Eryk Janik can’t wait to cast a line on his Scotland debut when they Home Nations Shore Angling Championship are held around Montrose and Dundee on July 3 and 4.
The Trinity Academy pupil goes in against the best from England, Wales and Ireland in the two-day event and has spent as much time as he can fishing at Granton and Newhaven in the build-up.
Eryk is the only member of the junior squad from the Lothians and he has already made an impression North of the Border national competitions.
He also fished in the Edinburgh Shore Angling Winter League against men more than twice his age and they all noted his ability and he recently collected his tie and badge after being confirmed in the Scotland pool.
The teenager said: “I fish regularly at Newhaven and pick up tips from experienced local anglers. David Cooper and Stevie Souter have been really helpful and Chris Barrett helped me when I first started by showing me all the basics.
“The guys from the Edinburgh Angling Centre have also helped and it will be a great experience fishing for Scotland.”
His father, Dominik is not an angler but is chuffed with the success of his son who arrived in Scotland as a four-year-old when the family emigrated from Poland in 2013. Dominik said: “He just loves fishing and casts a line whenever he can.”
Joining Erik in the squad are Abie, aged 16, Hollie, aged 15, and Jay, aged ten, all from the Dumfries-based Stoker family – their mum Charlene is in the Scotland ladies team – plus team captain, Calum Strang (Hamilton), and 11-year-old, Harry Keeny (East Kilbride).
Scotland won the bronze medal last year but Lindsay Wilson, the team manager, said they had been practicing twice a month for six months and are determined to move up the rankings.
PICTURE: Eryk collecting a prize from Stewart Falconer after a recent competition win. Contributed by Stewart Falconer
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