International Events Manager, Dick Clegg in collaboration with the team manager Dave Brooks and England coach Joe Roberts have selected a team to take part in the FIPSed Ladies World Angling Championships in Portugal later this year. The event will take place on 23rd/24th August in Coruche on the river Soria, a venue that has been used on several previous occasions by the Portuguese Federation.

The success of the England Ladies team winning gold in Slovenia in 2013 has prompted the England management to retain the same six anglers who made up last year’s Championship squad.  The team are; Wendy Locker, Emma Pickering, Sam Sim, Julie Abbott,  Helen Dagnall and Jeanette Halliday. The team will also be joined by Abbie Kendall who will travel with the squad to gain international experience.

England Ladies Manager Dave Brooks has already made plans for a defence of their 2013 Championship title and now has to put together a fund raising programme to help pay for the teams involvement. Race nights, angling matches and raffles will help fund their costs, and with the generosity of companies donating goods for prizes it is hoped that enough money will be raised to help send the team.

Dick Clegg, OBE, International Events Manager of the Angling Trust, stated
“This squad of lady anglers have been hugely successful in recent years and we were hoping to find a commercial sponsor,  but unfortunately it has not been possible to date. Our first fund raiser will be at 'THE BIG ONE' show on 21st/22nd February at Farnborough where Fishface Promotions have helped by allowing us to use an area for a raffle. I hope that the angling public will support us by buying tickets and hopefully winning one of our many prizes.”

“Some of the England Ladies team will be in attendance at the show along with Joe Roberts and myself, so please come along and meet us on stall C3 where members of the Veterans and Disabled team will also be selling raffle tickets to help with their respective cause for this year’s World Championships. A number of companies have donated fishing equipment and I am hoping to thank them all by putting a list of goods on the Angling Trust's website all of which will be on the prize table at 'THE BIG ONE' show.'”

In October last year the England management ran a Ladies England assessment trial on the Stainforth and Keadby canal at Thorne in South Yorkshire, and because of its success this will continue again in July. The dates of 5th and 6th are being looked at for this to take place on the Middle Level drain. The quality of the anglers who took part was fantastic and subsequently all those who attended last year will be invited again along with any other interested lady anglers who have ambitions to fish for England.

Anyone interested in being considered to attend the assessment trial must be have individual membership of the Angling Trust.  Since the assessment will be based on FIPSed International rules only pole or float fishing with rod and reel will be allowed. It is hoped that some level 2/3 coaches will be available to give instructions on groundbait, feeding, rigs and presentation etc.  Should the numbers be excessive, priority will be given to those anglers who the England management know have knowledge of long pole and bloodworm fishing.

How to apply

New nominees are asked to send in a Curriculum Vitae with their personal contact details to include their last three years of fishing and any results to Sandra Drew, Competitions & Events Manager, Angling Trust, Strelley Hall, Nottingham. NG8 6PE, or email; sandra.drew@anglingtrust.net by no later than 10th March.

Source: Angling Trust Fishing News