Angling Special: TAT get junior fees all wrong
Olney teenager Jack Moroney caught this 21-4-0 pike from Emberton Park lakes and it's great to see another youngster getting into fishing, all too rare a sight these days.
So we should all do everything we can to encourage them, right?
Not, apparently, when it comes to junior national championships!
The Angling Trust (TAT) national governing body of angling, formed in January to replace the NFA, ACA and other acronyms, is continuing the former NFA's huge efforts to develop junior angling participation.
But when it comes to junior nationals it has, I believe, gone a step too far and is tarnishing its nice new shiny image.
For the first time ever, entrants in this year's junior nationals – even under 12s – are having to pay 5 each to join TAT as individual members. Intermediates (17 to 19 years) are having to pay 20 each.
And that's on top of the 100 per team entry fee already being paid by their clubs.
Is that encouragement?
I fear not.
Most clubs give free fishing to under 12s, and they don't need EA rod licences, so why this?
And while 20 may be okay for BMW-driving employed 19 going-on-20 year olds, surely it's a bit steep for just-17 still-at-schools or their parents?
TAT (normally worthy of all anglers' support, more on that another week) wants to grow its individual membership.
But is our national body, and hence us, so desperate to boost its first-year figures that we need to overcharge 100s of kids?
I for one am not and if you too think this is a stupid move why not tell Angling Trust chief exec Mark Lloyd by contacting him at mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net or on 01568 620447?
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Friday 10 February 2012
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