I
Ian Cloke
Guest
After a year of disappointment in English Sport, there was finally something to shout about as the England Coarse Angling team emphatically became the 2006 World Champions. Competing at the World Championships on the Rio Mondego in Portugal last week, England swept aside 32 other national teams to claim the title for the second successive year.
A rarity for the England national teams, there was no metatarsal problems, no dressing room conflict or any drug offences to report as England cemented their title as the ?Worlds Best Angling Team?.
Angling is one of the most popular sports in the country with over 2.6 million people in the UK having been freshwater angling in the past year in England and Wales (Environment Agency Report, ?Public Attitudes to Angling, 2005?). The National Federation of Anglers, the Governing Body for Freshwater Angling hopes that this fantastic result from the World Championships will help get more youngsters into the sport and generate the England stars of the future.
The competition which lasted over two days saw Drennan Team England get off to a great start on Day One brushing aside the competition with a brilliant performance which gave them a commanding lead to take into the second day of fishing. One of the favourites to win the tournament was Italy, but after having a dismal first day they ruined any chance of emulating their footballing counterparts with a disappointing catch leaving themselves a mountain to climb on Day Two.
England set the standard on Day One thanks to great performances from Steve Gardener and William Raison, bronze medallist from last years competition. On Day Two of the championships England knew they had a convincing lead but still gave 110% with Sean Ashby winning his section helping him land a well deserved Bronze medal in the Individual contest.
Ireland finished in 14th place, with Scotland and Wales finishing 20th and 23rd respectively showing England are the leading force in Britain when it comes to angling.
Hungary who were in second place after Day One ended the competition in third place overall claiming the bronze medal in the team contest which was added to by the Individual title won by Tamas Walter with 4 points and a weight of 10,105 (g). Second place individually went to Ivan Biordi from San Marino who also finished with 4 points and a final weight of 7,435 (g). England showed what a team effort it was by having three anglers in the top 10 individual standings with Sean Ashby taking home a bronze medal after his section win on day 2.
The NFA Co-Senior International Team Manager Mark Downes stated, ?It has been an excellent week for the England team. Considering the team have been fishing for species that they had no knowledge of, and not fished the waters before. It just proves that on any water, using any bait and catching any species that we are better than any other team. There can now be no doubt that the England team is now the best in the world!?
It wasn?t all about the Men?s team with the U21?s winning the silver medal and the U16?s claiming bronze. This shows great signs for England?s future and is testament to the coaching and development that the NFA England coaches have been putting into the sport. The England Ladies also came close to a medal, just missing out on a bronze as they finished fourth behind host nation Portugal and Hungarian team.
Team Results
Team Name Total Points Total Weight (g) Day One- Day Two (points)
1st England 61.0 29,935 16.0 45.0
2nd Italy 85.0 26,500 66.0 19.0
3rd Hungary 101.0 23,425 39.0 62.0
Individual Results
Angler Name Team Name Points Weight (g) Day One ? Day Two (points)
1st Tamas Walter Hungary 4.0 10,105 2 2
2nd Ivan Biordi San Marino 4.0 7,435 1 3
3rd Sean Ashby England 4.0 4,045 3 1
A rarity for the England national teams, there was no metatarsal problems, no dressing room conflict or any drug offences to report as England cemented their title as the ?Worlds Best Angling Team?.
Angling is one of the most popular sports in the country with over 2.6 million people in the UK having been freshwater angling in the past year in England and Wales (Environment Agency Report, ?Public Attitudes to Angling, 2005?). The National Federation of Anglers, the Governing Body for Freshwater Angling hopes that this fantastic result from the World Championships will help get more youngsters into the sport and generate the England stars of the future.
The competition which lasted over two days saw Drennan Team England get off to a great start on Day One brushing aside the competition with a brilliant performance which gave them a commanding lead to take into the second day of fishing. One of the favourites to win the tournament was Italy, but after having a dismal first day they ruined any chance of emulating their footballing counterparts with a disappointing catch leaving themselves a mountain to climb on Day Two.
England set the standard on Day One thanks to great performances from Steve Gardener and William Raison, bronze medallist from last years competition. On Day Two of the championships England knew they had a convincing lead but still gave 110% with Sean Ashby winning his section helping him land a well deserved Bronze medal in the Individual contest.
Ireland finished in 14th place, with Scotland and Wales finishing 20th and 23rd respectively showing England are the leading force in Britain when it comes to angling.
Hungary who were in second place after Day One ended the competition in third place overall claiming the bronze medal in the team contest which was added to by the Individual title won by Tamas Walter with 4 points and a weight of 10,105 (g). Second place individually went to Ivan Biordi from San Marino who also finished with 4 points and a final weight of 7,435 (g). England showed what a team effort it was by having three anglers in the top 10 individual standings with Sean Ashby taking home a bronze medal after his section win on day 2.
The NFA Co-Senior International Team Manager Mark Downes stated, ?It has been an excellent week for the England team. Considering the team have been fishing for species that they had no knowledge of, and not fished the waters before. It just proves that on any water, using any bait and catching any species that we are better than any other team. There can now be no doubt that the England team is now the best in the world!?
It wasn?t all about the Men?s team with the U21?s winning the silver medal and the U16?s claiming bronze. This shows great signs for England?s future and is testament to the coaching and development that the NFA England coaches have been putting into the sport. The England Ladies also came close to a medal, just missing out on a bronze as they finished fourth behind host nation Portugal and Hungarian team.
Team Results
Team Name Total Points Total Weight (g) Day One- Day Two (points)
1st England 61.0 29,935 16.0 45.0
2nd Italy 85.0 26,500 66.0 19.0
3rd Hungary 101.0 23,425 39.0 62.0
Individual Results
Angler Name Team Name Points Weight (g) Day One ? Day Two (points)
1st Tamas Walter Hungary 4.0 10,105 2 2
2nd Ivan Biordi San Marino 4.0 7,435 1 3
3rd Sean Ashby England 4.0 4,045 3 1
