Eight of the UK’s best young anglers have been invited to participate in this year’s FishOMania NXTGEN match, which will take place alongside FishOMania at Hayfield Lakes, Doncaster on Saturday, August 29, live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
FishOMania NXTGEN has expanded for 2020 and will now feature eight anglers and a £2,500 winner’s prize as some of the country’s best up-and-coming fishing stars are showcased on the global TV stage.
Anglers who compete in FishOMania NXTGEN would usually earn the right through their performance at the Angling Trust Junior & Youth National Championship. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic that event has been postponed and, therefore, this year promoters Matchroom Multi Sport have invited eight top young anglers.
Sarah Taylor, who won last year’s FishOMania Ladies title aged just 18, has been invited alongside another top young female angler, Katie Crooks.
Will McCranor, who won the NXTGEN title in 2017, will return aiming to lift the trophy for a second time, while Zak Worby-Smith and John Light Jnr are both back having competed last year. Josh Paling, Josh Newman and Rob Swan have also been selected to take part.
FishOMania NXTGEN will commence at 11:35am on Saturday, August 29 and will run until 3:35pm, with hourly weigh-ins.
Emily Frazer, Managing Director of Matchroom Multi Sport, said: “NXTGEN is an exciting development of FishOMania, giving junior anglers an increased career-building opportunity and level of exposure. The next generation are key to moving any niche sport forward; fishing is a highly participated sport in the UK and it is important we broaden the age range among participation levels and give juniors the support needed.
“By recently introducing the FishOMania reigning champion as well as the Ladies National Champion into FishOMania, we have increased the opportunity for both men and women in the sport to compete at the highest level and at the most prestigious event. All qualifiers are open to both men and women but there are now more options to qualify, giving women the further determination to enter.
“NXTGEN will now feature eight anglers – girls and boys – increased prize money, new peg positions at Hayfield Lakes (closer to the main event). With all these contributing factors, we will increase television and viewership exposure for the junior anglers with the additional bonus of viewers now able to follow the competition throughout with hourly weigh-ins – a great step for the future of FishOMania.”
The peg draw for FishOMania NXTGEN will take place on Tuesday, August 25 and will be streamed live at www.facebook.com/fishomania, www.youtube.com/matchroommultisport and at www.fishomania.net.
