Source: Angling Trust
The squad, led by manager and captain Tom Pickering, assisted by coach Glenn Lawrence and delegate Darren Cox consisted of brothers, Phil and Steve Ringer, Mick Vials, Adam Wakelin and Grant Albutt. Tom wanted to take the squad to South Africa earlier than most other teams to get a feel for the venue and the style of fishing in the build up to the World Championships which would see sixteen teams take part.
ON day one Team England were confident with their approach and lined up with Tom Pickering, Adam Wakelin, Mick Vials, Steve and Phil Ringer. Their confidence was justified and they ended the day in second place with the host nation in pole position.
With the England line up achieving success on day one, team manager Tom Pickering kept faith with the anglers and Grant Albutt missed out on selection.
South Africa won again on day two giving them five section place wins to push Hungary into second position and, with Team England finishing in fifth place on the second day they finished inthird place overall. Tom Pickering led the way for England finishing with an individual sixth place.
Team result
1st South Africa – 39 points
2nd Hungary – 48 points
3rd England – 48 points
4th Czech Republic – 55 points
Individual result
1st Casper Willemse (South Africa)
2nd Josef Konopasek (Czech Republic)
3rd Mayas Sivak (Hungary)
4th Neville Johan Foord (South Africa)
Team England placings
6th Tom Pickering
8th Steve Ringer
10th Phil Ringer
24th Mick Vials
27th Adam Wakelin
A fantastic team performance and result by the South Africans was capped as Casper Willemse achieved a two point score over both days to take the World Individual Championship trophy and complete a clean sweep. Josef Konopasek of the Czech Republic finished second and Mayas Sivak of Hungary took bronze.
Dick Clegg, International Events Manager of the Angling Trust said:
“I would like to offer congratulations to Team England bringing home the bronze medal in a well run World Championships. The team and Tom have put in a lot of hard work and thoroughly deserve this.
Next year’s World Feeder Angling Championships will be taking place in Inniscarra, Ireland, subject to a visit by myself to check on the bank access work being undertaken and Team England will once again be aiming for gold.”
