Shane Durkan, Dara McDonnell, Sean Nevin, Brendan Smyth, James McNulty and Finn Grealis, 220 points and 38 fish.

Individual boat winners: The Finnaun (Sat), Leah Moran (4 fish, 60 points), The Finnaun (Sat), Holly McGee (12 fish, 70 points), White Water II (Sun), Patrick Sammon (9 fish, 100 points), Lady Helen, Daithí Nevin (6 fish, 50 points).

Largest ray: Ruari Ginnelly (19 inches); largest bulhuss: Leah Moran (42 inches).

Boatman's prize winner for best angler average score over the two days was Joe Gibbons who skippered The Finnaun.